Seven of the country’s leading imported horses will battle for the ‘Mash’ crown on Sunday next (February 25, 2024) at Rising Sun Turf Club, Rising Sun, Berbice.

This showpiece on the nine-race card will see the horses pass the finish twice in 1,600-metre event sponsored by Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee (JJTRC).It is expected to bring down the curtain for patrons to play ‘Mas’ in what is billed as a very competitive race.

At entry stage which started last week Guyana Cup winner, Easy Time, and Sprint Classic winner, Spankhurst head the betting in the third race day of the new season.

However, recent importations, Phil In Echo owned by Nand Persaud, and Stolen Money owned by Dennis Deoroop’s family, along with owner Deleep Esreepersaud’s Bossalina, Slingerz Brazilian-bred El Tarzan, and Night Eyes Jessica’s Pride round off the field.

This race is a handicap event, and Easy Time being the highest classified horse (B3) in the race, will shoulder the top handicap impost of 126 lbs.

This means that the other runners in the race will be carrying less weight than Easy Time. The next highest classified horses are El Tarzan (D Class) and Bossalina (D2).

Bossalina, who on New Year’s Day defeated Horse of the Year winner, Spankhurst in a very rough race is set to announce that run wasn’t a fluke. Her connection is confident that success wasn’t a fluke and will repeat the thrashing.

Meanwhile Deoroop revealed that Stolen Money ran grand in defeat in both his starts and is a stronger horse for this event.

He explained that Stolen Money did not get time to settle in, from his arrival from Canada in December, as the races on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day came to quick for the grey. Deoroop advised that Stolen Money has settled and is better prepared for this race. He warned, “He has an added advantage because Stolen Money’s will carry a lighter weight.”

Newcomer Phil In Echo unraced in Guyana is relatively unknown but is a lovely looker. He comes with a big reputation from overseas. He is one of the two runners in the race from over the ‘bridge.’ They are the horses that will be the ‘bandleaders’ for their hometown supporters on horse racing Mash celebration race day.
Victory for horses will create a ‘road march’ for their supporters to be dancing to, as the Sun sets on ‘this side of the bridge’ in the day’s finale.

Either way it will be a ‘Mash’ on Sunday next. The card will highlight some possible future stars as several West Indian-bred three-year-old will make their local debut on the card.

While the country’s leading light, Rachel voted Champion Guyana-bred at last year’s Horse of the Year Award ceremony is also entered to make her 2024 debut. And several three-year-old Guyana-bred will also compete on the card.

Post time for the horse racing ‘Jump Up’ will be 12.30h.