-Winner to pocket $10M

The stakes of local horse racing are entering stratospheric heights with this weekend’s announcement that the winner of the 17th running of the Guyana Cup will pocket 10M dollars.
The announcement, which comes from the organisers, The Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee, represents a significant increase in purse over the years to what is the largest payout for local horse racing to date.
This August 17, is set to carry a total purse exceeding GYD $50,000,000.

It will also be the first time the Guyana Cup is being held under the Horse Racing Legislation passed earlier this year in the National Assembly.
“This is our way of saying thank you to the Government of Guyana,” said the Committee’s spokesperson. “The passing of this Act has finally given our sport a proper foundation. We are no longer just racing for local pride; we are now stepping into the international spotlight.”

With the new legislation establishing the Guyana Horse Racing Authority, and laying out licensing, regulatory, and enforcement frameworks, the industry is now poised for legitimate international engagement, a long-awaited goal for many horsemen across the nation.
The purse elevation also places the Guyana Cup side-by-side with the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup, the Caribbean’s most prestigious racing event, a race that Guyana recently conquered with the One Guyana Racing Stable’s historic victory.
Alongside the purse, young jockeys and local trainers will now have the chance to earn GYD$1,000,000, with grooms also getting on the action with payouts as hefty as GYD$500,000.

“With proper licensing and this legislation in place, our young people can now represent Guyana overseas. Their future is no longer limited, the gates to the international racing world have finally opened,” the Committee emphasized.
Looking ahead, the Guyana Cup’s promoter has pledged that this is only the beginning. “We’re increasing the purse every year. Just imagine what 2026 will bring.”