HORSE racing has long been a proud part of Guyana’s sporting and cultural landscape. From the days of D’Urban Park in Georgetown to today’s prestigious Guyana Cup, the Sport of Kings has captured the imagination of thousands. Yet while the passion has always been strong, the industry has lacked a structured system for educating the men and women who dedicate their lives to horses.
That is about to change.
Jumbo Jet Events, one of the nation’s leading promoters of Thoroughbred racing, has announced the creation of a Jockey Academy, the first of its kind in Guyana. This groundbreaking initiative, to be hosted at the Bush Lot United Turf Club, will serve as the foundation for a wider vision: a Horsemen’s School that will offer training in every aspect of the equine industry.
The academy is being established in memory of the young jockey who recently lost his life while pursuing his passion. His passing has underscored the urgent need for greater emphasis on safety, discipline, and education in the sport. By launching this academy, the industry is turning tragedy into legacy.
The academy is not just about riding, it is about transforming horse racing into a professional, self-sustaining industry in Guyana. Its benefits will extend far beyond jockeys to include trainers, grooms, farriers, owners, breeders, and ultimately the wider community.
One of the academy’s primary goals is to ensure that every rider, whether in exercise or competition, understands and follows international safety standards. Courses will include: Correct use of helmets, vests, boots, and other protective gear, Safe mounting, dismounting, and handling techniques, Emergency procedures in the event of falls or injuries.
By formalising safety education, the academy will protect both jockeys and the horses under their care.
Under the leadership of Robert Pierce, a highly respected instructor who has trained world-class riders across major tracks internationally, the academy will give Guyanese jockeys the tools to compete on the global stage. Training will cover: Race riding techniques and strategy, physical conditioning, diet, and weight management, mental preparation, discipline, and focus.
The vision is to see Guyanese jockeys one day riding and winning at prestigious tracks across the Caribbean, North America, and beyond.
Behind every great racehorse is a skilled groom. The academy will introduce formal instruction for grooms in: feeding and nutritional balance, daily care routines and exercise schedules, stable hygiene, biosecurity, and disease prevention.
By raising the standard of horse care, the academy will directly improve the health, performance, and longevity of Guyana’s Thoroughbred stock.
A horse is only as strong as its feet. Currently, Guyana lacks enough professionally trained farriers, and many horses suffer from preventable hoof problems. The Horsemen’s School will eventually include specialised farrier training, teaching, proper trimming and shoeing techniques, identifying lameness issues early, and hoof care to maximise performance and prevent injuries.
This will reduce race-day scratches and extend horses’ competitive years.
Not everyone can ride, but many aspire to train. The expanded Horsemen’s School will provide aspiring trainers with structured education in: conditioning programmes and progressive fitness, understanding equine nutrition and veterinary basics, reading race forms, planning campaigns, and race strategy.
This ensures that the next generation of trainers is knowledgeable, competitive, and capable of raising Guyana’s standard of racing to international levels.
One of the academy’s greatest strengths is inclusivity. It recognises that not everyone can become a jockey due to weight, height, or physical limitations but everyone can contribute to the industry. Future courses will prepare participants for careers in: breeding operations and stud management, equine rehabilitation and therapy, racing administration and stewarding, bloodstock management and sales preparation.
This ensures the academy and school create jobs, not just riders.
Horse racing is more than a pastime; it is a national industry that supports thousands of families. With the oil economy fuelling Guyana’s rapid growth, the racing industry has a chance to rise with it. By establishing this academy, Guyana positions itself as the only country in the Caribbean and South America with a structured school dedicated to horsemen and women.
This will create employment pathways for young people.
The academy is fully funded by Jumbo Jet Events, Kris Jagdeo Racing Stable, Slingerz Racing Stable and J’s Racing Stable with plans to engage other promoters and stakeholders in its expansion. By pooling resources, the academy can grow into a national institution, serving as a lasting legacy for the industry.
In time, the Horsemen’s School could partner with regional and international racing authorities, offering certification programmes that allow Guyanese horsemen to work across the globe.
The launch of the Jockey Academy is not just a project, it is a promise. A promise that the life of the late jockey will be remembered not with silence, but with opportunity. A promise that future generations will ride, train, and care for horses with skill, respect, and professionalism. And a promise that Guyana’s Sport of Kings will finally have the foundation it deserves.
With this academy, Guyana takes a historic step toward transforming horse racing into not only a sport but a world-class industry.