Caricom horse race meet 2024: Port Mourant Turf Club track stood out despite inclement weather

…Guyana Cup preparations moving apace

The Port Mourant Turf Club’s Caricom horse race meet on Sunday last has been hailed a success. Despite heavy rainfall, expected during the May-June season, and which occurred hours before the start of the meet, the track stood firm.
Fans turned out in large numbers, and were treated to a spectacular show of high-quality horse racing action.
Credit has been given to the KP Jagdeo Racing Stables, which worked overtime to maintain a solid track.
According to an official of the Jagdeo Racing Stables, work on the Port Mourant track commenced since in December 2023.
“Firstly, I would like to thank the patrons for coming out despite the rain. We have been doing a lot of work on the track from since late last year. We are reaping the success now. (There was) a lot of rainfall during the May-June season, and we had a lot of rain on the eve of the race. A lot of people (were) uncertain whether there would be races, but the track held up good. That was because of the preparation,” the official disclosed.
“Guyana Cup is the pinnacle of horse racing in Guyana. Everyone always turn out (to witness this meeting), and I would like to thank the fans in advance. Without fans, we cannot have racing, and I want to thank them in advance for supporting Guyana Cup,” the official has said.
Easy Time won the feature race at the Caricom meet, and this champion horse will be aiming to defend his Guyana Cup title on August 11 at the Rising Sun Turf Club.
The 16th staging of the Guyana Cup is organized by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee, and in excess of Gy$40 million in cash would be paid out. The top horse of the feature race would be rewarded a whopping sum of $11,625,000.
Last year’s Guyana Cup expended a total of $24 million in prize money across all races, while the top horse in that feature event was rewarded with $10 million.
According to organizers, the 2024 Guyana Cup meet would certainly be the biggest, and the day would be packed with side attractions. The first-ever fun park is set to ignite the Rising Sun Turf Club with kids witnessing a parading bar on spot, and multiple stages will be set up across the venue.
Ten races are listed on the provisional programme, and entries will be open from July 27 and be closed on August 3. No late entry would be accepted at this year’s Guyana Cup meet.
With this year’s Guyana Cup purse being the biggest in the Caribbean, horses from various countries would be attracted to Guyana to battle for supremacy.
In addition to the feature event, which would be run over a distance of approximately 1800 metres, other races on the provisional card include: the 1600-metre derby; 1000-metre Sprint Classic; the 1000-metre two-year-old; 1000-metre F1 Class; the 1600-metre H1 Class; the 1400-metre J & Lower; 1400-metre K Class; 1400-metre L Class, and the 1400-metre non-earners.