Emancipation Day horse race meet: Jockeys, owners excited as July 31 looms

By Brandon Corlette

Horse owners and jockeys are completing the final preparation of their animals as the Emancipation horse race meet looms.

Set for staging at the Port Mourant Turf Club on the Corentyne Coast in Region Six on July 31, this highly-anticipated one-day horse meet would see a host of newly imported horses turning out to ‘conquer and cash in’, even as they entertain.

Guyana Times Sport visited the Kennard Memorial Turf Club at Bush Lot Corentyne on Saturday, and witnessed some newly imported horses undergoing full preparation. Fazal Habibulla, a horse owner from West Coast Berbice in Region Five, noted that his horses are just about ready.
“We are at the ending part of training for the Port Mourant Turf Club meeting,” he said. “Basically, my horse is just about ready with the week that we have left. I will be ready,” this West Berbice businessman has promised.
In terms of the quality of horses, Habibulla has said it is normal to see one or two newly imported horses competing, but for the July 31 meeting, more top bracket horses have been imported.
Meanwhile, Trinidadian Jockey Nicholas Patrick has said that preparation has been going well, and the horses are “comfortable”. When asked about the rain factor, Patrick said: “If the rain keeps on falling, it will be harder on the horses, especially the imported horses, because they are new to the surface.”
Asked about what fans should expect, Jockey Patrick said: “I think the fans should have a spectacular day. They will come and have lots of fun. A lot of horses will be in that race. We will have some international jockeys coming in, and they have some Yankee jockeys; so, on the day, races should be good.”
Winston Appadu, another jockey, has indicated that fans should “expect good races”, because a lot of new horses would be on show. Appadu has said that once there is good weather, fantastic contests should be expected.
Race organizers have said that more than eight million dollars in cash prizes would be up for grabs, and 30 newly imported horses from Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America would be competing for the first time in Guyana.
Eight races are carded for the Emancipation Meet on July 31, with the feature event being open to all horses. It would be contested over eight furlongs for a winner’s purse of $1M. The second-placed horse would be awarded $500,000, while the animal placing third is slated to be awarded $100,000.
The action is expected to start promptly at noon (12:00h) with the L Open race, which will be contested over six furlongs for a winner’s purse of $160,000. Second prize is $80,000.
The second race is the eight- furlong contest involving Guyana and West Indies-bred two-year-old horses for a top prize of $500,000, while the second-placed horse would win $250,000. The horse that finishes third will bag $125,000.
Race three would be the J Class race over eight furlongs, for which the top horse would bag $200,000.
Race four will see the J3 maiden (all first-time starters) running over six furlongs for a winner’s prize of $200,000. In the H Class race, which would be run over six furlongs, the top horse will bag $400,000.
Race 6 would be the F Class race to be run over 6.5 furlongs, and the top prize is $500,000. In the race for the Guyana and West Indies-bred two-year-old horses, which would be run over five furlongs, $400,000 would be awarded to the winner.
Entries will be closed on July 25, and the races would be run under updated classification. Persons seeking further information are invited to contact Gingo on 618-7278, Dennis on 640-6396, Alan on 627-5741, or Rabani on 643-9696.
Banks DIH, AGM, KP Jagdeo, and Fazal Habibulla are thus far among the sponsors of this event.