Final touches added as horses set to battle at Port Mourant on Sunday

The top horses were putting on the finishing touches as they geared up for the Clash at the Big Yard – the highly anticipated one-day horse race meet set for Sunday, September 28, at the Port Mourant Turf Club.
Horses from West Berbice made the journey east to get a final taste of the dry, well-prepared Port Mourant track, which is in peak condition to host what promises to be a thrilling day of racing.
All the jockeys present signalled their readiness for the event, with one eye firmly on the prestigious President’s Cup, set for next month at the same venue.
Jockey Ronaldo Appadu revealed that he began his preparations early each morning, adding that the horses he will be piloting this Sunday are primed and ready to run for glory.
“My preparation is to get up early in the morning and to keep the horses fit. I am expecting the best while going out there on Sunday,” Appadu said.
Appadu, one of Guyana’s most impressive local jockeys, will be aiming to walk away with the big stakes, especially with the Elcock family adding special incentives for local riders on Sunday.
The entire event promises to be a spectacular affair, with a total cash payout exceeding G$10 million. The feature race alone, where top horses will go head-to-head, will carry a prize of G$4 million.
The nine top horses confirmed for the feature race include Spankhurst, Ritorna Vincentori, Stat, Stormy Victory, Companheiro Leal, Frontline Warrior, Full Liberty, Loyal Company, and Nova Sol.
These contenders will battle it out over 1600 metres (m) on arguably the largest track in Guyana in a feature race open to four-year-olds and older horses.
The feature race will have a four-million purse, and the winner will walk away with G$2 million. The three-year-old event open to F Class horses will have the likes of Barbara, Full Force, Gryphon, Morning Colours, Oy Vey, and Principle Joaquim.
The G Class & Lower race will be open to F Class West Indian-bred horses that have not recorded a win in Guyana for 2025. American Traveller headlines that entry, which also includes Emotional Damage, Just Exhale, Red Ruby, and Soca Harmony.
The two-year-old West Indian-bred race will feature a competitive field, including All the Time, Black Beauty, Diplomatic Queen, Fire Bird, He’s a Star, Hits My Time, Lady of My Dream, Little Tic Toc, Miracle Boy, Monica Time, Risen Star, and Secret Sire.
Gates at the Port Mourant Turf Club will open at 12:30h, setting the stage for an exciting day of racing.