Guyana Cup Race Meet set for August 11: Horses should be fully vaccinated, placed on strict antiparasitic programme

…says GLDA’s Dr Dwight Waldron

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), renowned veterinarian Dr. Dwight Waldron, is advising horse owners to work closely with their respective vets to ensure the health and welfare of their horses.
With the 16th running of the Guyana Cup slated for August 11 — less than one month away — Dr. Waldron explained that, during this period, horses should have already been fully vaccinated, and foals/ yearlings should have already been placed on a strict antiparasitic programme.
“The welfare of these animals is critical in reducing stress during this period of harsh environmental conditions. There is a dire need for more evidence-based medicine to be adopted within the industry,” Dr. Waldron explained.
Although sharing his professional opinion on what veterinary services need to be done for horses at this time, Dr Waldron is also aware that there is need for legislative instruments to be introduced to regulate the sport of horse racing. In this regard, he said concerning his professional advice stated above, “This will be difficult (to implement) without the necessary legislative instruments (welfare & horse racing bills).”

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, in an interview last month, disclosed that the drafted legislation has been submitted.
“It is completed in terms of the draft. It has already been approved to move to the sub-committee. In the next few weeks, the sub-committee will review (it) in detail. Once it is approved and finalized, it is then approved to be laid (in) Parliament, then we have a debate,” Minister Ramson had explained.
The 16th staging of the Guyana Cup is organized by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee, and more than $40 million in cash would be expended as prizes. The winning horse of the feature race would be rewarded with a whopping sum of $11,625,000.
Last year’s Guyana Cup saw total prize money of $24 million being expended across all races, while the horse that won the feature event was rewarded with $10 million.
According to organizers, the 2024 Guyana Cup Meet would certainly be the biggest, and the day will be packed with side attractions. The first-ever fun park is set to ignite the Rising Sun Turf Club, where kids would witness a parading bar on spot, and multiple stages will be set up across the venue.
Ten races are listed on the provisional programme, entries would be open from July 27 to August 3, and no late entries would be accepted at this year’s Guyana Cup. In addition to the feature event, which would be contested over 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 1400-metre non-earners.