Largest gymkhana on Corentyne planned for New Year’s Day at Brighton

Dear Editor,
The Macedonia-Joppa Voluntary Committee (MJVC), a non-profit organization, in collaboration with the Brighton Turf Club (BTC), will usher in the New Year (January 1, 2024) with the largest gymkhana extravaganza at Brighton Park Racetrack on the Corentyne Coast.
For decades, Brighton Turf Club had always held horse races on New Year’s Day as a form of entertainment for the residents in the various villages in the Macedonia-Joppa district and beyond. It was a tradition the residents looked forward to every New Year’s Day, to celebrate and have fun; but the tradition ended in the mid-1990s due in part to the passing of several executive members of the Brighton Turf Club and to the lack of finance to maintain the track and the pavilion, which eventually collapsed about a decade ago.
But as time went by, most of the new executive members of BTC did not carry on the tradition, because they became less interested in horse racing and concentrated their efforts on other sporting events, including soccer and cricket. Thus the tradition of having horse races on New Year’s Day at Brighton Park Racetrack came to an end.
However, after a hiatus of almost three decades, Brighton Park Turf Club will return to its traditional horse-racing agenda on New Year’s Day 2024. The all-day gala event will commence at 11:00am, and is expected to attract hundreds or thousands of horse-racing and games fans, not only from the Macedonia-Joppa district, but throughout the Corentyne and as far as West Coast Berbice and elsewhere.
There will be five regular races and one thoroughbred race, and different breeds of horses are expected to compete for the top prizes. The winner in each category would be awarded cash and trophies. Also, several other activities, including side attractions, are planned for the extravaganza; such as trampoline and bouncy castle for children, greasy pig, bag race, and a donkey race, and many others.
Weather permitting, the gymkhana — a spectacular event – would be the only one of its kind to be staged on New Year’s Day on the Corentyne, where horse-racing has always been the second most popular sporting event after cricket.
In the last two years, the popularity of horse-racing has soared to new heights, due largely to the thrilling combination of speed, strategy, and connection between horse and jockey, which has captured the hearts of horse-racing fans throughout the Corentyne. It is a unique blend of both sport and entertainment, that brings people together to enjoy an array of some of the best tasty local dishes, such as barbeque chicken, roast pork, fish and chips, jerk chicken, cook-up, fried rice, and roti and curry, among others. There would be the customary lively Hip-Hop, Soca and Reggae music supplied by the lively, dynamic, and popular YARD VYBZ Sound. It will be a day of merriment, and all are invited.

Sincerely,
Dr. Asquith Rose,
MJVC Chair
Ms. Vanessa Ross-
Albert, MJVC Public
Relations Director