More than GY$65 million in cash and prizes will be on offer when the 18th annual Guyana Cup horse race is held on Sunday, August 23, at the Rising Sun Turf Club.
The 2026 edition is expected to be the most lucrative and organised staging of the event to date, with 14 races carded and the country’s horse racing legislation now in full flow.
Organised by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee, the Guyana Cup is expected to attract several of the top horses and jockeys from across the region. The event was officially launched on Thursday evening at the AC Marriott Hotel at Ogle, East Coast Demerara.
The feature event, the Banks Guyana Cup, will be contested over one mile and will carry a total purse of GY$22.5 million. One lucky patron will also drive away with a brand new Sinotruk pick-up on race day.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Executive Officer of Jumbo Jet Events, Nasrudeen Mohamed Jr, highlighted the continued growth of the marquee horse racing event and confirmed that defending champion Dataman is set to return to defend his crown.
The excitement is also expected to increase with Slingerz Racing Stables and J’s Racing Stables set to add more top horses to their rosters ahead of the meet.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, hailed the development of the Guyana Cup over the years, noting that the event continues to contribute to economic activity in Berbice and across Guyana.
Ramson also officially announced the members who will lead the country’s first horse racing authority board. Dr Steven Cheefoon will serve as Chairman, while the other members are Adrian Anamayah, Dr Nardeo Bassoodeo, Amernath Kiritpal, Zahir Khan, Poonai Bhigroog and Councillor Mohamed Naeem Kamal.
The launch was also attended by President of the Barbados Turf Club, Kevin Burke; Sonya Forrester of main sponsor Banks DIH Limited; and Operations Manager of the Guyana Cup, Andre Rochford, who all delivered remarks.
The 2026 Guyana Cup race programme will be headlined by the Banks Guyana Cup over one mile, with a total purse of GY$22,500,000. The Peter Lewis Guyana Cup Sprint over five and a half furlongs and the Forrester’s Imported Derby over one mile will each carry a total purse of GY$7,500,000.
Mohamed’s Excavating Sir Balaji Derby, also over one mile, will carry GY$5,625,000, while the J’s Imported Juvenile Fillies Sprint, over five and a half furlongs, will offer GY$3,750,000.
The BM Soat Locally Bred Dash, P Jagdeo E-Class and Avinash Local Maidens races will each carry a total purse of GY$2,812,500. The Jagmohan F-Class, ARONCO H-Class, CI H3 NW3, Big G’s J-Class, Garen Pro K-Class and Sawh L Class Sprint will each be run for GY$1,875,000.
With record prize money, regional interest and a strengthened administrative structure now in place, organisers are expecting the 18th Guyana Cup to be one of the biggest race days in the history of the sport in Guyana.
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