More than 10 new horses are expected to make their Guyana racing debuts when the 2026 Guyana Cup takes centre stage on August 23 at the Rising Sun Turf Club, adding further intrigue to a packed 14-race programme carrying more than $66 million in cash and prizes.
The influx comes as decorated thoroughbred Olympic Kremlin prepares for his final competitive appearance, setting up a Guyana Cup that will feature both a farewell to one of the country’s leading horses and the arrival of several new contenders.
Veteran trainer and horseman Glen Mohamed confirmed on the Beyond the Rail podcast that six new horses have already arrived in Guyana, while another six are expected in the coming days.
“Dataman will have something to deal with,” Mohamed said, suggesting the newcomers could provide serious competition for one of the prominent horses on the local circuit.
Sources have indicated that Jagdeo Racing Stables, J’s Racing Stables and Jumbo Jet Racing Stables are among the leading operations targeting success with newly imported horses for the country’s premier race meeting.
The feature event, the Banks Guyana Cup over one mile, will carry the biggest purse of the day at $22.5 million.
The Peter Lewis Guyana Cup Sprint over 5½ furlongs and the Forrester’s Imported Derby over one mile will each offer $7.5 million, while the Mohamed’s Excavating Sir Balaji Derby has a total purse of $5.625 million.
The J’s Imported Juvenile Fillies Sprint will offer $3.75 million, while the BM. Soat Locally Bred Dash, P. Jagdeo E-Class and Avinash Local Maidens races will each carry $2.8125 million.
The Jagmohan F-Class, ARONCO H-Class, C.I. H3 N.W.3, Big G’s J-Class, Garen Pro K-Class and Sawh L Class Sprint will each have $1.875 million on offer.
Organisers are also placing greater emphasis on the overall race-day experience, with the August 23 programme being promoted as an event for the entire family. A children’s zone is expected to be in place, along with several prizes and other activities throughout the day.
Additional parking has also been arranged, while more screens will be installed around the venue to give spectators improved views of the action.
A brand-new four-door SinoTruk pick-up will also be up for grabs through a raffle. Tickets cost $2,000 and are available at the Jumbo Jet office on Smyth Street, J’s Supermarket, J’s Outlet and Poonai’s Pharmacy.
General admission for the Guyana Cup is G$5,000, while the VVIP experience is priced at G$25,000. Private VIP decks are available for G$500,000.
With the Rising Sun Turf Club located about 45 minutes from Georgetown, organisers are expecting spectators from Guyana and across the Caribbean for what is being billed as one of the biggest editions of the Guyana Cup.
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