When Guyana’s largest and most lucrative horse race meet runs off on Sunday at the Port Mourant Turf Club, the nation’s premier thoroughbred, Score’s Even would not even be in the starting gate.
The reason is simple.
Organizers of the eighth annual Guyana Cup did not cater for the A class, seven year-old crowd pulling race horse since they carded the C and Lower event as the feature attraction.
As mentioned above, the Kentucky born, Dennis Deoroop owned steed has achieved the highest classification a horse can in Guyana. As a result of its status, the 1000-pound grey gelding cannot compete in a C class race.
Handlers of the Simply Royal Stable product are perplexed that Guyana’s best trotter was not considered to display its mighty gallop on the grandest horse race stage on local shores.
“It’s very disappointing,” said Neesha Deoroop wife of Dennis Deoroop. “He (Score’s Even) is the best horse in the country and he deserves to race on the biggest meet.
Deoroop opined :”Score’s Even is the greatest horse that ever set foot in the country and they should be proud of him, I’m sure a lot of fans will be disappointed that he will not be racing.”
Meanwhile, in excess of $25M in cash and stakes will be up for grabs at the event. Nine races are carded with the feature C and Lower 1800m race having a historic $7.5M as the prize package. The winning stable owner will pocket an appetizing $4M and the Guyana Cup trophy.
In the Co-feature 1600m event for Three-year old horses, bred and born in Guyana and the West Indies, the organizers have put up a mouthwatering $2.M and trophy.
The other races include: The Two year old event for West Indies Bred horses which has its first prize tagged at $1.5M and trophy. The E class and lower 1400m event which will see the winner racing away with the $800,000 top prize and trophy.
The G1 and lower 1200m event where the winning horse will run away with $600,000 and trophy.
The second two year old event is for Guyana bred horses and has a $600,000 price tag along with trophy for the top runner over 1000M.
The H& lower 1000M race guarantees the winning horse a purse of $450,000 and trophy while the ‘I’ and lower race also goes over 1000M with the pole position takings being tagged at $350,000 and trophy.
Sunday’s final race has $250,000 plus trophy at stake for the winner of the J and event in another 1200M affair.
The top Jockey along with the runner up, the top stable and champion trainer will all be presented with trophies and other incentives compliments of the organizers.
The organizers, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales have also have put together some interesting incentives for lucky turfites, especially for the early ones on race day.
The event will be held under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority. (Emmerson Campbell)
