The 2025 Guyana Cup is set to feature a historic number of entries in its marquee race, prompting urgent track expansion work at the Rising Sun Turf Club.
A recent influx of imported Thoroughbreds means the 17th running of the prestigious event on August 17 is on course to accommodate a record 16, and potentially 17, runners, significantly surpassing the traditional limit of 10 to 11.
Promoter Nasrudeen Mohamed Jr. described the situation as a “good problem,” albeit one requiring immediate logistical adaptation.
“We never expected this level of response so soon. After analysing the feasibility, we realised we’re looking at up to 17 horses in the Guyana Cup. That’s unheard of here,” Mohamed stated.
He revealed that two of these additional horses come from stables returning to the sport after many years, with their names to be unveiled later this week.
The surge in entries raised a crucial question: how would the standard chute, where the 1-mile race begins at Rising Sun, safely accommodate such a large field? The concern was not just about spacing, but also safety, particularly with the high speed and tight grouping at the start.
The solution has been a massive, emergency widening of the homestretch, being carried out at unprecedented speed. “We’ve mobilised three excavators, and we’re moving 150 truckloads of sand to widen the starting chute by 20 feet, over a stretch of approximately 1,000 feet before the track closes back in,” Mohamed explained.
“This allows for a longer straight run before the turn, giving all horses a better chance to settle, and more importantly, improving jockey and horse safety.”
Work is being conducted around the clock, with crews operating 24 hours a day to complete the expansion in just three days, crucially without interrupting the daily exercise schedule of horses preparing for race day.
“We couldn’t halt training. These horses are new, many just arriving in Guyana, and they need to familiarise themselves with the track,” Mohamed added.
This marks the first time in Guyanese horse racing history that such an infrastructure change has been implemented on such short notice and scale.
“We knew the Guyana Cup would be big, especially with so many international officials planning to attend,” Mohamed said. “But this has exceeded expectations. That’s why for 2026, we’ll need to establish entry requirements or qualification races. This kind of attention is a blessing, but it also means we need stronger structures moving forward.”
Despite the rush and logistical challenges, Mohamed emphasised that safety remains the number one priority.
“We’re only doing this because we know we can do it right. In the past, we capped the Guyana Cup at 10 or 11 horses to avoid crowding. But we couldn’t say no to some of these returning stables. They’re part of our history, and now, they’re part of this historic moment.”
The entry deadline for the 2025 Guyana Cup is Thursday, August 7th.
With 17 runners expected on the 17th running of the Guyana Cup, held on August 17th, it is shaping up to be the most competitive, most crowded, and most exciting edition in the race’s 17-year legacy, truly completing a golden year for Guyanese racing.
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