Minister of Sports Reginald Farley (second left) accepting the Sandy Lane Gold Cup from British Airways Captain Tony Lovelace.

This year's Sandy Lane Gold Cup will feature more foreign horses than in previous years.

That’s because the success of last year’s televised broadcasts overseas has led to an increased interest in the event. Read more

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The Preparation

The Sandy Lane Gold Cup day draws closer, and thousands are expected to converge on the Garrison. But in fact, the venue has been abuzz all week. Railbirds have been there as early as 5 a.m. every morning this week to see the Gold Cup horses go through their paces.

Here, Barbadian jockey Slade Callaghan takes Canadian contender, and one of the pre-race favourites, Moonshine Hall, down the straight during an exercise gallop early in the week. Moonshine Hall will be ridden by Patrick Husbands in the Sandy Lane Gold Cup.

(Picture by Charles Grant.)

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See how they lined up for the Sandy Lane Gold Cup 2004.

Click to find the starters, weights and jockeys for the Gold Cup at the Garrison Savannah

Minutes before the eighth race on the ten-race card was run and simultaneously beamed by TVG to millions of North American, Caribbean and European fans, local supporters were treated to pulse-elevating entertainment.

The race

Kathir, with Slade Callaghan aboard, roaring ahead of Feet on Flames in this year's Sandy Lane Gold Cup.

It was fourth time lucky for millionaire owner Eugene Melnyk as his charge Kathir ran away with the 23rd running of the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup at the Garrison.

Expertly ridden by Canada-based Barbadian jockey Slade Callaghan, Kathir was sent into the lead approaching the two-furlongs marker and ran on strongly in the homestretch for a three-and three-quarter lengths victory in the 1 800 metres event.

Read more

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Caribbean Polo

Sporting islands

Slade Callaghan has been riding at the Garrison Savannah for close to 20 years, and, after that long wait, he finally lifted the greatest prize in regional horse racing yesterday afternoon.

As the sun set on a beautiful day of racing at the Garrrison just before 6 p.m., Callaghan reached the mountain top of his career by piloting seven-year-old chestnut horse Kathir to the $114 000 first prize in the 23rd Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup, overcoming the odds and beating those favoured by the pundits all week. Read more

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BARBADOS