The national premier horse-racing event, the 66th edition of the Castle Tankard, returns to the Borrowdale Racecourse on Saturday, 9 May 2026, with a US$50,000 Grade One race and a 20-horse field confirmed for the country’s most prestigious meeting.
Hosted by Castle Lager in partnership with the Mashonaland Turf Club, the annual showcase will run from 11:00 am to 19:30 pm, combining elite racing with live entertainment in what organisers say will be one of the biggest sporting and social fixtures on Harare’s calendar.
The Castle Tankard remains Zimbabwe’s only Grade One horse-racing event, drawing top trainers, jockeys and thoroughbreds from across the country for the 2,000-metre feature race.
According to the official race card released on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, 20 horses have been accepted for the main event, with Last One Standing installed among the early favourites at 28-10, closely followed by First Wish at **22-10.
Trainer Debra Swanson dominates the field with multiple entries, including Jaeger Moon, River Power, Magic Exists, Ideal View, Majestic Warrior, King’s Crown, Coppola, and Pragmatist, underlining her stable’s strong presence in this year’s contest.
Other notable contenders include September Flower, to be ridden by P Mxoli for trainer Amy Parham, African Beat under M Thackeray for Thomas Mason, and Guerra, which will be ridden by K Steyn for Bridget Stidolph.
The final line-up also includes Pocket Watch, drawn in gate one and carrying 53kg, while Solartrip takes the outside draw at 20 under J Penny.
Beyond the racing, organisers have also positioned the event as a major entertainment spectacle, with performances lined up from leading Zimbabwean musicians Alick Macheso, Nisha Ts, and Ndunge Yut, adding to the festival atmosphere expected at Borrowdale.
The Castle Tankard is one of the flagship events associated with Delta Beverages, Zimbabwe’s leading brewer, whose portfolio includes more than 15 beer brands such as Castle Lager, Chibuku, and Zambezi Lager.
The event has traditionally attracted racing enthusiasts, corporates and socialites, and this year’s edition is expected to continue that legacy as the country’s horse-racing community converges in Harare for the coveted Grade One title.
With less than two weeks before the gates open, attention now turns to final preparations by trainers and jockeys as the countdown begins for one of Zimbabwe’s most anticipated sporting events.
