All set for the 2026 Castle Tankard
STAFF WRITER
The stage is set for the 2026 Castle Tankard, Zimbabwe’s only Grade One horse-racing spectacle, with 20 horses confirmed to battle for top honours in this year’s edition of the country’s premier race.
The 66th running of the prestigious event is scheduled for May 9 at the iconic Borrowdale Racecourse, where the region’s finest thoroughbreds, jockeys and trainers will converge for one of Southern Africa’s most enduring sporting traditions.
Defending champion trainer Debra Swanson once again underlines her dominance, leading the field with nine runners in the 20-horse lineup. She will, however, face stiff competition from fellow trainers Bridget Stidolph, Amy Parham and Thomas Mason, who each have three entries in the race.
Swanson returns with heightened expectations after last year’s triumph, when her five-year-old gelding Action Zone, ridden by Mathew Thackeray, powered to victory to claim the US$50,000 prize in what remains Southern Africa’s longest-running sponsored horse race.
“It will not be an easy competition, but we are looking forward to posting our best times on the day,” Swanson said.
Rival trainer Mason acknowledged the challenge posed by the defending champion, singling out Action Zone as the horse to beat.
“We are on the lookout for Action Zone because we know how strong and fast the horse is,” Mason said.
“Looking at the pool of 20, it will be a big and highly competitive field, so we will not underestimate any competitor. The only approach is to come out full throttle.”
Event sponsors Delta Corporation, through its flagship brand Castle Lager, say this year’s edition promises more than just elite racing.
“Castle Lager is excited to host the legendary Castle Tankard Horse Racing event, now charging into its 66th edition. In partnership with the Mashonaland Turf Club, this free and iconic event brings together the best of Zimbabwean and regional horse racing, alongside local music acts, with Castle Lager at the centre of the experience,” said Delta Corporation Marketing Director Irimayi Muzorewa.
“Experience Zimbabwe’s only Grade One horse-racing extravaganza. The prestige and passion draw elite horses, skilled jockeys and dedicated trainers from across the region to compete for a US$50,000 stake, with anticipation already building as leading contenders prepare to chase one of the season’s most coveted trophies.”
