Jorhat Horse Race

Jorhat Horse Races have been happening since 1864 (160 years) at Jorhat Gymkhana Club and it is one of the oldest oraganized racing event in this region. The event is held from three days. Jorhat Gymkhana Club also known as "Khelmati" wore a festive look during the event. The Jorhat reaces have been an annual feature and from the outset, the racehorses were thoroughbreads owned by tea planters and the Assam Light Horse Cavalry. Every year ponies from different places of Assam took part in this event. The races were a most looked forward to event in Jorhat and they drew spectators from far & wide. The 125 years of Jorhat Races were celebrated in the year 2002 with pomp and show under Jorhat Races President, Mr. H.P. Barooah. A very good souvenir ‘Flashback 1877’ was also released on the occasion. The Jorhat Races have seen interruptions on two occasions so far, and both in the course of only the past two decades. The Races continued even during the two World Wars. In essence, the races saw no interruption in over a century. The first gap in races happened between 2004 and 2007. They were revived again in 2008 by P.K. Bezbaruah. The JGC had a tie-up with the Royal Calcutta Turf Club. The second break happened due to a local agitation, and COVID-19’s onset accompanied by lockdowns. The races, therefore, could not be conducted in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The 140th Jorhat Races are scheduled for February 2023. With over 10,000 people coming together for the week-long festivities, this is one event that must feature on any heritage buff’s bucket list. Meanwhile, the Jorhat Gymkhana Club continues to be a lively place, still occupying a place of pride in the community. For this grand old institution, age is only but a number.