Tuaran: The Royal Sabah Turf Club’s (RSTC) flagship annual event, the 2026 Harvest Festival Cup, was held in grandeur at the Tambalang Racecourse in Tuaran on Sunday (June 7).
The prestigious competition brought together some of the region’s finest racehorses, complemented by special live entertainment performances and multi-venue live broadcasts, providing Sabah’s sporting enthusiasts with a spectacular sporting and festive experience.
The Harvest Festival Cup attracted significant attention from various sectors.
The event was graced by Nominated Assemblyman Datuk Haji Abdul Kassim Haji Razali as the guest of honour, while distinguished guests including Tempasuk Assemblyman Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari and Tuaran District Officer Ibrahim Terki were also present to witness the highly anticipated annual horse racing showdown.
Their attendance added prestige to the occasion.
To enhance the race-day experience and create a vibrant Harvest Festival atmosphere, the organisers carefully planned a series of entertainment programmes.
Highlight of the event was a special live song-and-dance performance inspired by the hugely popular anime franchise Uma Musume (“horse girl”).
The energetic stage show perfectly captured the youthful spirit and excitement of horse racing, igniting enthusiasm among spectators and transforming the event into a captivating audio-visual spectacle alongside the thrilling races.
RSTC Chairman Datuk Peter Chin said that the Harvest Festival Cup is the club’s signature annual event, dedicated to integrating festive celebrations with the sport of horse racing.
He noted that the competition consistently upholds professional and fair racing standards while attracting quality racehorses to participate.
“The event brings together top-class racehorses competing fiercely for substantial prize money and championship honours. It showcases the speed, excitement and appeal of horse racing while contributing to the continued growth of Sabah’s racing culture and leisure sports industry,” he said.
Horse No. 11, “Wind of Liberty,” claimed the Harvest Festival Cup with a powerful and consistent performance. Horse No. 5, “Smart Lad,” secured second place, while Horse No. 1, “David’s Sling,” delivered an impressive run to finish third.
To extend the event’s reach beyond the racecourse and allow more fans to participate, RSTC implemented a multi-venue live broadcast arrangement throughout the event with races from Hong Kong Jockey Club and Selangor Turf Club.
In addition to the main venue at Tambalang Racecourse, live screenings were conducted simultaneously at off-course centres in Kota Kinabalu (Tanjung Aru), Sandakan and Keningau.
This comprehensive broadcasting network enabled horse racing enthusiasts who were unable to attend in person to stay connected with the action and enjoy the excitement from various locations.
The successful staging of the 2026 Harvest Festival Cup not only provided Sabahans with a sporting event that combined competition and entertainment, but also enriched the significance of the Harvest Festival which is an occasion to rejoice and celebrate with loved ones and friends.
It further demonstrated the RSTC’s commitment to promoting horse racing while supporting the integration of sports, culture and tourism, injecting fresh momentum into the development of the region’s leisure sports industry.
