The National Lottery of Côte d’Ivoire (LONACI), in partnership with the Ivorian Equestrian Federation, has celebrated the legacy of Jacqueline Ouégnin through the inaugural edition of the International Grand Prix Jacqueline Ouégnin, held on 10 October 2026, at the Grand-Bassam stadium.
The event paid tribute to the late wife of Ambassador Georges Ouégnin, bringing together horse racing enthusiasts, spectators and participants from across West Africa for a day of equestrian competition.
Representing the Deputy Prime Minister and the government, Sidi Touré, Minister of Animal and Fish Resources, honored Jacqueline Ouégnin’s passion for equestrian sports and expressed hope that the competition would develop into a major sporting event.
“May this Grand Prix become, over the years, a major sporting event and a living testament to the legacy she leaves us,” he said.
The inaugural edition featured five races involving horses and jockeys from Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Niger, Benin and Togo, highlighting the growing regional appeal of equestrian sports.
One of the competition’s highlights was the third race, dedicated to Dramane Coulibaly, Director-General of LONACI. The 1,800-metre endurance race featured a prize of FCFA 1.2 million and an additional fund of FCFA 1 million, with Côte d’Ivoire emerging as the winner.
The prize was presented by Massandey Diarrassouba, wife of the head of LONACI’s Management Control Service, who represented Coulibaly at the ceremony.
The other races also produced notable results. Burkina Faso won the opening race for the Royal Equestrian Society of Morocco (SOREC) Prize, while an Ivorian jockey secured victory in the second race. Côte d’Ivoire won the fourth race, which was contested for the Amadou Koné Trophy, named after the Minister of Transport.
Benin claimed the main prize, the International Grand Prix Jacqueline Ouégnin. The 2,400-metre race carried a prize of FCFA 5 million. Speaking at the conclusion of the competition, Dosso Vaguia, head of PMU at LONACI, commended the improvements in the organisation of the event compared with previous competitions.
“Unlike past competitions, there has been a clear improvement. The organization is top-notch,” he said.
Vaguia also highlighted the strong participation of bettors and the success of the betting pools, noting that several pools, including the one associated with the Prix du Directeur Général Dramane Coulibaly, recorded more than four winners.
He added that the event introduced some attendees to LONACI’s activities and horse racing, emphasizing the excitement and engagement generated by the competitions.
Through its partnership with the Ivorian Equestrian Federation, LONACI reaffirmed its commitment to promoting Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU), or urban mutual betting, and supporting the development of horse racing in Côte d’Ivoire.
The inaugural Grand Prix Jacqueline Ouégnin also provided a platform for regional participation, strengthening connections among equestrian communities across West Africa while honoring the memory of a prominent horse racing enthusiast.
The organisers’ ambition is for the competition to grow into an established sporting event that preserves Jacqueline Ouégnin’s legacy and contributes to the continued development of equestrian sports in the sub-region.
