LONACI promotes PMU betting at Côte d’Ivoire Grand Prix
The inaugural Jacqueline Ouégnin event brought together horses and jockeys from six countries and attracted nearly 3,000 spectators.
Key takeaways:
- LONACI partnered with the Ivorian Equestrian Federation to promote PMU betting at the inaugural Grand Prix international Jacqueline Ouégnin.
- The October 10 event in Grand-Bassam featured five races with horses and jockeys from Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, Niger, Nigeria and Togo.
- LONACI said demand from bettors was strong, with sellers overwhelmed and several betting pools recording more than four winners.
- Benin won the main 2,400-metre Grand Prix, with jockey Ibrahim Dicko receiving FCFA3m (US$5,120).
- The event attracted nearly 3,000 spectators and was intended to support horse racing and PMU betting in Côte d’Ivoire and the wider sub-region.
Côte d’Ivoire.- Côte d’Ivoire’s National Lottery Operator (LONACI) partnered with the Ivorian Equestrian Federation to promote Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU) betting at the inaugural Grand Prix international Jacqueline Ouégnin, a horse-racing event held in Grand-Bassam on October 10, 2026.
The competition featured five races involving horses and jockeys from Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, Niger, Nigeria and Togo. The municipality of Grand-Bassam also partnered with the equestrian federation in organising the event, according to FratMat.
LONACI reported strong interest from bettors in a statement, saying its sellers were overwhelmed by demand. Several betting pools, including the one associated with the race named after LONACI Director General Dramane Coulibaly, had more than four winners. Dosso Vaguia, head of PMU at LONACI, praised the organisation of the competition, saying it had improved compared with previous events.
The race dedicated to Coulibaly was held over 1,800 metres and carried a prize of FCFA1.2m (US$2,050), alongside a separate fund of FCFA1m (US$1,710). Côte d’Ivoire won the race.
Burkina Faso won the opening race, while Ivorian jockeys won the next three races before Benin claimed the main Grand Prix international Jacqueline Ouégnin over 2,400 metres. The main race carried a FCFA5m (US$8,540) prize allocation, with winning jockey Ibrahim Dicko receiving FCFA3m (US$5,120).
LONACI said the partnership aimed to promote PMU betting and develop horse racing in Côte d’Ivoire and the wider sub-region.
The event attracted nearly 3,000 spectators. The Grand Prix was named in honour of Jacqueline Ouégnin, the late wife of Ambassador Georges François Ouégnin. She supported the development of equestrian sports in Côte d’Ivoire, and the federation named the event in recognition of her contribution.
