Expulsion of RSTC a negative development

Feb 10, 2009 Sports

– GHRA declares more positives

In his 2008 report, President of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA), Vic Oditt said that the expulsion of the Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC) was one of the negative developments that highlighted a challenging year.

Oditt delivered the report at the GHRA Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was held on January 25 at the Norman Singh Memorial Turf Club where he described the year as a great learning experience for the executive.

“Expulsion of the Rising Sun Turf Club for running off an unauthorized race meeting but efforts were made to resolve this matter and have this club readmitted, but without success,” the report indicated.

Continuing under the heading: ‘The negatives for 2008’, Oditt reported that the failure of the body to issue insurance for jockeys despite a policy offer to the GHRA was also a bad patch for the sport last year.
He said that reports of jockey accidents prevented the success of the insurance policy.

In addition, the report indicated that the absence of an Owner and Trainers’ Association as well as a Jockeys’ Association was also negatives.

Disappointment was expressed over the state of Turf Club facilities as they were not of the expected standards and a commitment was made that the “CLICO Day of Races” would only be staged at member Turf Clubs.

However, there were indicators of overwhelming positives in 2008 according to Oditt’s report.
He said that there was greater compliance with the rules of the GHRA, good registration and issuance of badges.

Excellent performance of the Stewards of GHRA, including a detailed written report on every race meeting; excellent performance from the Classifiers, who kept their catalog list current and proposed amendments.

Excellent performance from our Veterinary Officer who registered our Stallions, Brood Mares and Foals were all identified as positive developments last year where Oditt said that the “negatives [above] were few”.

“We have made considerable progress towards the establishment of a Stud Book with supporting records which are necessary prerequisites for our affiliation to the Jockey Club of the United Kingdom,” the report noted.

“Our Vet also checks every horse on race days and has commenced the taking of blood samples as a step towards the elimination of doping; GHRA now provides increased services to Turf Clubs,” he added.

The services include the approval of Provisional and Final Programmes, track and building inspections and stewards’ services as needed. Turf Clubs have also improved their accommodation and crowd control.

Chris Jagdeo presented the GHRA with a laptop computer to be used as part of the work of the authority. A number of horses were imported during the year from United States, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
The completed draft of the “Guyana Horse Racing Authority Act” was submitted to the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr Frank Anthony.

The minister has expressed his support for the efforts of the GHRA.
The “Reds Pereira Sports Foundation” committed to support through Jamaican Chris Ormond, who lived in Barbados for a number of years and will visit and work with the GHRA on a developmental programme.

In summary, 2008 was described as an encouraging year for the GHRA where several initiatives were taken. Oditt said that they need to work to ensure that the garnered momentum is not lost this year.
At the elections of the body, Vickram Oditt was elected to the post of President.

The rest of the executive are: Vice President – Mr. Khemraj Rai; Secretary – Mr. Ghansham Singh; Treasurer – Mr. Francis Chichester.

The Committee members and reps from the various clubs are: Mr. Roopnarine Matadial – Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club; Mr. Collin Elcock– Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club & Sports Facilities; Mr. M. C. Crawford – Port Mourant Turf Club; Mr. Ghansham Singh – Norman Singh Memorial Turf Club; Mr. Amarnauth Kiritpal – Anjue & Hamlet Mahaicony Park.

Stewards: Mr. Roopnarine Matadial, Mr. Francis Chichester, Mr. L. Moonsammy, Mr. Bobby Vaughn, Mr. Newburn Pompey, Mr. Quacy Henry.

Classification Committee: Mr. R. Matadial, Mr. M. C. Crawford, Mr. L. Moonsammy, Mr. A. Kiritpaul.
The Veterinary/Registration Officer: Dr.Dwight Waldron.
The Returning Officer for elections was Mr. Khemraj Rai.

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