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Track encroachment embarrassing sport

Aug 23, 2009 Sports

By Rawle Welch
Last Sunday I travelled to Rising Sun Turf Club in West Coast Berbice to cover my first horse racing event since it was halted at Durban Park in the 70’s.
Commonly referred to as the ‘King of Sports’ and a sport that has been in my blood since I was born I eagerly looked forward to seeing how it had evolved after being stopped at the track that was once regarded as the Mecca in the Caribbean.
The performances of the animals and jockeys were outstanding and after years being away from the sport, apart from a few awkward moments, I thoroughly enjoyed the day.
However, my major concern for the day was the inability of the Organisers to prevent the fans and stables staff from encroaching on the track and even though my genuine demeanour is not to report negatively on everything that occurs I am compelled to do so in this instance.
This is an issue I refuse to overlook and the racing authority should leave no stone unturned in attempting to rectify this disgusting situation which could eventually end in tragedy someday.
Very early in the day’s programme, I saw handlers from one of the stables run onto the track as the horses were approaching the finish line and the result was that the stable was hit with a fine of $10,000.
I could understand the excitement of the horse’s connections, but that does not give them the right to set bad examples to fans since more than anyone else I am almost certain such a tenet is inscribed in the rule book that governs the sport.
As if to rub salt in the wound, the same incident occurred two more times during the day with the Organisers inflicting similar punishment to the transgressors, but this penalty is ‘chicken feed’ when one considers how much money is involved in the sport.
In order to prevent similar occurrences in the future, the sport’s authority should decide to impose a harsher reprimand on the owners and stable handlers which could serve as a deterrent for such embarrassment.
It made taking pictures to carry in the dailies difficult since the track was filled with unauthorised personnel, making it extremely risky to get a proper vantage point thus negating the opportunity to acquire a good live shot.
The other unhelpful development that took place was the lack of proper arrangement by the Organisers to accommodate the media and this unhelpful treatment towards us should cease with immediate effect.
I was shown a section in the stands which one official told me was reserved for the media, but that could not be so when at least 50-60 fans were viewing the races from that same location.
No assistance was given in order to get those fans removed, so that disclosure by the official could not be accurate.
I look forward to a more accommodating and improved environment in the future if the media is to be part of the process to continue the sport’s development.

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