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Photo finish camera needed urgently

Apr 08, 2010 Sports

-Turfites still encroaching on track

By Rawle Welch

Last Sunday’s controversial ending to an exciting duel between favourite Zenyatta from the Jumbo Jet stable and Peaceful out of the Colin Elcock stable only served to re-kindle the argument of the need to have a photo finish camera.
The close finish between the two horses evoked some unhelpful arguments and discussions between turfites and owners that could eventually damage the image of the sport.
None of the owners seemed willing to concede defeat and this was even after the judges ruled that Zenyatta had won the race.
The accusations of favouritism that was pitched forward could only be seen as obstructive and clearly harmful for the sport so the Racing Authority must act speedily to address the issue before they end up regretting the missed opportunity.
Horseracing is on the rise once again and it appears to be growing in popularity at a more than steady rate judging from the capacity crowd in attendance at all the Meets and one could only hope that the major players meet immediately to discuss the way forward.
No one could dispute the fact that what occurred last Sunday was a negative for the sport, but if attended to with swiftness could keep the sport on the path of positive development.
If it is dealt with in slothfulness then the sport could find itself as target practice for an attentive media.
The plain truth is that the sport has become so competitive with owners importing horses from as far as the USA that the usual reliance on the naked eye of the judges to separate the top finishers might have very well become inadequate, especially after witnessing at least two close finishes last Sunday where owners of the particular horses were not willing to accept the judges decisions.
It is now up to the Governing Body in association with the respective stables to convene an assembly and come up with a solution to rectify the particular concern, failing which they will have to accept the consequences of their inaction.
The other problem that surfaced at Port Mourant was the continued act by turfites to contravene an important rule that governs the sport.
Turfites continue to encroach on the track, despite strident pleas from the Authorities not to do so and it is time that the major actors in the sport put stronger measures in place to penalise those found in breach of the law.
It could no longer be business as usual or they may find themselves in a situation where a person (s) or a horse being severely injured that could cause confusion.
Previous articles were written highlighting the subject and a few tracks have acted in accordance with the complaints to remedy the situation, but it re-surfaced once again at Port Mourant.
Perhaps, they may have to replicate the move made by Rising Sun Turf Club where they recruited adequate security personnel to prevent such occurrences.
The media photographers must be able to take clean pictures of the races unimpeded, while the reporters must be given the allowance to view the races unhindered to report accurately.

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