Miss Republic, The Message, Night Crescendo top horses for 2010

Feb 02, 2011 Sports

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Sabrina Princess, Better than Gold, Super Cat also outstanding

Samuel Whyte
While it was a foregone and somewhat easy conclusion to decide the top stable and horses for the 2009 racing season, with the Elcock stable and The Message being adjudged top achievers al be it there were some dissenting voices, the 2010 scenario was not that readily made.
Many factors can be taken into consideration in coming to such a conclusion. The first scenario is a lack of information from the relevant authorities. Things like the amount of wins, by the respective stables, the criteria being used to select the top animals and stables etc are some of the factors that should be considered.

It was envisaged by now that the relevant authorities would have put systems in place to decide on a fair system to decide on the outstanding performers in the horseracing arena at the end of the racing season.  However, nothing of the sort is in the making.
The entire fraternity needs to sit down and see ways and means in getting things done better.
In trying to figure out which was the top stable for 2010 one was fed with different propositions on how to arrive at such a conclusion. However the biggest bug bear was the lack of information.  Kaieteur Sports sought some information which also proved quite difficult to acquire. From the information garnered it was concluded that the Colin Elcock, Delmur Trading Company stable of Don Robin Farm No19 East Coast Berbice, the Kris Jagdeo and Son Construction Stable at No1 Road Corentyne Berbice and Senior Council Marcel Crawford  stable at Alness, Corentyne Berbice were the outstanding performers.
The three entities it was observed were above the others in terms of achievements. They all won feature events during the 2010 season. From what was garnered the Jagdeo Stable secured 15 wins to Elcock’s 13 and Crawford 10, although this information might not be the final tally.
However, according to punters other factors must be taken into consideration including other placings, the category and class of the races, distance, prize money among others factors. When those rationales are taken into consideration The Elcock Stable will move clearly ahead followed by The Crawford stable because most of their wins were in feature events.
The Jagdeo stable will be next in line with The Customs and Jumbo Jet stables coming in for honourable mention. Other stables such as the Rumours, Habibulla and Jagroop also did well in spurts.
The Top Horse
In arriving at a conclusion as to the top horse for 2010 there were also many propositions as to how that decision should be arrived at. A quick scan of the leading performers for 2010 will see The Message, Night Crescendo and Miss Republic dominating, but how would one arrive at the champion horses. In terms of wins Night Crescendo of the Crawford Stable stood out with the most wins followed by The Message, again knowledgeables in the horse racing fraternity said that the wins alone does not matter. What should also be taken into account is the category, class, the distance, prize money and the competition in a particular event that also counts.
Whilst one would quickly say the Message of the Elcock stable should be the top performer, Miss Republic also of the Elcock stable comes into reckoning. Miss Republic having being plagued by injuries for most of last year it returned after injury to take the feature event and the $1.2 M Guyana Cup. It also chalked up a few other wins, before bowing out to injuries again. Some punters think that it did enough to be announced as the top horse for 2010.

Again a lack of information and criteria could only lead to speculation and an opening up of the debate as to the top performers for 2010.  Some feel that Sabrina Princess of the Jagdeo stable should also come into the reckoning.  Better that Gold also of the Jagdeo stable is one of few horses that raced unbeaten for the 2010 season and much is expected of it for this new season, as well as Super Cat of the Romel Jagroop Stable in the three year old category.
Looking back at 2009, it was a double win for the Colin Elcock stable being adjudged the top racing stable for that year, while top horse The Message of the same entity was adjudged the champion animal with seven wins from nine starts.  Some punters then had said that the wins alone should not matter and felt that Miss Republic also of the Elcock stable and Irish Gel were serious contenders.
The Message however stood out like a beacon, because quite a number of its wins were in the higher C and B class events running among bigger and higher class animals although it was classified as a D2 animal then. In 2009 the Elcock stables chalked up a whopping 18 victories.
Speaking about their achievements the stable owners stated that they were happy that their entities could have been among the best for the foregone season, but were not all that surprised, since they have put a lot into the sport. “Its no big achievement and they are no big rewards, but you feel satisfied that you are among the best in the country,” one owner boosted. They are looking forward to more success in 2011 and to try and help improve the sport.
They and others in the horseracing circle were high in praise for cooperate Guyana for being on board over the years and singled out Banks DIH, which single handedly is the biggest sponsor and supporter of the sport in Guyana. Digicel also came in for honourable mention.
They are very disappointed with the Government for failing to pass the necessary legislation which will help to standardize the sport in Guyana and help bring the country back to some semblance of the early days of Durban Park when Guyana ruled the roost and was among the top performers in this hemisphere.
The owners want to know if there is legislation among Caribbean countries (Caricom) concerning trade, free trade and duty free, why animals, feed and other necessities coming in from the Caribbean has to be taxed.
The Guyana Revenue Authority and government are being blamed for aiding the demise of the sport. “If horses can be successfully bred at home then they might be cheaper and more people can enter the game. If the local stock and blood line is improved at home the level will definitely raised”, one owner stated.
They said that horse owners do not make any money from the sport, contrary to what most people believe. It is a very expensive hobby.
The animals have to be well taken care of. Milk, Barley, Guinness and other special feeds have to be acquired apart from medication, care and training. Jockeys and grooms, trainers also have to be paid. In Guyana over 1000 persons are employed in the horseracing industry.
The 2011 Horse racing season kicked off on Sunday last with the Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club one day seven-event Sprint Meet.

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