Letter to the Sports Editor...A response to Kaieteur News letter of April 18

Letter to the Sports Editor…A response to Kaieteur News letter of April 18

Apr 29, 2012 Sports

Dear Sports Editor,
I wrote a detailed response to the letter dated April 18th, 2012 by a “concerned horse race fan.” After giving my response to several people to read, I was told not to publish it. I must say that with every fiber of my being, I would like to publish it. However, I will withhold that response. Now, instead, I offer a watered down version.
The article in the Kaieteur News dated April 18th, 2012 by the “concerned horseracing fan” who isn’t man or woman enough to put their name, but I have my suspicion who you are. What your article failed to report is the guns that were drawn by associates of one entity. If the concerned citizen is in possession of evidence that I assaulted anyone, then take me to court and charge me. If the concerned fan is so sure of the facts, why are you writing in anonymity?
All that you have written is a lie. I am therefore asking Kaieteur News to retract your story that I assaulted anyone. If this story isn’t retracted, I will be suing for defamation. There were witnesses that can testify on my behalf that I never threw a bottle nor assaulted anyone to cause blood to their forehead. There is a videotape of the entire fiasco that will exonerate me from the claims of the “concerned horse racing fan.” If I did assault this jockey as you claimed, why haven’t police charged me as yet? Or took a statement from me? This is the same jockey, who after winning a race at Number 6 Racetrack for Jumbo Jet, grabbed his crotch and shook it to the capacity crowd.
On the 25th day of September, 2010, the darkest day in my life, my mother was buried. In my time of grief, the wife and daughter of Jumbo Jet attended the funeral. Based on that and that alone, I am giving you a free pass this once out of respect for my mother. If, however, the letter is not retracted, legal proceedings will follow.
There should have been an investigation by the relevant authorities who were present. The entire crowd saw the guns and the people involved. The Ministers of Education and Sport were present, including Commander Vyphuis. Two police prosecutors witnessed the weapons and the entire scene. But, the funny thing about money and it’s power, it insulates you from prosecution, jail, or investigation in this country. The police seemed intimidated that Sunday afternoon to even confront the thugs. It shows the level of corruption within the police force.
When I spoke on behalf of the AFC campaign, I was critical of the corruption in this country and its impact on this society as a whole. On a weekly basis, there is a story in the newspapers of wanton corruption, bribery, theft and the like, but I’m yet to see a single prosecution. This scenario is the same with the horseracing community, ie, it is now infested with people who do not care about the sport nor the safety of the animals. The expenditure of money to buy races, jockeys, officials and plain disrespect has gone to extreme proportion for the “Sport of Kings.
My family acquired the little we have by hard and honest work, not by illegal or dishonest means. Why doesn’t the concerned fan write about Jr Jet’s behavior the week before at Port Mourant Racetrack with his threats of violence against jockey Yap Drepaul in the presence of the stewards and officials? What about his disrespect at Justice Kennard’s track with loud music? And why is it that a 22 year old kid walks around with a weapon? Why don’t you write about the sizeable sum paid because of a gun incident on a woman in a minibus? Is he a licensed gun holder?
Gone are the humble days…, hello to Prado and guns…?
This entire fiasco has to do with gambling. This problem is a plague that has been going on since the famous Peaceful and Zenyatta debacle at Port Mourant that resulted in a deadheat. Everyone present saw Peaceful, from the Colin Elcock stables, winning the close contest, but because of the amount of gambling, the race was neutralized.
In race no.1 that Sunday, another Trinidadian jockey was blocking a charging second place horse owned by Attorney at Law, Poonai. A complaint was lodged with the race officials by Colin Elcock. Why don’t you write that Jr Jet and the entire clique are gambling in the races, so it is imperative that they win at all cost or their pay out will be huge. Is this what we are to expect for the Guyana Cup that is run by Jumbo Jet?
My father and members of our community built Ryan Crawford Memorial track for the love of the sport not for money. I am not affiliated with my father’s track in any way shape or form. I attend and pay the same money as regular fans. If I had my way, I would turn the racetrack into an athletic sports facility and health centre for the people of my community. None of Senior Counsel Crawford sons care about horseracing. If I need to see proper horseraces, I’d put on a suit and sit in the US, Canada (with the family of deceased David Sarjudas at Woodbine) or any other Caribbean island minus the gun flaring gangsters.
Ryan Crawford

Editor’s note: Kaieteur Sport would like to offer an apology to Mr Crawford for any embarrassment and other mental duress he may have suffered by the publication of the letter referred to. We however allow persons the opportunity to air their views about particular events. At times those views may offend.
Based on my investigation Mr Crawford hit the crux of the problem affecting horseracing locally…gambling. In the absence of proper legislation by government the sport is made to suffer. We hope this can be corrected soonest and the sport can be enjoyed without incident.
While, the views in the previous letter were not ours, we would offer a retraction of the article and again our apologies to Mr Crawford.