Popular horserace entrepreneur calls for regularisation of the entity

Mar 19, 2013 Sports

---

 

 

– feels Ministry of Agriculture should oversee activities

By Samuel Whyte

Popular horseracing entrepreneur, Colin Elcock, is deeply concerned by the lax approaches of Government and some members of the horseracing fraternity towards the development of the sector and has issued a call for immediate measures to correct the anomalies that are threatening to usurp the development of the sport.

Mr. Elcock spoke with Kaieteur Sport and lamented the degeneration of the sport over the years, saying that the situation has reached a chaotic stage. He said that it seems as though the fraternity is operating devoid of rules that have reduced horse race to “an organized gymkhana event.”
He also lashed out at the Government officials saying they are to be blamed due to laissez-faire approaches in the establishment of the requisite legislation to regularize activities within the fraternity.
“The fraternity is in chaos and people are doing as they please, devoid of sanctions,” lamented Mr. Elcock. He is urging Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony to expeditiously launch an investigation with a view of regularizing activities in the fraternity.
Some of his pressing concerns include the operations of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA), judges, commentators and stewards of meetings. Mr. Elcock also beseeches Mr. Anthony to investigate the procedure pertaining to acquisition of racing dates, classification of horses, stud books, registration of local and imported horses, training and licensing of jockeys, and the continued participation of jockeys even after they would have attained retirement age.
Consequently, Elcock is calling on major sponsors to withhold their largesse until horseracing administrators become more accountable and enact the necessary changes.
He bemoaned the high incidences of un-regularised betting at the meets, while calling on those responsible to establish betting booths in order to restore some semblance of order while controlling the large numbers of punters that spill onto the tracks during events.
Elcock chided administrators of the sport for their non-consultative attitudes before establishing dates for meets. He also urged administrators to respect traditional dates already enshrined under the yearly calendar of events.
The proper planning of races also came up for criticism; he said that horses make races and that is a factor that should be taken into consideration. “Horses are unique animals; some are good sprinters while others excel over longer distances; others are versatile and possess both traits,” explained Mr. Elcock.
He elaborated by saying that when races are arranged over specific distances, some horse owners are disadvantaged. “Consultations should be held with all stakeholders so that their interests could be best served,” concluded Mr. Elcock.
The horserace magnate next took a swipe at the newly elected officials of the GHRA and referred to them as ‘toothless.’ He said that despite the absence of proper rules, adequate notices and a structured agenda, some members went ahead and held elections. “Who are the members? Who are the eligible voters and under what rules are elections being held,” Mr. Elcock wanted to know while calling on those executives to get their act together. “Right now it is a situation where the blind is leading the blind down the wrong path,” he asserted.
As a first, Elcock feels that the sport should be placed under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture and even then activities should be conducted under the animal act. He pointed out that this entity deals with the care, transport, quarantine and treatment of animals and is the appropriate entity to overlook the workings of the fraternity. He also feels that the input of officials of the Ministry of Sports is also necessary. “This is the way it is done in other countries because of the primary involvement of animals,” he said.
Additionally, Mr. Elcock feels that there is a need for an Association to address the concerns of trainer, owners and jockeys. This group would then be affiliated to the GHRA. He is also calling for the establishment of a stud book to record the activities and accomplishments of the horses. “This would be very helpful in tracking the achievements and exploits of horses whether local or foreign based,” opined Elcock. The present situation sees local horses unable to compete in international meets because of improperly kept records.
Mr. Elcock next turned his attention to the judging process and dubbed it as ‘woefully archaic.’ He feels that the time has come for organizers to adopt technological approaches to establish the respective positions especially in those races that end in close finishes.
He feels that the current state of affairs is appalling and in urgent need of regularization. He said that the entire fraternity is in chaos and the time for urgent reforms is long past. As such, the horserace magnate feels that the recently installed GHRA should be disbanded and an interim body should be installed until some semblance of order and sanity is restored.

---

---