Trinidad Horseracing officials assesses racing situation here

Sep 02, 2013 Sports

Not pleased with how sport is governed

By Samuel Whyte
A number of top horseracing officials from the neighbouring Twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago were recently in Guyana for the staging of the Seventh Annual Guyana Cup and to observe on how horseracing is conducted in this country.

Part of the Guyana Cup action. The slimmest of
victories as Cat Messiah no2 edges Silent Night.

With an event as big as the Guyana Cup being staged, it was an ideal opportunity for the officials to make a reasonable assessment on how things are done in this country.
Five officials were part of the team that came on a private visit and along with a few private owners in Guyana are in the process of trying to improve the standard and see how they could help to develop the sport here.
The top officials making the trip were – Trainer Glen Mendes a veteran and top trainer in Trinidad and Tobago with undisputable repute who has been in the sport for a long time. Mendes hails from Central Trinidad. He has trained many horses to championship glory in the twin Island Republic. Among his achievements are training top class runner Carnival Messiah, two time triple crown winner in Trinidad and Tobago.
Brian Stollmeyer who is a member of The Trinidad and Tobago Horse Racing Authority is also a top personnel in the Horse racing fraternity in Trinidad. The Stollmeyer family is horse owners and is synonymous with the sports in that country and owns the Stollmeyer Estate and Farm in Western Trinidad.
Stephen Jordon is another veteran trainer with high standing in the twin Island Republic, who is anxious to assist his Guyanese counterparts move forward. Considered one of the top trainers in Trinidad, Jordon has training experience in both Trinidad and North America with reasonable success in Canada. He has over the years trained a number of winners including Mob the Warrior the 2012 Gold Cup Winner in Trinidad.
Dip Singh is also a top racing official in Trinidad and is an ex member of racing fraternity in the twin Island Republic.
Sham Mohammed the youngest member of the entourage is the son of veteran trainer and Trinidad Express reporter Glen Mohammed. Mohammed is a member of the Glen Mohamed racing stable. Their entity is responsible for making the entire arrangements for the horses that are purchased in Trinidad to be shipped (Air Freight) to Guyana. Some of their engagements include making the necessary contacts and arrangements with the relevant Governments agencies in both countries including the relevant Ministries and GRA.
The animals also have to receive a microchip which is placed in them so the authorities can keep a track of their movements.
During the observation of the Guyana Cup, the officials inspected the horses that took part in the feature B class event. Their purpose was to identify the best turned out horse among those entered to compete in the feature $7M race for a first prize of $3.5M. Upon inspecting the horses they decided that Grande De Roja of the Jumbo Jet stables trained and groomed by Deonarine ‘Black Boy’ Ramroop was the best groomed horses on show. They presented $10,000 to the connections of the animal.
The officials came to Guyana using their own finances and were accommodated by officials of the Jagdeo, Elcock and Jumbo Jet Stables.
Speaking with Kaieteur Sport, Sham Mohammed bluntly stated that racing in Guyana has a problem how it is governed. He stated that although the races are competitive, Guyana has a far way to go to catch up.
He mentioned the crowd on the track – no one should be on the track, especially during the race. It is an unhealthy sight and something should be done. He said that, too many persons were involved in all kinds of activities on race day that they should not be involved in. “If management falls down, then everything falls down,” he mentioned. There is almost no order in the way things are done, he noted, stating that – only a few persons should be allowed in the paddock area, such as, the grooms, trainer, owner, jockey and stewards, no one else, especially when a race is about to be conducted.
The horses owners, jockeys, trainers should all have an association and their complaints should be directed to the relevant personnel who will act on behalf of their respective members. The Horse Owners Association should have a lot of say in terms of conditions of track, treatment of horse and owners and should inspect the track before races etc.
Track management is lacking and a governing body or board should be responsible on race day. Not owners and trainers and stewards all getting mixed up and confused in who is to do what. It was observed that some of the same persons were weighing, judging, training, grooming, writing and a number of other things which are wrong; “In that way you cannot get fairness,” he asserted. He said that there should also be a bet and levy board in place, which will go a far way in eliminating many of the hiccups on race day.
Every effort should also be made to eliminate the uncontrolled and illegal betting that takes place on race day. The forecast booths should also be reintroduced and that should help. There are a few suggestions being looked at on how to assist in eliminating the scourge.