Guyana Cup Fever horse race meet in limbo

Apr 17, 2014 Sports

---

Injunction filed to stop meeting

When all seems well in the horse racing fraternity the fate of the lucrative Guyana Cup Fever Horserace meet 2014, which is slated for Sunday 20th April  at the Port Mourant Turf Club, hangs in the balance with  an injunction  being granted in the High Court to stop the event.
The injunction which was sought by popular horse owner Dennis DeRoop of the Simple Royal Stable, owner of champion horse Score Even, was granted by Justice Sandra Kurtzious in the Berbice High Court on Tuesday 15th April.
DeRoop of Lot 33, Kilmarnock Village, Corentyne, Berbice stated in the affidavit that he is a Rice and Cattle Farmer. Through his lawyers Messrs. Adrian Anamayah, and or Ian Anamayah Attorneys-at-law whose place of business is at Lot 7-7 Cheddi Jagan Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice, was granted the injunction against the Port Mourant Turf Club and whose representatives have been named as Krishna Persaud Jagdeo and Chattergoon Ramnauth, individually and as the Secretary of the Port Mourant Turf Club.
He is seeking an injunction restraining the defendants by themselves, their servants and agents from holding the Guyana Cup Fever Horse Race Meeting on the date mentioned pending the hearing and determination of the matter.
He is also seeking a mandatory injunction compelling on the defendants to include his horse Score’s Even, in the Guyana Cup Fever Horse Race Meeting set for the mentioned date.
In that he is asking the court that the exclusion of his horse, Score’s Even from the Guyana Cup Fever Horse Race Meeting is unlawful and contrary to the rules governing horse racing in Guyana.
Giving details of his horse, DeRoop stated that he is the owner and trainer of Score’s Even which is a seven year old Roan Grey Gelding (Male) imported from Miami, Florida, United States of America, in 2012.
The animal he said is duly registered in Guyana with the Guyana Horse Racing Authority. It has won 9 out of the 17 races it has taken part in Guyana. It is the top race horse in Guyana and because of its recent performance it is now classified in the “A1” category by the Guyana Horse Racing Authority.
He mentioned that he is a registered member of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority and is one of four horse owners and trainers representative.  He mentioned that the Guyana Horse Racing Authority sanctions all horse racing in Guyana.  “My horse has been racing and participating at all the race tracks/clubs in Guyana including the Port Mourant Turf Club since it was brought to Guyana,” DeRoop said.
He said that the defendants’ purposes to hold the Annual Guyana Cup Fever race on the date mentioned above. The race is a national event open to all horses. In the past the feature event at all race tracks/clubs has always been the A class and lower race. This race is open to all horses. “This is the only race that my horse can enter and participate in” he informed.
Score’s Even because of its classification as an A1 horse is restricted from racing in any other race. Score’s Even, participated in Guyana Cup Fever 2013, in the A class and lower race and won the race convincingly.
He mentioned that the defendants have released a provisional programme for the event which omits the A1 class and lower race, a clear indication that his horse cannot participate.
DeRoop in is affidavit to the court stated that he subsequently made contact with the President of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority, Mr. Vic Oudit.  A meeting was held on the 27th day of March which was attended by all of the major horse owners. The defendants were also present. The owners also signed a letter confirming their willingness to compete against Score’s Even.
At that meeting Mr. Oudit informed the defendants that the A class and lower class race has to be included in the programme and Score’s Even must be allowed to race and that to do otherwise would be a violation of the racing rules.
DeRoop in his affidavit stated that at the meeting the defendants attempted to mislead the President of the GHRA by telling him that other horse owners and trainers are not willing to participate and compete against Score’s Even.  DeRoop went on to state that at the said meeting he indicated that he was prepared to have Score’s Even, race with more than its “allotted weight” to ensure that the other horses are not at a disadvantage.
He stated in his affidavit that he has invested a considerable amount of his personal resources and finances in training, grooming, feeding his champion horse over the last three (3) months in preparation for the Guyana Cup Fever Race and was disappointed when he learnt that it could not participate.
He said that horse racing in Guyana is governed by the Demerara Turf Club Rules of Racing 1959. All clubs and race tracks including the Port Mourant Turf Club adhere to and follow the rules.
In his view the defendants have every intention of excluding his horse Score’s Even, from the Guyana Cup Fever 2014 races meet. He said that if he is not allowed to participate he will suffer irreparable loss and damages for which he cannot be adequately compensated.

---

---