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Focus to be on local horses for PMTC Centenary Race Meet on Aug. 1- Colin Elcock
As father time gallops closer to race day of the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) Centenary Horserace Meet at PMTC, Corentyne, Berbice on Emancipation Day, August 1, Colin Elcock, spokesperson for the organisers yesterday at his at his business place, Del Mur Shipping in Campbellville, updated the Media on the joint venture.
Coiln Lecock (right) and his son Darren at yesterday’s press conference.
The ‘Four Horse Men’ Promotion Group has collaborated with the Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club to stage this Meet. The Horse owner, who had taken a three-year sabbatical from the sport of kings, informed the ‘Four Horse Men’ Promotion Group: a group of local and overseas Guyanese in the fraternity has returned to rescue the sport in Guyana.
“We want local horses to get the same prizes as the overseas horses. We want a level playing field, help smaller owners get back, run it like a business, let the sponsors come to us because they know what they will be getting something in return for their support” Elcock said.
“Horse racing can provide employment since sports tourism is a big thing. We could have the horses race in stages like in motor racing. Go to Barbados, Trinidad and Jamaica” suggested Elcock.
Elcock also said he did not want to talk about politics but lamented that it seems that both Governments have very little interest in sports or understand what it can do for a Country.
Elcock, who was accompanied by his son Darren as co-sponsor, disclosed that he has spoken to several local horse owners who share his vision.
It was disclosed that the Emancipation Meet is being held in memory of the achievements of the late Attorney-at-Law and Senior Counsel, Marcel Crawford for the enormous amount of work he did at the PMTC during his lifetime.
“He had documents from all over and sat down and put together a piece of legislation for horse racing and sent it to Ministers of both Governments to send to Parliament but it must be in some garbage bin by now. Up to now there are no fixed laws for horse racing in place. Yet when you hold an event you must do a lot of things including paying the GRA. We hope to bring horse racing back to City but we need an all-weather track since too often rain results in events being cancelled” lamented Elcock.
The late Crawford, who owned his own race track at Alness on the Corentyne, was a stalwart in the fraternity as a breeder, importer, trainer, promoter and sponsor. Elcock added that this Meet which marks the 100th anniversary of the turf club, is focused on local content and will be used to give back to ex-owners that are not doing so well. They will receive hampers from the organisers.
According to the Organisers, seven races are scheduled with over $5M in cash and trophies and other incentives up for grabs. Over 50 horses have been entered for what promises to be a day of fantastic competition among the horses and a day of fun and frolic for what is anticipated to be a large turn-out of fans.
Among those vying for supremacy are, The Republican, Cat Ruler, Mahaica Star, Victoria, Marryann, Kentucky Woman, Not This Time, Catch a Glimpse, Silver Charm, First Prince, Up Top Boss, Flo Jo, Byron, Up Rising Star, Orian, Pick A Chue, Princess, Village Prince, Princess Emma, Touch Down, Delilah, Royal Progression, Prince Celine, Massapequa Dr, Lucky Lucky and Stolen Diamond.
Sponsors including Banks DIH Limited, Dequan Trading, Attorney at Law Senior Counsel Rajendra Poonai, Sankar Auto Works, Cumming Electrical Company, Valvoline, Just Water, Colin Elcock Delmur Shipping, Toolsie Persaud and Habibulla Meat Center are on board so far.
There are three feature events on the programme with the 1300M race for animals classified 3 years-old Guyana-bred racing for a winning purse of $300,000 and trophy the main race.
The H3 and lower race over 1300M for a winning take of $220,000 and trophy and the two year-old Guyana-bred animals 1000M for a winning take of $220,000 and a trophy are the others.
The other events are for horses classified J and lower, K2 and Lower, L class open and L1 and lower. Races will be run under the Guyana Horse Racing Rules and no late entries will be accepted.
Interested persons can make contact with Bobby Vaughn on 624 6788, 223 5097 or 227 7061, Marcel Crawford Jnr. on 678 5342 or 600 7690, Fazal Habibullah on 657 7010, Compton Sancho on 691 1174 or Loresa Mohabir on 624 0453 for further information. (Sean Devers)
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