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Due to instability many stables have shifted allegiance to overseas
By Samuel Whyte
Kaieteur Sports – As the numerous horse racing issues continue unabated in Guyana, several of the big players have left these shores to ply their trade overseas and others are also preparing to go.
Easy as ABC is owned by the Night Eyes Racing Stable
While the authorities are talking about growth and development, the opposite seems to be happening at the moment.
Most of those players have migrated to Jamaica with racing in Trinidad on a down low at the moment.
Among the prominent horse owners that are racing in Jamaica are the Oudit, Poonai, Elcock, Slingers and Night Eyes stables. Several others are also preparing to leave.
The Oudit Stables is led by businessman Vic Oudit, who once served as president of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA). The Poonai Racing Stable is led by Senior Council Rajendra Poonai, who was also a legal advisor of the GHRA.
The biggest blow to the horse racing fraternity is the withdrawal of the Elcock Delmur Racing Stable. The Elcock Stable is one of the most successful stables in Guyana with five wins at the Guyana Cup amongst numerous other successes. Elcock maintains only two locally bred horses in Guyana. His reason for that is to show that horses can be bred in Guyana and be successful. The Slingers racing stable has also been racing in Jamaica for several years.
The Night Eyes Racing Stables’ horse, Easy as ABC
The latest to leave is the Night Eyes Racing Stables. According to owner Jeremy “Cowboy” Rajpaul the atmosphere in Jamaica is much better. Things are done according to the rules and persons are not allowed to cheat, which carries a strict penalty.
He grew up in the sport and is a third-generation owner as his father and grandfather was.
He heard and read a lot about the D’Urban Park, in Georgetown. D’Urban Park, he learned, was the mecca of horse racing in the Caribbean and further afield. He wished that horse racing in Guyana can be returned to those glory days.
His reason for leaving is because things are not right and there are too many unfair tactics and there is no one to complain to because there is no authority. He recently imported four expensive horses from USA to Guyana; Ariana Vision, Jessica Pride, Princess Bella and Capture the Fire. After realizing what is going on he regretted that move. Had he known he would have sent all those animals to Jamaica. He has since redirected his efforts to that island and his horses will be racing in a major race meet this month.
Like most of those who are racing overseas, Rajpaul wants to race in Guyana but things must be better. Legislation and an oversight body must be in place.
Owners’ and trainers’ concerns must be addressed because without them there will be no racing. There is also a need for better facilities.
The sport must take into consideration the local owners. Horse racing is an expensive sport and many owners buy their animals in installments. Races need to be made for them and better prize monies should be distributed.
Things need to be better or else they too will leave due to frustration.
He added that we cannot complain about money now, because Guyana has it aplenty.
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