The Minster has spoken on horseracing Legislation, but a number of questions still unanswered

Jan 21, 2024 Sports

By Samuel Whyte

Kaieteur News – We all should be happy. The Minister has spoken, the Horseracing Legislation is to be tabled in Parliament this year. Being tabled in Parliament and being passed are two different things. However, if it could be passed this year would be wonderful.

With the announcement that the Legislation is set to be presented in parliament, a number of fans are optimistic that things will be done in order. But others are saying not so fast and are asking a number of questions.

To begin with, things are not as honky dory as it seems.

Before I go any further, let me state that there seems to be much misconception about what is being written in the media. As was mentioned before, journalists are not here to pick fights. But to ask probing questions, seek out the facts, lobby and advocate for changes and betterment among other undertakings.

My attention was drawn to some jumbled attempt to answer or discredit what was written in the media before. However, it is not worthy to answer since that attempt was feeble and mostly went askew. We are not here to debate, but present the facts and ask questions. Facts are stubborn things.

The aim is to see the horseracing industry on one page and that it progress like the days of Durban Park or even better. As the saying goes “We have Money Now”.

Questions being asked include: Who did the minister meet with, who appointed those persons, which clubs or track are they representing? What about top clubs and other prominent horse owners and personalities and other top stables. Why weren’t they invited? What about broad based consultation like what was done in relation to the Cricket Legislation?

Outspoken veteran and prominent Horseracing personality Mrs. Chan Kennard stated that the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) was not involved. She noted that other prominent clubs were also not involved, but why?

Horseracing magnate Colin Elcock of the Elcock Racing Stable nor the Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sports Facilities were not a part of the activity.

It is not certain which clubs were represented. Clubs like the Nand Persaud Sky Plus Turf Club and Norman Singh Memorial Turf Club were not a part of the activity. Are these clubs disbanded and who disband them? What about the Budhan Memorial Turf Club?

Mrs. Kennard reminded that there were two previous legislations drafted by two former imminently qualified Legal minds and horse racing entrepreneurs. Senior Counsel and Horseracing stalwart Marcel Crawford complied one and the late former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Cecil Kennard the other. There were inputs from another stalwart the late Insanally Habibulla, among others.

There is also the Rules of Racing. Those documents had something for everyone, including stud books, racing without the use of banners, drug use, illegal betting and infighting, issues of horse owners, Trainers, Jockeys, Grooms and even spectators.

Persons involved in the sport should not be a part of the authority. Yet one cannot understand why people are placing themselves into conflict-of-interest positions.

There were other big sponsors before that sponsored races exclusively like Clico and Digicel, but they were not involved in the administration of the day’s activity.

One is not sure what this document contains since there has not been any broad based consultation so far.

The passage of the legislation should see a legal Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) being put in place to oversee the proper conduct of the sport.

horseracing, legislation, Parliament, questions, Samuel Whyte

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