Is the Guyana Horse Racing Authority Board ready to function?

Jul 19, 2026 Sports

Is it complete and are the correct persons in place?

By Samuel Whyte

Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana Horse Racing Legislation has been passed and members of a Board of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) have been appointed and gazette, but is it complete and ready for action?

Recently Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson announced the formation of the Board of the GHRA.

The Board is chaired by Dr. Steven Chefoon and includes Adrian Anamayah, Dr. Nardeo Bassoodeo, Amernauth Kiritpaul, Zahir Khan, Poonai Bhigroog and Councillor Mohamed Naeem Kamal of the Port Mourant Turf Club, who is listed for racetrack support and administration.

One of the first questions being asked, is the board complete? From information the Body should also include representatives of various groups that are connected to horseracing. A representative, each representing horse owners, jockeys, tracks owners, trainers, grooms etc.

It has to be done, but it is not certain how it will be done. If the governing Body will meet separately with the respective groups and select a representative, or the respective groups will meet separately and select a representative to sit on the Board.

The other thing being asked is how the members of the Board were selected, since there was no wide scale consultation as was done for cricket.

According to Minister Ramson, “We’ve done our bit in advancing, getting the authority consolidated and brought into force, now, what happens next is really important.”

Maybe the Minister is correct, they have done their bit and it is left to the rest of the Horse Racing Fraternity to do their part. But was the correct methodology used in putting the Board together, or is it a partial job?

The Minister said the members placed on the board were carefully selected, particularly because of the type of functions the Authority will have to perform and the areas of expertise required.

Questions are being asked about the composition of the board. One of the regulations is that persons on the board should not be involved in Horse Racing. Be it as an owner, trainer, jockey etc.

From the persons named at least two have been integrally involved in Horse racing in Guyana. Is it stepping out on the wrong footing? Some other questions about the composition of the Board would be left for you to read between the lines.

Speaking on the Board the Minister said, “The Horse Racing Authority Act and the Authority themselves, have been brought into place, approved and appointed. It’s time that they start doing the work that the Act requires them to do.”

There are two major Horserace meets on the cards weeks away. Is the Board involved or are they not yet ready for action.

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Authority Board, Guyana Horse Racing, Horse Racing Legislation

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