Finance Minister Schedules Meeting with Stakeholders in Local Racing Industry

Minister of Finance and the Public Service Dr. the Honourable Nigel Clarke has scheduled a meeting with stakeholders of the local horse racing industry for Thursday May 2.

The meeting is to discuss recent developments at Caymanas Park.

Among those expected to be in attendance at the meeting are jockeys, grooms, trainers, promoters, veterinarians, horse care personnel, commissioners from the Jamaica Racing Commission and the management of Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited.

On Saturday two races were abandoned for breach of Rule 44 which speaks to the enforcement of strict adherence to race start times with a maximum allowance of five minutes after published post time.

Chairman of SVREL Salomon Sharpe says he’s hoping that matters will be resolved at Thursday’s meeting.

Meanwhile Sharpe says the Jamaica Racing Commission is over regulating and run the risk of doing more harm than good to the product.

Yesterday head of the Jamaica Racing Commission Clovis Metcalfe told Nationwide Sports that all stakeholders were either invited to or attended meetings to discuss the amendment to Rule 44.

He mentioned Sharpe among those who were invited or in attendance but Sharpe says he was never a part of any of those meetings.

Chairman of SVREL Salomon Sharpe.