10 months ago
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LAST SATURDAY the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC), the regulators of local horse racing, flexed their muscles at Caymanas Park by enforcing rule 44 which stipulates that once a post time is made official a race can be abandoned by the race stewards if the starter does not send off the race within five minutes after the published time. The failure to adhere to this rule resulted in races one and six being cancelled last Saturday.
In a press briefing at the AC Hotel in New Kingston yesterday, Solomon Sharpe, chairman of Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), promoters of local horse racing , stated that the recently amended five-minute rule is a unique one that could have a ripple effect throughout Caymanas Park.
“This rule doesn’t exist in any jurisdiction outside of Jamaica. Enforcing a maximum of five minutes allowance for races at Caymanas Park doesn’t factor in the numerous variables that can affect the punctual start of a race and penalises the entire racing ecosystem when a race is abandoned. Punters, jockeys, grooms, trainers, owners and the Government lose out on income whenever a race is abandoned,” he explained.
Sharpe stated that following the unfortunate situation he’s now looking at the possibility of mending the relationship between the JRC and SVREL. He also expressed disappointment that there was no communication before the rule was amended on April 1.
“It is unfortunate that we were not included in the original consultation about this rule as we would have expressed our concerns about the potential repercussions. Now that we’ve had two races abandoned in one race day and our concerns have materialised, we are once again stating that SVREL is open to constructive dialogue with the JRC to review this amended rule,” Sharpe said.
He added that with horse racing being as popular as it is in Jamaica, he’s calling on the various stakeholders to join together in keeping the sport alive locally.
“Horse racing is one of the biggest sports in Jamaica and there is the potential to export the product and have it become one of Jamaica’s biggest foreign exchange earners. Realising the potential of Caymanas Park will take collaboration on the part of all stakeholders,” Sharpe added.
A ‘bad move’
Phillip Parchment, president of the Jamaica Jockeys’ Guild, also added his voice and he said the abandonment of two races on the same day was quite unfortunate and labelled it as a “bad move” by the JRC.
“I felt that it was a bad move and I didn’t like the disruption. The jockeys who were slated to ride didn’t get paid and I was displeased with the manner that the JRC dealt with it. This can now create a bad relationship between the JRC and SVREL and I think they need to sit down and revise these rules,” Parchment said.
In a report published in The Gleaner on Sunday, top executives from the JRC told stakeholders that a decision had been made to put a stop to the abandonment of races and to revisit the amended rule.
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