Better days coming in local horseracing

RACING has had its ups and downs over the last decade but has been gradually improving and is now poised to take off.

This assurance was given by Arima Race Club president Gerard Ferreira, speaking at the Neal & Massy Group/Betting Levy Board-sponsored Jetsam Awards ceremony at the Hilton Trinidad ballroom on Friday night. And it was no idle boast since Ferreira has put his money where his mouth is and has invested heavily in the industry, buying into bloodstock and equipment, and  modernising his Humming Bird Farm adjacent to the Santa Rosa Park, Arima,  racecourse. Ferreira rated himself a rookie and thanked his mentor John O’Brien, the immediate past president of the ARC, for remaining with him neck and neck after passing the baton, and to David Loregnard for the invaluable advice and personal coaching he continues to give.

The ex-Mayor of San Fernando, before assuming duties at the top of the race club, believes his apprenticeship is fast coming to an end, however. He said he could attest to the renewed sense of confidence that pervades the atmosphere and promised a better 2004 racing season. “This confidence is being actively demonstrated by our sponsors, in that existing sponsors are increasing their levels of participation, while new ones are coming into the fold.” He went on to state that in the industry was mostobvious at the annual Yearling Sale in November, where the volume of top priced babes and sales increased. Ferreira expressed hope the racing stock will rise by at least 70 horses later this season because of the increased breeding activity locally, and in order to properly utilise that stock, he will be looking to consistently stage four racing days every month.

“In addition, should the industry continue to grow at the current rate, we will then have to seriously take a fresh look at the issue of Sunday racing,” he said. He then pointed to the tremendous success Sunday racing enjoys in England, France, the United States, and other industry leaders in the developed world. But despite all these positives the ARC members are not resting on their laurels, and are working with stakeholders in the industry in pursuing a number of initiatives to ensure the industry continues to improve and expand. He paid tribute to the return of the Jockey School organised by the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority, which will soon be opening its doors, and the intended full scale development of training facility for grooms and farriers.

Ferreira said he will be focusing on strengthening relations with the TTRA and Betting Levy Board, and as a cohesive unit would be shaping a strategic vision for the industry in the years ahead. Besides the national front, the ARC is also working toward developing the sport regionally. As a member of the West Indian Thoroughbred Association the ARC is promoting meaningful co-operation with Barbados and Jamaica and would be staging its own version of the Clasico del Caribe in 2005. Ferreira threw his support behind the BLB in its Video Lottery Terminals project, and expressed belief that the VLTs will assist the racing industry in recovering a piece of the gambling market, which would contribute to self-sufficiency and independence of the sport in the years ahead. “The future of horseracing is secure, promising and bright and as government pursues its vision of a developed country status by 2020, it must meaningfully embrace the horseracing industry,” he stated .