Owner-trainer Persad quits racing

And now the soft-spoken Persad is claiming $320,000 from the Arima Race Club who he alleges broke an agreement reached following a meeting of ARC president Gerard Ferreira, vice-president Kama Maharaj, secretary Joanne Boodoosingh, Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority secretary David Loregnard and himself at 8 am on Monday last.

He is claiming he entered his horses under an assumed name which he registered a long time ago - Arouca Stables, but this was nullified by the TTRA under Rule 35 (3) which indicates horses cannot be registered by a licenced trainer under an assumed name.

Persad said after the meeting, officials of the ARC made every attempt to have the horses duly entered which according to the programme they did but the stewards withdrew the 14 horses under his charge.

But he pointed out, by 10.30 am the agreement was broken when he allegedly received a call from Kama Maharaj, with whom he owned Eye Candy seeking to be bought out so the horse could race. Persad said he agreed to the buy out and did sign the transfer of trainer forms, but pointed out this in fact voided the previous agreement so he is seeking the first prize for all the races in which his horses were entered.

He placed all 17 of his stock up for sale along with his training equipment, saddles,girth and two electromagnetic pulse machines.

Persad said half his stock has already been sold and as soon as they are all gone, “that’s it.”

He said he has an American-bred four-year-old horse High Doc which should leave quarantine on Wednesday.

This horse he said has won twice and was second on four occasions racing at Churchill Downs.