Untimely death of Daredevil Hero

THE EDITOR: You may publish this letter written to Mr Gerard Ferreira, President, Arima Race Club, Santa Rosa Park, Arima. Dear Mr Ferreira, the untimely and unnecessary demise of my champion and prized racehorse Daredevil Hero has caused me great personal distress and certainly dampened my otherwise great enthusiasm for the sport of local horse racing — a sport that my family and I, have been so intimately involved with for some 54 years. One doesn’t have to tell me about the heartbreaks and disappointments so characterised by the uncertainties of this sport of horse racing — I have indeed had my fair share as well as so many other horse owners, but certainly the incident which resulted in Daredevil Hero’s death amounted to nothing more than incompetence and negligence on behalf of those responsible for the administration of racing at the Arima Race Club.

The loose and frightened horse was able to exit the track and enter a very dangerous area because of a 30 feet gap in the rails which should never had been left open during a race. Nowhere in any bona fide racing centre would such be allowed for obvious reasons. Racing would not have been conducted until the track was completely sealed. Letters and advisories outlining this problem had already been sent to the relevant authorities, but obviously to no avail. This major dereliction highlights the negligence of those in charge to ensure the safety of those participating in the events sanctioned by the race club. Yes, I most certainly do have grounds to take some legal action, but personally because of my support for the sport locally, and my involvement in seeing it developed properly, I am caught in somewhat a dilemma. I certainly do hope that the shortcomings that resulted in the loss of Daredevil Hero, and which has unfortunately robbed the local racing fraternity of many exciting possibilities, be addressed and rectified immediately.

The following are a few of the measures that should be implemented to prevent such unnecessary incidences and loss of equine life from occurring in the future:

•The employ of properly trained outriders to deal effectively with loose horses, a norm at any North American racetrack. Professional outriders can prevent and minimise disruptions and potential injuries when horses “get away,” and a situation as occurred with Daredevil Hero would not have taken place.

•Ensure that the racetrack rails are in place and properly sealed so that no un-tendered horse can exit the racetrack and risk injury to itself and the public. Rails must be at the proper heights and in good repair throughout the circuit.

•Ensure that a safety audit be carried out at the track and paddock by knowledgeable horsemen to minimise the many dangers very present in the paddock and surrounding areas which if continued to be left unattended will in time result in more deaths to our racehorses. Many have met their demise already.

It is difficult enough to lose a racehorse through training injuries in addition to much preventable accidents, but far more as a result of carelessness and conditions which are unsuitable for horses. Local horse racing can ill afford to lose its potential stars and heroes through continued mismanagement and carelessness, especially at this junction when despite what is reported racing is not progressing in a positive direction. We need good horses, new owners and attractive products if it is to  survive into what is a very “shaky” period for the sport. We are witnessing a changing of the guard with respect to those committed horse owners, with very few new faces getting involved. I have serious concerns about the sport’s development into the future. The absence of new and positive initiatives by your current Executive to take the sport of its perennial doldrums, does not augur well especially when for the first time we have all the players including the Government on the same page. What occurred on Indian Arrival Day, further endorses my concerns.

DEREK A CHIN
Owner of Daredevil Hero
Dachin Racing Stables