Media praised for upswing in racing

This was the sentiment extended by Arima Race Club president Gerard Ferreira and Betting Levy Board chairman Roop Chan Chadeesingh at a luncheon at Valpark Restaurant, yesterday.

According to Chadeesingh, the 2005 racing season was a very good one, and he noted the media also came on board sponsoring one racing day, something which has pleased him, and urged the media houses to again sponsor a day of racing.

He said, last year his board collected $20 million and as a result, this money can be infused into the further development of racing projects.

And he told owners, they can expect an increase in stakes by about seven percent.

Chadeesingh said because of the good financial year, the BLB were able to fund the erection of new stables at a cost of $350,000 and the upgrade of the Amtote system which has already been hooked up and training of staff has already started.

He also hinted that the BLB will be raising the subsidy on the importation of horses, and pointed out that his board was happy to send both Kelvin Nancoo (Guardian) and Glen Mohammed (Express) to this year’s Kentucky Derby, to meet with US racing journalists and improve their skills.

And he Chadeesingh said, soon the BLB will be sending Nicholas Chadee to Belmont Park, New York, to spend time with Tom Durkin the race caller there, so he too can improve his skill.

He also said it is planned to have another Trinidad and Tobago Day at Woodbine, and another day at Pontefract, the first Monday in October.

Plans are also being made to stage two races at Windsor Park in London, Chadeesingh said.

Ferreira pointed to the tremendous gains made by the ARC last year, in which revenue increased by 22 percent, and indicated they were on their way to even better that this year.

But he noted a trend of sabotage to their betting cables which were cut in five places before being restored three weeks ago, and again in six places this time only being rescued by TSTT on Saturday morning.

He said these acts had significantly hurt their off-track betting, but reiterated his intention to make Santa Rosa Park an international entertainment centre.