Late stakes payment to be cut out

BETTING Levy Board chairman Roop Chan Chadeesingh plans to eradicate the long wait of owners to collect winning stake monies. He said he has drawn up plans which when instituted will bear fruit. “And the history of no money (to pay stakes)  will be something of the past,” he said. The BLB boss spoke at a news conference to launch the UPTC Gleneagle Stakes and UPTC Indian Arrival Day Turf Handicap at Valpark Shopping Plaza yesterday. Both events are to be run off on Friday, Indian Arrival Day, on the Arima Race Club proposed 10-race programme at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.

A self-critical Chadeesingh said he had been in office over four years, and felt he had not done enough for the racing industry. But he told jockeys, trainers, owners and officials, including San Fernando Mayor Gerard Ferreira who is earmarked to be the next ARC president, “the racing industry has turned the corner.” He said he had prepared and handed a three-year Business Plan to Trade and Industry Minister Ken Valley who is happy with the document. Chadeesingh said money must be generated from outside the industry, “and we must go out and get it.” He expressed the feeling that owners have sacrificed a lot, and it was time they reap some benefit.

The BLB man pointed out that Woodbine Race Track in Canada pays best stakes money in North America because they derive money from the entertainment centre they established at the course. And he made it clear, an entertainment centre must be established here to generate revenue for the racing industry. Chadeesingh told ARC president John O’Brien and Chief Executive Officer B Persad Rooplal there is a need to stage more Friday Evening Limes, and threw out the idea of having one on Carnival Friday when there are several visitors from abroad and returning Trinidadians in the country.