RTA boss wants Sunday racing here

The Racehorse Trainer Association thinks that Sunday racing is the impetus to take racing forward. And they have communicated their findings to Minister of Trade, Enterprise and Development, Ken Valley. In a letter dispatched to Minister Valley and Sport Minister Roger Boynes, RTA president Shaffique Khan referred to the Second Schedule of the Gambling and Betting Act 22 of 1963 Chapter 11.19 imploring them use their influence in seeking an amendment in order for the industry to come on par with other countries. The letter stated in part: “Although this act has been amended on several occasions subsequently, no one has seen it fit to recommend the opening of Betting Offices so as to facilitate horseracing on Sunday. “This I regard as an oversight, since, it has long been successful in England, United States, France, Italy and many other third world countries.” Khan thinks this bold  move is necessary to revamp the sport still heavily  dependent on the coffers of the Betting Levy Board for survival.

“At this time when procedures are being established to take the sport forward and to eliminate anomalies within the indusrty, it is imperative that all considerations be given and none be spared in the plight of resurrecting the sport at home,” Khan said. Khan is positive that the various racing bodies and the entire racing fraternity would join in this call, stating the provision in the amendment to the Act, if amended, would mean that horseracing would enjoy the same stature of the casinos which attract betting without constraints. “The recent success of the Friday Evening Lime was a clear indication that Sunday racing would encourage families out, thereby maximising their income base,” Khan added. He is also of the opinion that additional revenue will be derived with Sunday racing, which could drastically reduce the strain on the Betting Levy Board, which contribute $165,000 to the payment of stakes each race day.