4-Horse Man Promotions Group well prepped for August 1 meet

─ Elcock urges more local content

By Timothy Jaikarran

The 4-Horse Man Promotions Group, in collaboration with the Crawford Memorial Turf Club & Sports Facility (CMTC&SF), will be staging a grand one-day horse racing meet at the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) on Emancipation Day, August 1st, 2019.

At a press conference held at the offices of Delmur Company in Prashad Nagar, Georgetown, Colin Elcock of the 4-Horse Man Promotions Group said, “This meeting was put together by a few horse fanatics. Horse racing is at an all-time low, but as this is the 100th anniversary of the club (PMTC), we, the 4-Horse Men, decided to come forward and do something, not only for the 100th anniversary, but (to) rescue horse racing in a different form.

“One of the suggestions that I came up with is the promotion of local content. If we can use the local horses and use a Jamaican formula, 2- and 3-year-old bred horses should he racing for similar purses as imported horses. If we do that, we will find that racing will come back (be revived). So, to bring back people into the sport, what this 4-Horse Man production will be doing is that no imported horses will be racing for a purse higher than a locally bred horse.
“I hope that the local horse owners tag on and let this become a movement. I strongly propose more local content, because this is not about prize money, but about levelling the field and moving sports forward.”
Elcock also noted that sporting organisations should amend their functioning to operate more as a business, meaning that they should present what they have to offer, rather than always seeking donations.
He also noted that there is definite need for an all-weather track to facilitate horse racing, but he said he is confident the August 1 event would restore the high standard in horse racing.
Elcock has said he remains positive that more sponsors will come on board this event, since the sport is growing in Guyana. He noted that the presence of more sponsors on board would cause the sport to expand exponentially, but said he is more focused on pushing for horse racing legislation in Guyana.
He related that it has always been his goal to continue the work of the late Marcel Crawford and push for such legislation to be passed, since he knows that Guyana can develop into one of the world’s prime horse racing venues.
With several entries already confirmed for the seven-race card, August 1st promises to be an exciting one. Feature event of the meet is the 1300-metre race for Guyana-bred horses that are 3 years old. A winning purse of $300,000 and trophy is being competed for.
Another exciting event would see the H3 and Lower horses racing over a distance of 1000 metres for a first prize of $220,000 and a trophy.
The 900-metre race for two-year-old Guyana-bred horses carries a winning prize of $220,000 and a trophy. The J and Lower classified animals, which are 4 years and older, would be racing over a distance of 1000 metres for a prize of $180,000 and a trophy.
The K2 and Lower race, which is to be run over 1000 metres, would reward the winner with $170,000; while the L Class Open animals would be duking it out in their 1100-metre race for a top prize of $160,000.
The final race of the day will be competed among animals classified L1 and Lower over a distance of 1000 metres for a top prize of $140,000.
The Meet’s Organising Committee reserves the right to cancel/reframe any of the mentioned races. In the event that there are less than five horses competing, the committee reserves the right to reframe the event or reduce the prize money.
All races will be run under the Guyana Horse Racing Rules, and no late entries will be accepted. Any person desirous of entering an animal in any race is invited to contact Bobby Vaughn on 624-6788, 223-5097 or 227-7061. For more information, interested individuals can contact Marcel Crawford Jr on 678-5342 or 600-7690; Fazal Habibullah on 657-7010; Compton Sancho on 691-1174, or Loresa Mohabir on 624-0453.