Commemorates 5 years of passing of founder and horse-racing stalwart Marcel Crawford

Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sport Facility…

The Alness race track, now renamed the Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sport Facility which was founded in 1975, is celebrating horse-racing stalwart Marcel Crawford, as it marked over the holidays the fifth year since the passing of the sports enthusiast.
The Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club over the years has continued to impress as it hosted some of the most highly-anticipated horse racing meets in Guyana, featuring some of Guyana’s top horses.
The second of seven children, Crawford was born on October 13, 1937 at Salton Village (Little Alness) on the Corentyne. Five years after his passing, Crawford’s name continues to be a household one in the Ancient County of Berbice as he is

remembered as a successful lawyer, a very generous person, a former cycling champion and horse racing aficionado. Crawford was always a high flyer. He was one of the top performers in his school not only academically but athletically and set out on a career in cycling in 1956. In 1960, he was selected to represent Guyana at the Olympics in Rome, but his dreams were cut short as there were no financial measures set in place for him to be in Rome. Following that disappointment, he moved abroad to England to study medicine, but was introduced to law by former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Retired Justice Cecil Kennard. From there on, his career as a lawyer began to shape its course, with a high point being him becoming a Senior Counsel, which at that time was the highest level-ever achieved by anyone in the county. During his stay abroad, he became involved in horse racing, which would then lead to the many successes that the Facility is reaping currently. Crawford is survived by his two sons, JR Crawford and Ryan Crawford, a practising lawyer.
In an interview with <<<Guyana Times Sport>>>, Club President JR Crawford stated that he would like to thank all his sponsors for their continued support namely, Kanhai’s Electrical on Regent Street, Curtains and Drapery Designs, Stag Beer, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, Candy Corner, and Attorney-at-Law Poonai, who have all continued to support his father’s vision throughout the years.