Horse race organizers to discuss safe return of races with Sport Minister

By Brandon Corlette

While activities have resumed for most of the sporting disciplines in Guyana, the return of horse racing is yet to materialise.

The last race ran off in February 2020 at Rising Sun, West Coast Berbice. According to racing organisers, the horse racing fraternity will be seeking guidance from Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr.
Their meeting is tentatively set for May 15 and the focus will surround a safe return of horse racing in Guyana, subject to approval from the National Covid-19 taskforce. In an invited comment to Guyana Times Sport, Retired Justice Cecil Kennard explained that the horse racing organisers were trying their best to see the return of safe horse racing.

“The meeting will be to get guidance from the Minister as to when we can start planning for race meetings. We cannot fix a date until we get an opinion from the Sport Minister. He will indicate if we wait a little longer. I don’t want to run a race meeting until it’s safe,” Justice Kennard explained.
He is further calling for horse owners to remain patient as the organisers continue to battle for the return of races. Horse racing in Guyana has attracted some of the largest crowds, with the exception of cricket (Caribbean Premier League) or motor racing to an extent. During this pandemic, sporting events that flouted the COVID-19 guidelines were sanctioned.
“You cannot expect the organisers to do everything. The audience must be responsible. I am thinking about horse racing return in August, but the COVID-19 cases keep rising,” Justice Kennard said.
With no races being hosted, the caretakers and all those involved in horse racing are suffering losses.
“What I am concerned is that the rich man can afford to feed the horses, but the poor man cannot since there is no activities. I think they are trying to have match races, but the crowd and the income is not generated.”
In other Caribbean countries, horse racing has returned, but the organisational structure is superior to Guyana’s. “They are fortunate to have sponsors and the betting OTP to get revenue, but we are not organised to that extent in Guyana. We are having races with no cooperation and we have asked several Ministers of Sport to help with the legislation, but nothing was done,” Justice Kennard noted.
According to Justice Kennard, the Bush Lot race track is in tip-top shape and the infrastructure is in prime position to host horse racing. He further noted that the beverage companies may not come on board if horse racing returned, because the selling of alcohol would not be permitted. Justice Kennard is calling for other businesses to support the sport when the greenlight is given.
As long as there is life, there is hope. That is the motto that Justice Kennard is following and he is hoping that the safe hosting of horse racing returns in Guyana.