Mrs Chan Kennard: The Mother of Horse Racing in Guyana

By Brandon Corlette

Mothers are like glue, even when you cannot see them, they are still holding the family together.
That is the role Mrs Chan Kennard continues to play in horse racing in Guyana, especially at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club at Bush Lot Farm on the Corentyne Coast in East Berbice (Region 6). Mrs Chan Kennard is the widow of the late Justice Cecil Kennard, and she continues to play a mother’s role in horse racing in Guyana – a role she started playing since 1966.

In this Guyana Times Sport Mother’s Day feature, Aunty Chan, as she is well-known, reflected on her early days in horse racing, and spoke about the role she played behind-the-scenes when her late husband was the father of horse racing in Guyana. She also spoke about the role she continues to play today at Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club.
“The Kennard family was in the horse-racing industry for over 112 years now. Justice Kennard grew up in that area of horse racing. They had horses and they were racing horses in the industry. I have some trophies here (at the house) from since 1912. That goes to show we have been in the industry for such a long time. I was never involved in horse racing until 1966,” Aunty Chan said.

As it relates to her initial days in horse-racing, Aunty Chan said: “We were engaged at the time. The Queen came for Independence. We had the Demerara Turf Club at that time. He (Justice Kennard) took me to that meeting when the Queen came. Then you had to wear hat and gloves and what have you. But I went to the meeting, and I enjoyed that day. From then on, every time they have races at the Demerara Turf Club, he would take me.”
Aunty Chan, originally from Canje, Berbice, added: “Even when we got married and we moved to Georgetown, after the day’s racing, he would bring home the boys from the Corentyne that were racing, and they would all have a good time at my home, talking about which jockey should have won and so on.
“I got involved more into the horse-racing industry, and since he (Justice Kennard) was taken up more with his job, which was very demanding, I was back of it all, trying to sort things out, helping him out with the programme, helping him out with sponsors and what have you. Even at the turf club, I would see to it that the building is clean, everybody is comfortable, and at the same time assist him in the day’s racing,” the mother of horse racing said.
Despite the passing of her late husband Justice Kennard, horse racing continues to be a tradition at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club. This rich horse racing facility is well-known for the Boxing Day racing event, which are highly successful meets.
“I could have closed the track after he died, but I realized that if I do that, then I will deprive people from the Corentyne to come and enjoy a day’s racing.
“Then the low-class horses, I give preference to them, so they can feel included in the horse-racing industry, and they are not left out because of the big horses”, Aunty Chan said.
“It is not easy to train horses. It is a very expensive way of doing horse racing. In horse racing, we also give work to people: the trainer, the jockey, the grooms, you have to employ those people. This brings money to the people’s pocket and this is why I said let me keep the track open for as long as I can, and let people know there is a track up the Corentyne where they can come an anytime and exercise,” the horse enthusiast said.
“Our club is a members club. We have a board, and I took over as the President. I can say without hesitation that I am the mother to all the boys,” Aunty Chan disclosed.
Mrs Kennard also took the opportunity to wish all the mothers a happy Mother’s Day. “Mothers should be respected and honoured,” she said.