By Orville Clarke, Gleaner WriterFOR THE first time in many years, the once divided racing industry is moving as a united front to achieve its objectives in a time of crisis.
This was evident at Sunday's extra-ordinary general meeting of the Jamaica Racehorse Owners' Association (JROA) at the Hotel Four Seasons, Ruthven Road, at which a resolution calling on the Prime Minister to meet with them within a week to address matters of concern to the racing industry by June 1 was unanimously passed.
According to the owners, if that does not happen, they plan to withhold nomination of horses after the June 1 deadline.
The owners have named a strong team, representing a wide cross section of the racing industry, to represent the industry at the proposed meeting.
With the 15 percent GCT on gambling announced recently by Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies expected to impact negatively on the racing industry and the burning issue of purses yet to be addressed by State Minister Fitz Jackson, the battle lines have been drawn by industry players.
Some insiders are expecting the Finance Minister to revisit the GCT in Parliament today, but even if it is modified or removed, horseracing still faces a myriad of problems.
LEAVING THE GAME FOR GOOD
At Sunday's meeting, one disgruntled owner said he has 12 horses in training and although he has won two allowance races so far this year and chalked up a number of placings as well, he is seriously considering leaving the game for good.
"It now costs $1,000 a day to keep a horse in training. That's $30,000 per month multiplied by 12, and with purses inadequate at present, I will not import another horse into this country."
He explained that he also owns a few horses in Miami, and in contrast to Jamaica, that is a profitable enterprise.
"I recently won an allowance race at Calder in Miami and picked up US$18,000 in purse money. I recently won an allowance race at Caymanas Park and this was worth a mere $1,500 when converted into US dollars. Even if my horses earn place money in Florida it is sufficient to pay the bills, but here it's different now."
Philip Feanny, who has enjoyed unparalleled success in racing, is also fed up. Speaking from the floor on Sunday, the 13-time champion trainer said racing is dying slowly and a stand has to be taken.
"I don't want to die slowly", he declared. "I rather die quickly." He said while he is a major investor who had more to lose than anyone present, he was prepared to "lock it down now".
Such militancy is reserved for people like Trainers' Association vice-president Vin Edwards, who put forward the proposal from the floor to bypass Dr. Davies and Fitz Jackson and instead seek a meeting with Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.
"This government has no respect for racing people", he said. "The industry as it stands now, minus the GCT, is in trouble... The whole industry is being misguided. They regard us as nothing".
It was the first time that Edwards and Feanny, who have never agreed on anything in the past, were on the same wave length. Looking at Feanny, Edwards and Richard Azan sitting at the same table in a working committee after the meeting, prompted one observer to say "behold the eighth wonder of the world".
NOT ALL MILITANT
The mood at Sunday's meeting was not all militant. People like TOBA president Howard Hamilton, former JROA president Dr. Paul Wright, former JRC commissioner Tony Phillips, as well as Richard Azan and Richard Lake urged further constraint, Phillips going as far as saying "it is pointless to confront the government at this time".
Most, on the other hand, felt the purpose of the meeting was to send a message to the government. Heffes proposed that nominations for the Labour Day meeting on Friday, May 23, be withheld.
However, the on again off again protest was shot down by the majority who felt it would be more effective to "lock it down" for an indefinte period if their demands were not met.
