By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterAFTER 24 years, it's end of game for the Racing Pools as we know it. This was confirmed by Walford Brown, acting chief executive officer of Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) after three punters with maximum 32 points shared the $103,000 first prize, ensuring there would be no further carryover.
Brown, the man who was instrumental in bringing the game on stream in January, 1979 as the then Racing Pools manager, said the game will be suspended and will return on-line at Off-Track Betting Parlours (OTBs) and Caymanas Park in the not too distant future.
He said plans to revamp the Racing Pools have been in the pipeline for months now, as sales had decreased significantly over the past year due to Friday racing and other factors.
NO LONGER ECONOMICALLY VIABLE
"It was not attracting new players and as a result was no longer economically viable", Brown revealed.
He further stated that CTL has been working aggressively to bring it on-line as quickly as possible.
According to the acting CEO, CTL personnel are currently in discussions with a local software company to provide on-line programming for the new-look Racing Pools which will have to be approved by the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission.
He disclosed that prior discussions were held with the US-based United Tote, providers of the state of the art totalisator system at Caymanas Park.
Brown said going on-line will enable the Racing Pools to have "wider coverage". The format he said would still embrace eight races, but when implemented the game would see a major departure. It would be run twice weekly off Wednesday and Saturday cards.
Although not willing to give a definite start-up date at this stage, Brown said in another three weeks or so he will be in a better position to do so. However, indications are it could come on stream by September.
Whenever it does, the Racing Pools will not only be widely available but more attractively packaged to compete with the various lotto games now enjoying a golden run.
