Howard Hamilton - Horse Sense Racing needs a new beginning
LAST WEEK we looked at the various changes in the management of the Promoting Company since the construction of the Racing Plant at Caymanas Park in 1959. The underlying feature over the years has been cash flow problems.
Various structures and management changes were put in place in an effort to improve the quality of racing. The most successful period was that during the time of the Danny Melville led Board, sales moved from J$781 million in 1993 to J$2,802 million in 2002.
Purses increased from J$77 million to J$253 million over the same period and we had an increase in race days from 84 to 96. New stables were built and there was a general feeling of contentment among racing interests and stake holders. We all felt that things were going in the right direction.
Then we had a situation which underscores the most important problem in Racing. Political pressure brought about by misguided individuals who used their political connections to create major discontent. Accusations of fiddling with simulcast earnings and other areas of perceived management indiscretions brought about expensive and needless audits. These baseless accusations eventually led to court action which left many of the accusers much the poorer for their baseless accusations.
ATTACK
It is significant that this attack on this board seemed to have been precipitated by the cancellation of a contract for the supply of substandard sand and the eventual resignation of the Director of Racing.
This level of "influence peddling" must now be part of the darker side of our history and under no circumstances can we ever allow this type of environment to continue. Hence my call for the total removal of the Government from the ownership structure - even through a lease arrangement. The constant reference to ownership by certain racing groups can only be put to bed once and for all by a total break and a whole new ownership structure. I repeat that Government's only role should be that of regulators and facilitators - not owners.
A survey of many of the stakeholders in racing all show strong support for a new structure which can only be achieved with a new Racing Plant. The environment in which the current plant is located has changed dramatically over the years. The encroachment of housing and the increased non-racing population places insurmountable pressure on the security of the plant.
Children throw stones at the horses.
Those living in proximity of the plant find ways of connecting to electricity and water from the plant.
The culture developed over the years is not conducive to efficient control.
Management can't change any of those problems - it is endemic in how people have been allowed to act over the years. The only solution is a clean break and a new beginning.
Centralising the stable area to try and effect a controlled and sterile environment will involve demolishing and rebuilding the majority of the stables. The accommodation for the grooms is nothing short of disgraceful. To correct this will require a whole new cultural change which can only be accomplished in a changed environment where the rules of behaviour are laid down from the very beginning and strong enforcement is the norm - not the exception.
MAJOR DEMOLITION
The roof needs to be replaced. The modifications to the existing building to provide adequate customer comfort dining facilities, comfortable seating, corporate boxes, concert and entertainment facilities will require major demolition and construction. These costs I have always contended would be better directed at the construction of a new facility. The establishment of a turf track has been moored for years. How can we achieve all these without major disruption of racing with the resultant loss in revenue to stake holders?
What will be the medium and long term demands for housing and greenfield areas to support the expanding population in the immediate area of Caymanas Park? Is there a more attractive development plan for this area which will satisfy these medium and long term requirements? I suspect that none of these considerations have formed part of the deliberations in preparing the Request for Proposals as put out by NIBJ.
The stakeholders have complained that they have had no input in the preparation of these documents. What we fear is that once again decisions are being taken for an industry by persons who are not accountable nor do they have any responsibility for the results of their action.
Any survey of stakeholders would show that the majority are fed up with the conditions under which they attempt to operate as professionals. I am surprised that Trainers, as militant as they are in matters which are not really of their concern, have not been more forthright in dealing with the Racing Commission on matters of security for which they are held negligent and subject to substantial fines.
All the fences and padlocks can never secure an area to which there is uncontrolled access. Were I in control I would refuse to pay any fines when it is impossible for me to determine who can enter my stable.
My understanding is that it is too late for any further debate on this matter of divestment as proposed by the NIBJ. The only thing that I regard as final is death - are we therefore to understand that we may be facing the death of the racing industry?
Howard L. Hamilton, C.D., J.P., is a former Chairman of Caymanas Track Limited and is the current President of the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association. He can be contacted at howham@cwjamaica.com.
