Cliff WilliamsTHE WEST Indian Tho-roughbred Racing Association (WITRA) Classic, an event designed to be one of the showpieces of the English-speaking Caribbean racing, was eventually run as match race between Miracle Man and Royal Command for half the original purse.
Questions are now being raised about the future of WITRA as an entity capable of fostering a dynamic relationship between the territories to enhance the racing and breeding industry in the region.
Truth be told, while Caribbean integration is a good idea, organisers of the sport in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados seem quite happy to focus more on the development of their own product.
The fact of the matter though is that the logistics
of moving horses to race in
the different territories is a challenge in more ways than one. Expenses related to shipping horses to compete away from home have become largely prohibitive. Then there is also the matter of issues related to quarantine as well as no guarantee that there will any meaningful returns.
BREEDING INDUSTRY
With reference to the breeding industry, the patronage Jamaican breeders enjoyed from Eastern Caribbean support has declined steadily over the years and is hardly as lucrative as it was even four years ago. Still, this is the area where the most potential exists for Caribbean collaboration.
With the requisite investment, the breeding industry could return to a position where strong growth and improvement in quality could occur exponentially in the foreseeable future.
In the meantime, the three territories continue their separate development such as it is without reference to each other's special circumstances and challenges.
Crowning achievement for Trinidad and Tobago so far is the staging of the Caribbean Classic in 2001, while in Bar-bados the Cockspur Gold Cup is now an annual affair, with purses in excess of US$100,000. There can be no doubt that no matter what criteria are used, this is progress.
As far as development is concerned, Jamaica is still in limbo with divestment still basically on hold although discussions between the Government and preferred bidder continue.
PLANS FOR TAKEOVER
Interestingly, the principals of Caymanas Entertainment Limited (CEL), the company awarded the preferential status, are pursuing their plans for the takeover and development of the racing plant and by extension, the industry as a whole.
In fact, in a discussion with Richard Azan head of CEL last week, I was introduced to the architect the company has engaged to produce the design for the modernisation of the stands and other facilities.
There must be some strong basis for this level of optimism and his whole attitude suggests that divestment discussions with the Government could have the desired outcome before long.
Incidentally, the Board of Directors of Caymanas Track Limited has been given the assurance that the gross profit tax will be adjusted in some way to make it possible to implement an increase in the purse structure.
The word from the chairman is that the company will be undertaking certain improvements to the racing plant irrespective of the possible imminence of divestment. Any improvement to the physical facilities has to be more in the realm of a strategic facelift in selected areas rather than any substantial upgrade.
Anything other than this approach may not be the best move with the prospective investors in divestment having a major restructuring of the grandstand as a fundamental part of their plans.
