Howard Hamilton
THE ANNUAL general meeting of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) was held on Sunday, July 16, 2006. The meeting was well attended and provided a forum for frank discussions on the future of the racing industry and as a consequence, the future of the breeding industry.
The director's report highlighted the decreasing interest in the industry. The annual yearling sale continued the decline of previous years with only 128 yearlings sold from a catalogue listing of 172. The coverage price was $358,000 compared with $367,000 the previous year against the background of a production cost of J$452,000 per yearling presented for sale. This decline is only a reflection of the general demise of an industry that is in urgent need of a new direction.
Members cited a number of issues to which the re-elected executive were asked to direct their energies:
1) The Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGC&L) should be reminded that an important part of its mandate is "assistance to the breeding industry." The foal subsidy programme and assistance to the revolving loan fund are areas which need to be addressed and reinstated. While the BGC&L are in agreement with our proposals they have, as yet been unable to get the approval of the Ministry of Finance.
2) The Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) was urged to improve the registration process of weanlings and to assist us in our negotiations with the BGC&L for proper funding of the breeding industry. There was an urgent need for improved veterinary services both in the number of vets available and the access to pharmaceuticals needed by the farms. There was the urgent need for a proper clinic at the race track, a proposal which had been mooted many years ago. It was felt that this should be in place before any promoter was given a license to operate. The chairman of the JRC, who was in attendance, was very forthright in his contribution to our discussion and we got the impression that he shared our disappointment in the lack of leadership at the decision- making level.
3) It was felt that the "divestment programme" was getting nowhere. Without some major investment in the industry, then the possibility of closing down was the only worthwhile alternative. The unanimous feeling was that the industry should petition the Prime Minister, apprising her of the imminent closure of the industry if there is no positive word on the reconstructing of the industry. Whatever the outcome of that meeting, it was imperative that the industry be guided by a ministry more supportive of the tremendous potential of this important social and economic activity. This writer has long and consistently advocated that the racing industry is best served by the ministry of Agriculture or a ministry responsible for areas such as tourism, sport and entertainment.
MILCH COW
This industry has been treated for years as nothing more than a "milch cow" and the time has come when we can take no more. We must be guided by a ministry that recognises racing as an integral part of the entertainment industry and therefore qualifies for all the incentives offered to promote this sector. It must be guided by a ministry that recognises the employment factor - some 20,000 people are directly employed by the industry. It therefore must be afforded the incentives for training. A proper racing academy producing trainers, grooms, exercise riders, jockey's etc., should form an integral part of this sector.
4) It was felt that the National Investment Bank's proposal has not been successful in attracting the investors whom their negotiators have found successful. The proposal should be scrapped and a proper capitalisation programmes put in place where investors have known parameters.
A 15-year exemption from all taxes.
Provide the same incentives currently available for the establishment, refurbishment, conservation, reconstruction and repositioning of attraction in the market place in an effort to stimulate growth.
Going to the market for capital is standard practice with any business needing money for expansion or refurbishing. Scrap the NIBJ Request for Proposal and let us start again.
This was probably the most decisive meeting of the association. Members were united in a common cause- Racing cannot continue on this path of destruction and the industry will take whatever action is needed to halt the embarrassing situation which now exists.
