On April 4 at 3.50 pm, the acting secretary of the Arima Race Club (ARC) circulated to all members a list of 50 individuals who had applied for membership of the ARC. The list was circulated to roughly 150 members for their information.
If the circulation list represented the full list of current members, the new members being brought into the Club represent almost 30 per cent of the existing membership.
At first glance, this would suggest a new found and invigorating interest in membership of the Club and maybe possibly in the sport itself and could have been something to applaud.
Interestingly, however, on April 5 at 11.08 am, the acting secretary circulated another notice to all members, this time requesting nominations for election to the management committee of the ARC, particularly for the position of president and four other positions. Nominations close on April 15, with the elections scheduled to be held at the annual general meeting (AGM) on May 26.
The timing of the two sets of notices has set tongues wagging and has resulted in a number of heated exchanges among many of the sports’ stakeholders. The coincidence around the two events has raised the spectre of voter padding for the upcoming elections and it remains to be seen to what end.
The spectre has been fuelled by the twin facts that a few of the individuals joining the Club are known to play peripheral roles in the sport while many have no obvious connection to the sport and have not been involved in any form for as long as many can recall.
At the same time, it can be confirmed that many have been nominated and seconded by the same individuals. It is also alleged that one of the sponsors of persons, apparently admitted that he did not really know many of the individuals but had done so at the request of a colleague. While there is nothing illegal in so doing, there is something immoral about such action, if true. The objective of such shenanigans is what would be lost on most casually interesting individuals.
The leadership of the ARC is no plum appointment. It is not something that most would crave. It is a thankless job. Against the backdrop of those three realities, the question is why would someone/anyone be determined to play a leadership role in the ARC?
While it is true that the ARC is currently exploring avenues to raise financing to keep the sport afloat, there is no indication as yet that this task is any closer to being achieved. One of the bigger issues around the fundraising efforts is the fate of the main and only asset owned by ARC, its real estate.
Over the years, various management committees have held different ideas as to how the real estate could be leveraged in the interest of the sport. Many of the disputes amongst past committee members have revolved around whether the interest at stake should be long term or short term.
While there is no disputing the short term liquidity crunch of the Club – payment of prize money to winning owners continue to be well in arrears with prize money to placed runners being facilitated through private treatments – it remains essential that those with responsibility for the Club’s and the sport's future not give in to the temptation to administer plasters. The sport and the Club need major surgery.
Over the years, we have done a good job of alienating many of the major owners of the past and some of the most successful businessmen in the modern era. The likes of Merlin Samlalsingh, Derek Chin, Kama Maharaj and Junior Sammy are four individuals who, if they could be enticed to re-enter the administration and management of the sport, have the cojones and clout to get things done in the long term and short term interest of the sport.
With the exception of Kama and to a lesser extent Merlin, the other two gentlemen have exited the local sport altogether. Kama is to be applauded for continuing to invest in new stock even though he must be dissatisfied with the administration. Merlin has significantly reduced his interest though he still looks forward to having at least one three-year-old to contest the local classics.
Derek is satisfying his love of the sport by investing in horseflesh in Jamaica and North America and who can ever forget the best day of horse racing organised by Derek and his team. Junior is out of the sport altogether sadly, which given his love for the sport is certainly a sad sight. If only all of these four men at least could get together for not only the welfare of horse racing but rather for the destiny and legacy of our beloved sports.
Padding the membership of the Club to achieve a result at an AGM is an exercise in futility since that is not going to achieve anything except satisfying an ego. The sport of horse racing will not survive on the ego of any. It can only survive through teamwork and through accessing the skills, expertise and resources of those with the ability to do so. We need to reach out to all of those we have alienated over the years and invite them back. The sport needs their ideas, enthusiasm and energy. Hopefully, whoever is elected to lead the sport in the coming years will realise the wisdom of doing so.
Because while there are smiles among the few at horse racing on a race day, underneath those warm gestures and general sharing of fun, is the knowledge that horse racing will crumble in possibility a few months or a year if nothing substantial is brought out to the forefront.