Following yesterday’s meeting with Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, Honorary President of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA), Cecil Kennard is optimistic of positive change in the ‘Sport of Kings’.
Anthony and Kennard met to discuss the implementation of legislation which will enable the GHRA to run the sport effectively and to deal with violators.
“The minister was very receptive and the main topic on the agenda was the draft legislation for the racing authority”, Kennard told this publication yesterday.
“Legislation would give us (GHRA) more authority to deal with infringements like doping because we will be authorized to penalize owners and trainers if they are found to be doping their horses and other violations.”
“Those kinds of things should not be encouraged. Doping is totally illegal and it is cruel to the animals,” he added, whilst making reference to the death of the horse Serenity last month.
Kennard intimated that legislation is needed to “regulate horse racing because there must be a committee to supervise the running of horse racing in this country”.
During the meeting, the GHRA honorary president told the minister that a committee made up of 15 persons will ensure that the sport is run in a disciplined manner.
“We recommended a committee of 15 persons, six from the racing clubs, someone to represent the minister, two members from the horse owners and trainers association, a jockey representative and five independent persons who are not connected in any way with the horses to
Kennard also mentioned that the enactment of legislation will provide more employment for citizens.
“I indicated to him that there is an excess of 300 horses racing in Guyana and each horse will need a groom so quite a number of people will be employed by the racing authority including trainers and jockeys and I also feel that there will be several positive spin off effects”.
So when will the legislation implemented?
“First of all the legislation goes through a process” said Kennard. “The minister will have to look at it then he will probably have the draft to go to cabinet and then if they give the OK then it will be implemented”.
“We need to tidy it up (draft legislation) and we also have to submit a paper to him relating to what are the benefits that will flow from the legislation but the minister promised us that as soon as he gets an amended draft he will ensure that another meeting is convened and that steps will be put in place for its implementation.
