After tidying up the draft legislation, the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) will meet with Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony before present the new document to members of the horse racing fraternity in the not too distant future.
So said Honorary President of the GHRA, Cecil Kennard during a sit down with this publication Thursday.
According to Kennard, changes to the draft legislation were made upon the request of Dr. Anthony in the first meeting earlier this month when the pair discussed the implementation of legislation.
Some of the changes of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority Act which will allow the ‘Sport of Kings’ to run more effectively and to deal with violators include: elevating the number of the Racing Authority’s members from nine to 15, including the Bush Lot United Turf Club as a member of the GHRA and implementing a term (two years) for the members of the Authority.
The other change also includes giving the GHRA the power to schedule race dates for race meetings in the event that a club is unable to run off a race meeting.
After the meeting with Dr. Anthony earlier this month, Kennard told Stabroek Sport that:“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.”
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.”
The GHRA Honorary President also noted that members of the Kennard’s Turf Club will congregate this weekend to plan a new date for the annual Independence Horse Race Meet which was postponed last weekend because of inclement weather.
