The executives of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) will meet tomorrow to discuss changes to the draft legislation as well as other matters concerning the ‘Sport of Kings’ at the Kennard’s Turf Club, Bush Lot.
According to Honorary President of the GHRA, Cecil Kennard, changes to the draft legislation were made upon the request of Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony in the first meeting early last month when the pair discussed the implementation of legislation.
During a telephone interview yesterday, Kennard told Stabroek Sport that following tomorrow’s meeting which will also encompass the rescheduling of race meetings, reviewing of racing dates and the finalizing of the classification of horses, the legislation will be presented to the minister sometime next week.
“We made the changes after the minister requested them and we will be meeting to discuss those changes on Sunday” said Kennard. “Some other matters to be discussed will be the rescheduling of some race meetings that were postponed, the review of the racing dates for the remainder of the year apart from the meets postponed and to finalize the classifications of the horses which were previously formulated”.
The meeting commences at 11:00hrs.
Some of the changes of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority Act which will allow the sport 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 last 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”.
“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.
The GHRA Honorary President also stated that turfites and other persons interested in horse racing are welcomed to attend Sunday’s meeting.
