Unlike most sports in Guyana, horse racing venues are usually overflowing with spectators.
Horse racing is perhaps the only local sport which garners most, if not all of its funds from the fans. Depending on the promoter, sponsors are few or non-existent.
Promoters rely heavily on the profits from the gates.
While many sports could resume without fans, this is the exact opposite for ‘The Sport of Kings’.
No fans means no money.
Prominent racehorse owner and promoter, Fazal Habibulla said the sport was not garnering much sponsorship prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and promoters were securing almost all of their earning from the gates.
Horse racing, along with other sports locally, has been suspended for almost three months due to the coronavirus outbreak, but while other sporting bodies may have resumption dates in sight, this is not the case for horse racing.
Horse racing in Guyana is in a peculiar position.
Habibulla stated that stable owners and promoters are already taking a financial hit due to the virus and there would be no incentive to host race cards without spectators.
“Without spectators, it is not feasible to run races, so I don’t see us having races until the country fully reopens and returns to normalcy.”
Habibulla shared that owners are becoming restless and concerned about their future in the sport, given the mounting cost to care for the equine athletes without any opportunity to earn.
The owner of 10 thoroughbreds, Habibulla underlined the fact that it is costing him almost $1M million per month to care for them.
He added, “But I understand that we have to wait until things open up back and we have to look at the human factor first.”
Habibulla proposed that the Guyana Horse Racing Authority have dialogue with government officials in an effort to cushion the fall.
He stated, “We will have to be in talks with the government to do more for us in horse racing. Even if it is just offsetting some of the taxes and duties we pay on the feed we import from Trinidad.”
The local COVID-19 restrictions are scheduled to be lifted on June 17. Stable owners and promoters will be paying keen attention to what guidelines will be put into effect for horse racing and other disciplines.
