Dear Editor,
On the threshold of a new era in local horse racing about to arrive under the management of Supreme Ventures Limited, what can we expect and hope for?
The first question they need to ask themselves is, what needs to be done to make the stakeholders whole again
The top priorities ought to be the love of the sport and the betting. In most countries, this is not the case, as most of the betting is operated by a third party, forcing the track owners to make their product viable through other measures. In Jamaica, this is the number one revenue stream.
Through increased revenue from the betting, the purses will increase, ownership can become more viable, trainers will find more owners, and therefore more horses will be needed, spawning an increase in demand for the breeders to supply these owners.
The idea of commingling pools and exporting feeds is what will come in time, but first the operations on the ground, already located in Jamaica, need to be put in order.
The implementation of a new handicapping system to make the races more competitive reduced takeout to increase the ‘churn’ and therefore the revenue. There needs to be a harder stance by stewards in bringing forth suspensions and fines for jockeys and trainers.
The local product in its current state cannot be ‘exported’ until punters in this country know they are getting a fair and honourable product.
Improvements at Caymanas Park, whether it be the upgrading of stables, subsidised living for grooms and assistants, OTB, fixing grandstands and the racing surface, or providing general training facilities will come with time, as well, if the intentions of the new owners are genuine.
As long as all of us, as stakeholders, keep them honest, as well as support them 100 per cent in the transition and give them a chance to prove their worth, then the future of racing in Jamaica can be great again.
CC
ace_sports@yahoo.com
On the threshold of a new era in local horse racing about to arrive under the management of Supreme Ventures Limited, what can we expect and hope for?
The first question they need to ask themselves is, what needs to be done to make the stakeholders whole again
The top priorities ought to be the love of the sport and the betting. In most countries, this is not the case, as most of the betting is operated by a third party, forcing the track owners to make their product viable through other measures. In Jamaica, this is the number one revenue stream.
Through increased revenue from the betting, the purses will increase, ownership can become more viable, trainers will find more owners, and therefore more horses will be needed, spawning an increase in demand for the breeders to supply these owners.
The idea of commingling pools and exporting feeds is what will come in time, but first the operations on the ground, already located in Jamaica, need to be put in order.
The implementation of a new handicapping system to make the races more competitive reduced takeout to increase the ‘churn’ and therefore the revenue. There needs to be a harder stance by stewards in bringing forth suspensions and fines for jockeys and trainers.
The local product in its current state cannot be ‘exported’ until punters in this country know they are getting a fair and honourable product.
Improvements at Caymanas Park, whether it be the upgrading of stables, subsidised living for grooms and assistants, OTB, fixing grandstands and the racing surface, or providing general training facilities will come with time, as well, if the intentions of the new owners are genuine.
As long as all of us, as stakeholders, keep them honest, as well as support them 100 per cent in the transition and give them a chance to prove their worth, then the future of racing in Jamaica can be great again.
CC
ace_sports@yahoo.com