Last year Superstakes winner MENUDO (Andrew Ramgeet) and trainer Richard Azan (left). MENUDO is one of eight horses nominated for next Monday's Governor General's Stakes RICHARD Azan, president of the Trainers Lobby Group, said the impending protest action by the Lee Clarke-led Jamaica Racehorse Trainers Association which could lead to a shutdown of racing at Caymanas Park this weekend, does not have the support of his organisation.
In a press release yesterday, Azan in his capacity as president said "we cannot help but conclude that the basis of this continuous cancerous growth is purely political and the welfare of the racing industry is being thrown out the window."
Last Thursday, members of the Jamaica Racehorse Trainers Association (JRTA) voted to withhold nominations for the Heroes Weekend holiday meets of October 14 and 16 (Heroes Day) until matters of concern are adequately addressed by State Minister for Finance, Errol Ennis.
The Minister, who has portfolio responsibility for the racing industry, has agreed to meet with the Executive of the Trainers Association at Caymanas Park this morning in an effort to defuse the situation. Ennis was off the island when the trainers voted to boycott the two race meets.
Pertaining to what he termed the "triangular impasse" that has developed between Caymanas Track Limited (CTL), the Jamaica Racehorse Trainers Association (JRTA) and the government, Azan said the feeling within his organistation is that "we are being used as puppets" by these bodies.
"We are not interested in the confrontational, continuous, intimidatory process that is being forced upon us by these bodies. We will not be able to support the system unless the responsible bodies act decisively to ensure that the industry be run progressively and correctly.
"We in the Lobby Group are tired and disappointed at the lack of decisive policies, policy implementation on the part of CTL and the government, hence the cancer grows to a fatal level".
In the interest of the industry, Azan re-emphasised that the Lobby Group is ready to participate as long as all conditions are properly dealt with, ended the press release.
Meanwhile, Azan, in an interview yesterday, told the Gleaner that members of the Lobby Group will nominate horses for both race meets as long as there is some decisive action to make the industry viable.
"Everyone is at fault", he declared. "They are dealing with absolute nonsense. I would like to see the government act decisively, the Jamaica Racing Commission act responsibly as the regulatory body, CTL act likewise as the promoters and members of the JRTA confine themselves to their true profession - training horses," said Azan whose stable star, MENUDO, is one of eight horses nominated from early (last Saturday) for the mile and quarter Governor General's Stakes co-feature on Heroes Day, Monday, October 16.
The other special race for which nominations have been received are the $1 million Hi-Pro Stables Choice Feeds Trophy to be contested by native bred two-year-olds over 1200 metres on Heroes Day, this having 12 entries including RAKKADASH and stable-companion MILLIMETRE, and the None Such Sprint for "A" class horses (10 entries) to be run over 1200 metres on Saturday, all being well.
Nominations for the remaining races on Saturday close tomorrow and those for Heroes Day on Thursday. By then punters will know the fate of both meets.
In a release on Saturday, CTL said "races will be run irrespective of the number of entries. The necessary security arrangements have been made to protect those trainers who wish to compete. We will not allow the threats and intimidation, which have taken place in the past, to frustrate our responsiblity to the racing public and owners."
By Orville Clarke
Freelance Writer
