Laurence Heffes and current champion owner Ruth Hussey at Caymanas Park late last year. - FILE
LAURENCE HEFFES was returned unopposed as president of the Racehorse Owners' Association (JROA) at its annual general meeting in the trainers' room at Caymanas Park on Sunday.
The new vice-president is popular owner and former racing commissioner Louis 'Tony' Phillips, who was nominated by Heffes and went through unopposed.
Returning as directors were Dennis Howell, Patrick Fong, Bernard 'Bunny' Vincent and Vin Lumsden, while rounding off the seven-member executive is Dave Girod who was elected for the first time.
NEW DIRECTORS
Girod and Phillips are the two new directors, Phillips replacing former vice-president Newton Newland who did not seek re-election.
Heffes, who will serve his third term as president, said the association's immediate objective is to have an unprecedented membership drive with a view of having a minimum of 140 paid-up members.
With a broad membership body, he felt the association would be better able to effectively carry out their demands.
Heffes had a number of concerns re the welfare of owners, especially with the proposed divestment of Caymanas Park possibly becoming a reality this year.
"The track can't continue the way it's running", he declared. "Real sales have declined from $2.9 billion four years ago when I was a member of the CTL Board, now it's barely $3 billion. But when you factor in rising costs associated with inflation, nothing tangible has been achieved since", he added.
Continuing, Heffes said a major concern to the association is the $76 million denied owners last year due to the decrease in the number of race meets on the calendar.
PURSE AMOUNTS
"We as owners got $260,000,000 in 2002, then in 2003 government granted us a $100,000,000 purse nacres pushing the figure to $360,000,000.
"However, last year we only received $280,000,000 in purse money from CTL, down from $360 million. Is the missing $70,000,000 the profit which the CTL chairman claimed the company made in the last financial year?" asked the former champion owner (1998) whose best known horses are the 1999 'Horse of the Year' BLUMENTHAL and DEPUTY'S REPORT.
Turning to the proposed divestment of Caymanas Park, Heffes said this must be carefully handled by the policy makers.
"Racing interests must be part of the decision making process", he warned.
O.C.
