Sunday racing hypocrites

By Gordon Robinson

Once again, Sunday horse racing is a hot topic. Yawn. Arguments for and against Sunday racing are more viral than Andrew Hopeless postings. That Sunday racing, already a custom in every civilised country, should be a Jamaican practice is a no-brainer. There's nothing special about Sunday. Like every other day, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. In 24 hours, it's all over.

Shops, gaming lounges and lottery outlets open on Sundays. Some churches open on Sundays to pass the plate anxiously expecting maximum contributions from members gambling on instant salvation. Apparently, Sunday racing's added competition for the betting dollar is what's frightening most church leaders into this hysterical opposition to a perfectly legal, legitimate and morally upright commercial activity.

Why is it OK to hold bingo sessions, sell raffle tickets, and pass the plate in Christ's name (who Himself did none of the above), but Sunday racing is blasphemy?

See de 'ypocrites, dem a-galang deh!

See de 'ypocrites, dem a-galang deh!

Man, go!

These same church leaders, so cold-blooded when fighting among themselves in sectarian wars for membership, must've forgotten Christ's message of love for one's neighbour. Caymanas Park is still in my neighbourhood. Is it in theirs?

Dem a cut, cut, cut 'gainst dem one another;

Cut, cut, cut 'gainst dem one another.

'Ow dem teach to love one another?

'Ow dem teach to love one another?

Man, go!

All about the money

Goodman's Law: Don't ask if it's about the money. It's ALWAYS about the money. What else could it be about? It can't be about protection of the Sabbath, as for decades races have been run on Saturdays, the sabbath for many Christians, including Seventh-day Adventists. It can't be about discouraging moral turpitude, since churches regularly accept contributions from morally challenged members, especially if they're winners whether in business, politics or chance.

The only thing separating these hypocritical institutions from the world's oldest profession (What? Law, of course!) is that churches only shaft members. Lawyers don't discriminate. So the message is don't mess with my turf.

Dem a run, come, come wid dem gravalicious;

Dem a run, come, come wid dem gravalicious;

Said, a run, a come, come a wid dem gravalicious self."

There are hypocrites and Hypocrites. What about the previous Government which, as a commercial entity's corporate shareholder, asked its directors to operate without 70 per cent of its revenue-collecting outlets for political reasons? Government is CTL's legal shareholder, but its shares are held on trust for all Jamaicans.

Also, what about those CTL directors who, upon receipt of that hypocritical, commercially incoherent request, instead of resigning in protest, promoted Sunday racing regardless, resulting in severe losses? To which of Bob Marley's categories do they belong?

"Dip for diplomatic;

'Yp for hypocratic;

Dry for dry-land tourist;

Tap for Tapanaris

See de 'ypocrites, dem a-galang deh."

The real fixes for racing

The problem with the debate is its irrelevance to the real issue, namely horse racing's viability. Sunday racing is being presented as racing's saviour in the same way the Church is presented as Christians' saviour. Both are illusion. But Sunday racing is just a normal part of any racing industry. The problem with our product is that it's so fundamentally flawed; so perniciously corrupt; and so atrociously promoted and managed, that even if Sunday racing advocates won the battle, it'd be like spitting in a storm.

First, we must fix what's fundamentally wrong with racing. Then we can fight for Sunday racing. What's wrong? Life is short and I might pass away before completing the full list. Here's some.

Racing's economics are cockeyed. Thirty per cent takeout from the win/place pool (more than 40 per cent on exotics) is suicidal lunacy. This happens nowhere else.

Government shouldn't own a racetrack. The racetrack must be privately owned.

Licensed professionals take too much of the pie from owners (the real investors). Why does a jockey get 10 per cent regardless of whether he's subsequently found guilty of corruption?

The product is too corrupt and weakly and incompetently regulated. Corrupt practices can only be addressed by strict, ruthless regulation. Everybody must clearly understand that a gambling industry licence is a privilege, not a right.

Customer base must be expanded. OTBs are obsolete drains on CTL's revenues. They must be replaced by modern technology, including secure websites for betting in the tote directly from home and permitting subscription to live races on one's computer.

Sunday racing is an important salve, but not a cure. Hands up, anybody willing to apply/take the urgently needed medicine.

Peace and love.

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.