I NOTE that finally the leader of the pack has emerged into the public eye. Mr. Cecil Kennard, the former President of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA), was soundly defeated at the last AGM, despite allegedly engaging in voter padding, and was proud to say that he is a white man who can take his licks. He then resigned as Vice President the following day, while stating that he would only accept the President’s position, apparently what he felt was his God-given right. His provocative actions at the AGM almost caused its abandonment and one Club representative had to remark to Mr. Kennard that he had never had cause to forge his personal age, a statement that seemed to touch a nerve and brought the meeting under control.
In fact, Mr. Kennard’s management of the AGM made a Parliamentary Secretary who was present, leave in utter disgust immediately after the elections.
His team members have been active recently, passing a useless motion of no-confidence, with the complicity of our now suspended secretary. Mr. Kennard needs to understand that serving in a voluntary position does not give one the right to act in a manner that is inimical to any organisation, and I am confident that my legal opinion is of a much better quality than his.
Furthermore, we wish to put Mr. Kennard on notice that he should not attempt to influence any senior Police officer on approvals for Police presence at race meetings sanctioned by GHRA, since he is not an officer of GHRA.
Mr. Kennard needs to realise that his era is over and it is now time for him to ride off into the sunset. Hopefully, he will do so in a manner that preserves the little bit of respect he still has left.
Finally, we have a lot of work to do to improve the standard of racing locally and we need the full cooperation of reputable club owners, horse owners, trainers and jockeys. We can do without persons who are intent on preserving their little morsel of turf and who are prepared to break up an organisation to do so.
Unfortunately, this has become the norm within almost all of our sporting organisations.

V. ODITT
President
Guyana Horse Racing Authority