HORSE-RACING mogul and enthusiast Colin Elcock has rubbished the notion of Guyana Cup promoter Nasrudeen ‘Junior’ Mohamed that the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) is nonfunctional, labelling the statement absurd, as the body remains a legitimate, registered entity.

This was stated during an exclusive interview yesterday. Elcock quipped, ‘The president of the GHRA died; this does not mean that the organisation is defunct.

The secretary is supposed to call a meeting of club representatives to elect a new president. When (Forbes) Burnham and (Cheddi) Jagan died in office, did the government become defunct? GHRA lives on as a registered organisation. Is Jumbo’s racing authority registered?”

Elcock, who officially confirmed his non-participation in the Guyana Cup, citing a lack of legitimate regulations as the principal reasons for his stable’s absence, was responding to a Mohammed article published on July 25 in another section of the media.

The Guyana Cup, which is being coordinated by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee, is scheduled for August 14 at the Rising Sun Turf Club, West Coast Berbice.

Mohamed had stated, “There is no functional Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) for more than five years now, because of that we installed an interim committee to avoid such spurious claims, as last GHRA president, Cecil Kennard, died recently.”

He further explained, “However, an interim committee, comprising Stuart Gonsalves, Dennis Deroop, Fazal Habibullah, Thirbhuwan Jagdeo, Nasrudeen Mohamed, and Dr Stephen Chee Foon, is in place.

“We, as promoters, decided to form this committee on a temporary basis because there is no operational GHRA. We went further, through Dr Dwight Waldrond, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA).

“We ensured that locally bred horses are micro-chipped, registered for proper record-keeping in the establishment of a Stud Book registry, and the welfare of horses are upheld prior and on the day of racing.”

Mohammed also added, “All horses eligible to race were properly classified by competent persons, and that ‘Classification list’ was advertised and sent out. It is updated regularly because new horses are imported in the country almost every other week. This is trending; new owners are buying horses because they have confidence that the playing field is level for all, and want to be part of this historic day’s racing.”

The above-mentioned remarks were in response to an initial Elcock article published on July 24, which questioned the legitimacy of the race meet, as it was not being conducted under the ambit of the GHRA.

In addition the outspoken Elcock declared, “It’s total nonsense; where is the independent body supervising the sport. We have evidence that horses in certain big stables are in excess of four years old, and registered with microchips as three years old. Where the database was stored, and how was it collected? This stuff should have been published twice yearly, and not now.

The classifier and the handicapper have to be independent stewards on race day and work with the independent information. Where is the transparency? How could a promoter enact his house rules, and stage the event under his rules? Like deciding distances and class then have his own horse competing in the said races he framed. Isn’t that leverage?”

He further avowed, “I don’t have time for child’s play! How could Fazal Habibullah sign onto the GHRA guidelines, and work with the promotion’s private rules? He should do the decent thing and go to court and withdraw his track signature to run under other rules. No attempt was made to have elections by the stakeholders of the GHRA. Instead, most of the members signed onto this private stuff and now claiming the body is defunct.”

According to Elcock, his stable requires no assistance to be competitive on the local circuit, expounding, “I repeat. this stable has full and part ownership in four horses currently racing in Jamaica under its colours. There is no need for Jumbo (Stables) to help us. We instead could supply as we did for Jumbo (Stables) and others. Where did they get Zianata from? Elco.