CONFIDENCE in the future of horse racing increased many folds after the Honourable Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Charles Ramson Jr announced on January 12, at Arthur Chung Culture Centre, that Legislation to regulate the sport should be laid in Parliament in the coming months.

This announcement propelled a renewed confidence in the sport according to racing promoter, Fazal Habibulla, who will be staging the new season’s Day 2 race card on Sunday January, 28 at his Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC), West Coast, Berbice.

Habibulla, whose father is the late racing icon Sonny Habibulla served the industry with Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC) race course, and by importing horses from Trinidad, also followed in his dad’s shoes. As he took the baton, and continued the trade prior to his dad’s death one year ago. Habibulla stated, “There is a big demand for horses, and this increased significantly after the Honourable Ramson Jr’s announcement that legislation to regulate the sport will be laid in Parliament shortly.”

Habibulla outlined, “Minister’s announcement has paved the way for the sport to grow. I can tell from the interest shown by new owners to get a horses. I am staging racing at Rising Sun next Sunday.

A number of new sponsors have come on the racing band wagon. They realised that horse racing can take their product to a wider audience.”

“For example Shi Oil, Fuel Distributor is a first time sponsor. This company is the largest oil supplier adding their name to the sponsorship of the 1,100-metre feature event for horses classified E & Lower. We also have Just Friends – comprising Stuart Gonsalves, Zaid Khan and Densil Jagroop. This just goes to show how interest is peaking in the sport. This happened after Minister Ramson Jr announced legislation to regulate horse racing will be tabled in Parliament shortly” Habibulla revealed.

Slingerz Racing Stable whose owner, Javed Ali, who is involved in the sport explained, “Shi Oil is the leading Guyanese-owned fuel distribution company in Guyana. They have a lot of customers countrywide. Especially in the whole region of Berbice, and the rice farming communities. The company is always giving back in different sporting disciplines. We are part of the horse racing fraternity, and it is only right that we give back, and help grow the sport. It is the first time the company is adding its band in sponsoring the races. The company continue to do more, and is now supporting the horse racing industry to develop.”

Habbulla also thanked sponsors, AJM Group of Companies, Kp Jagdeo General Contractors, T&R Construction Services, Eagle Eye Constructions Company, Jumbo Jet Group of Companies, Bank DIH, and Ramesh Sunich’s Trophy Stall.

He shared, “It will be a very exciting race day with a mix of USA-bred, Brazilian-bred, and T&T-bred and home bred horses. So do not miss out on a race card in which the majority of races are written to highlight Guyana-bred horses in action.”

Post time for the seven-race card is scheduled to get underway at 13:00 hours.