Howard Hamilton

We have looked at the inability of our racing industry to attract new owners, and also the inability to retain the few current owners who used to invest their cash in the sport. The decreasing interest in the breeding industry is a direct reflection of this reducing ownership base.

We need to find the solutions for reversing this trend. Without owners, there is no industry - all other things fall into place once there are people out there buying horses.

The general environment has already been addressed and the injection of new capital is a given, following the divestment process. So we can look forward to improved surroundings, a clean, well-secured stable area, separate grandstand and clubhouse entrances, escalators to move from floor to floor, proper well-appointed corporate boxes, pleasant and comfortable dining facilities - and much more.

That kind of environment will encourage not only racing fans, but those who wish to relax on an afternoon in an atmosphere conducive to social interchange.

Racing programmes

Having fixed the environment then we have to restructure our racing programmes to make racing more exciting and competitive. Increase the number of handicap races and establish conditions which reflect the quality of horses for which the programmes are being written. Currently, some 80 per cent of our races produce winning odds on favourites. I do not accept that punters have got smarter. The conditions as they now apply do not take into consideration distance, time and weight - three of the most important factors that are used to ensure competitiveness.

This is principally a mathematical exercise and, with the advances in technology, the process is now quite simple. Any ordinary computer programme can provide the adjustments necessary to equalise the chances of each horse. Subjective and personal analyses are things of the past, and in any event, these tend to level themselves out in the long run.

So we now have a pleasant and comfortable environment with exciting and competitive programmes. The next most important ingredient is attractive purses. Purses that will encourage purchasing top-quality horses for top-quality dollars. There should be a minimum of four $5-million races - one each quarter.

Our derby should be our top race with a minimum purse of $10 million. Furthermore, our purses need to be geared towards two-year-olds and three-year-olds. Currently, two-year-olds race for seven per cent of the total purse, while the top classes which include the three-year-old classics attract 25 per cent of the total purse. We need to move the two-year-old purse distribution to a minimum of 15 per cent of total purses and introduce a minimum of four $2-million races with the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes run in December being the highlight of the two-year-old racing with a purse of $5 million.

This will attract two-year-olds to run earlier and provide an incentive to owners who will now be encouraged to pay top dollar for quality horses. The top classes which include the three-year-old classics should move to 35 per cent of total purses.

Competitive races

We now almost have utopia, - comfortable surroundings, exciting and competitive races, attractive purses. The next step is to make the purchasing and owning of horses as affordable as possible.

Establish a revolving loan that is substantially funded - a minimum of J$50 million. Provide rebates for the importation of horses as is done in Trinidad. This should be for a limited period, say five years, which is enough time for the breeding industry to expand, and start producing the quality and quantity which are needed to satisfy the increased racing demands.

My dream may yet become a reality.

Howard L. Hamilton, CD, JP, is a former chairman of Caymanas Track Limited, and is the current president of the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association. He can be contacted at howham@cwjamaica.com.