THE post of racing secretary at Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), the sole promoter of horse racing in Jamaica and a wholly owned subsidiary of Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL), was made redundant yesterday by the management of the company.

The post of racing secretary at SVREL has been held for just over a year by Denzil Miller Jr. SVL, the mother company of SVREL, took over the promotion of horse racing in Jamaica on March 7, 2017 following a lengthy divestment process.

Confirmation of this new development came from executive chairman of SVREL, Michael Bernard. The SVREL executive chairman made it clear in a telephone interview that the move to abandon the position of racing secretary was part of the overall reorganisation and restructuring of the company.

“Yes, I can confirm that the post of racing secretary has been made redundant at SVREL. The functions dealing specifically with programmes, preparation of the condition books, and other such issues will now come under the management of the company’s director of racing, while matters pertaining to the maintenance of the racing surface and the general racing compound, including the stable area at Caymanas Park, will now be undertaken by the general manager of racetrack operations.

“We at SVREL have to be constantly examining the management and other structures within the company. This we are doing in the best interest of the company and the racing industry in general,” Bernard told the Jamaica Observer.

The present director of racing at SVREL is Christopher Armond, while Anthony Shoucair is the general manager of racetrack operations.

When contacted yesterday, Miller said he had indeed received verbal notification from SVREL that his post of racing secretary had been made redundant but he was not going to comment on the matter at this time.

Miller entered the racing industry in 1987 as an accounting/ filing clerk and since then has served in a number of other capacities including clerk of the course, handicapper, official starter, and chairman of the programme’s committee.

During his time in racing Miller has worked under various promoting companies including Racing Promotions Limited, Horse Racing Promotions Limited and Caymanas Track Limited.

Commenting on Miller’s impending departure from SVREL Bernard said: “I would like to thank Denzil for his long years of service in the racing industry, especially the year he was at SVREL. I would also like to wish him well in all his future endeavours.”