SOLOMON Sharpe, executive chairman of Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), says the impact of the new rule implemented by Jamaica Racing Commission, (JRC) regarding start times, is damaging to the racing sector, and has requested that the Jamaican Government intervene to have this rule reconsidered.

This follows the abandonment of two races during the April 27 race meet at Caymanas Park. The decision to abandon these races — race one and race six — was due to the amendment of Rule 44 of the Jamaica Racing Commission Racing Rules 1977 concerning race start times.

Race one, which had a scheduled off time of 12:00 pm, was abandoned at approximately 12:25 pm. The delay of the first race was due to a saddling issue with Boss Izzy, while Timetosaygoodye was subject to a mandatory JRC veterinary check after rearing and falling upon exiting the saddling barn.

The sixth event was abandoned at approximately 3:27 pm, 17 minutes after the scheduled time of 3:10 pm. This race was called off after Edina Marsh broke out on the racetrack before the horses began to load for the start of race six. The bay mare eventually left the racetrack, and the horses were still parading at the starting gate.

Following a heated exchange between stakeholders and JRC members on the North Lounge Floor of the building, live horse racing resumed at approximately 4:00 p.m.

The amendment to Rule 44 means that once a post time for a race is made official, for example 12:40 pm, that race can be abandoned by the race day stewards if the starter does not press the start button within five minutes after the published post time.

Sharpe said that this law does not exist anywhere else on the globe, and argued that putting the stewards under such pressure does not make sense. Sharpe believes this five-minute rule is vague and unnecessary.

“I mean, the commission has been subject to some new rule implementations that have, in our estimation, lacked proper consultation. And even the jockey whip rule and all the different rules that have been put in just seem a little bit like over-regulating, and it can’t be good for racing — which is what happened [April 27],” Sharpe told the Jamaica Observer.

Sharpe revealed that the financial losses from the April 27 race meet are believed to be significant, running into millions, though a precise figure is still being assessed. Sharpe said that these losses underscore the heavy impact regulatory changes and unexpected events can have on the industry.

“I mean, we’re calling on the Government. We have an obligation to the Government to pay taxes, and we have an obligation to the Government to pay rent. We have an obligation under the Government to meet certain things by the divestment deed.

“And if you’re a steward or your organisation [which is] charged to manage our affairs is over-regulating and choking us, so to speak, then it makes it a little bit harder for us to breathe. It makes it a little bit harder for us to flourish, operate, and deliver what’s required.

“People keep talking about purses. There’s been a purse increase year over year and there’s a historic deed that ties performance to purses, so when you have that level of transparency it shows how transparent we are in our operations,” the chairman further said during a press conference held at AC Hotel Kingston on Monday.

Sharpe voiced concerns over the lack of consultation with stakeholders by the JRC regarding rule changes. In the absence of communication and invitations to meetings for further discussion, Sharpe said that this indicates a gap between the commission and industry participants.

“Remember, we’re at the behest of the JRC. People are telling me that there’s a meeting scheduled; we have not been invited,” Sharpe said.

“So, whenever we are invited to a meeting, we will go. We have written to the JRC and we’re still awaiting word on when any meetings will be held. We have been open to share all of our information and all the different variables that go into it,” he added.

Clovis Metcalfe, chairman of JRC, in a letter addressed to Dr Nigel Clarke, minister of finance and the public service of Jamaica, said that the steward’s decision to abandon the races on April 27, 2024 was based on the promoting company’s lack of adherence to their own scheduled published post times, which have been negatively impacting the safety and health of the horses as well as trainers and jockeys.

Metcalfe said that on each race day many of the horses are administered with an intravenous medication called Lasix. This drug helps to minimise bleeding and has a maximum effective window of four and a half hours, after which its effectiveness is gradually reduced and the health of the horse is compromised — and, by extension, a risk to the jockeys then threatens as rehydration and electrolyte replenishment are delayed.

“Trainers must extensively and unnecessarily parade their horses around in the sun while jockeys wearing heavy protective vests also wait in the sun. During this delay, the effectiveness of the Lasix drug gradually diminishes,” he stated in his letter.

“The board of commission sets out to address this matter in keeping with international best practices and policies that promote the well-being and welfare of horses for longevity of the sport, and particularly the ethical treatment of the horses in our care.

“After several consultations with all stakeholders we set out and amended Rule 44 (iii), which was gazetted in February 2024 and implemented on April 1, 2024. To ensure that equity prevailed, we carried out meetings with all stakeholders, initiated one month’s notice or grace period before the implementation date to allow the promoters time to adjust their internal affairs, review current practices and make the necessary adjustments to ensure compliance with the new regulation,” the letter also stated.

Despite the setback Sharpe said there was a positive turnout and support from punters the next day, signaling a recovery. However, he emphasised the need for proper dialogue and planning regarding rule enforcement, to avoid negatively impacting the industry’s various stakeholders.