The follow is a statement from Solomon Sharpe, chairman of Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), on the Heroes’ Day incident at Caymanas Park.

SUPREME Ventures Racing & Entertainment Limited (SVREL) must address several critical issues following the disruption of racing at Caymanas Park on Monday, October 21, 2024.

As part of our ongoing commitment to develop the racing product, SVREL, with support from industry stakeholders, successfully hosted a Carnival of racing during the Heroes’ Day weekend. Following well-attended and incident-free race days on Saturday and Sunday, there was an abandonment of Monday’s meet, by Jamaica Racing Commission, when the behaviour of a small number of punters caused the event to descend into chaos.

The passion of our punters mirrors the Jamaican spirit — uninhibited in expressing both the joy of victory and the agony of defeat. This energy has always been integral to the unique atmosphere at Caymanas Park. However, while we understand our racing fans’ passion and acknowledge their frustration with the stewards’ decision in race two, we must unequivocally condemn the unfortunate reaction that forced the abandonment of the race day. Such behaviour not only compromises safety but also tarnishes the reputation of our beloved sport. While we value our patrons’ enthusiasm, any expression of discontent must remain within acceptable bounds of sporting behaviour.

Regarding the stewards’ decision that triggered Monday’s events, we must clarify that while SVREL provides the facilities and infrastructure for racing, the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC), which is appointed by the Government, maintains direct oversight of the stewards. SVREL has repeatedly expressed concerns to JRC about the current state of officiating at Caymanas Park, unfortunately without resolution. Our internal investigation has identified significant training gaps that have resulted in local stewarding practices falling short of international standards. This disparity is unacceptable for a racing jurisdiction aspiring to world-class status. Given the impact of these decisions on our racing product’s integrity and our stakeholders’ livelihoods, we are now elevating this concern to the national level. We believe immediate intervention by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service is necessary to address the apparent lack of standardised training, unclear accountability structures, and inconsistent application of racing rules.

We therefore call for an urgent, industry-wide review of stewarding standards, including:

• Implementation of mandatory certification programmes

• Regular assessment and retraining requirements

• Clear accountability frameworks

• Transparent decision-making processes

• Independent appeals mechanism.

Of particular concern is the deafening silence from various industry stakeholder bodies regarding Monday’s incidents. These same entities, typically vocal in criticising SVREL’s operations, have shown a puzzling reluctance to address this serious breach of sporting conduct and its industry-wide implications. The incident resulted in revenue losses exceeding $70 million, affecting everyone within the horse racing ecosystem including owners, trainers, jockeys and grooms. The contrast between their usual vocal stance on SVREL-related matters and their current silence is both striking and disappointing.

Let us be clear: The growth and sustainability of horse racing in Jamaica requires more than infrastructure investment and promotional efforts. It demands:

1. Consistent application of international best practices across all aspects of racing

2. Professional conduct from all stakeholders — including the promoter, officials, participants, and fans

3. Collective responsibility for maintaining the sport’s integrity

4. Equal vigilance and vocal advocacy for all issues affecting the industry, not just selected ones.

SVREL reaffirms its commitment to investing in Caymanas Park’s upgrade and the modernisation of horse racing in Jamaica. However, achieving our vision of a world-class racing jurisdiction requires the active, consistent, and professional participation of all stakeholders. This includes speaking out against misconduct — regardless of its source — and collaborating to implement and maintain high standards across all aspects of the sport.

Moving forward, SVREL will adopt a more assertive stance in demanding accountability from all industry participants. We firmly believe that true progress can only be achieved through collective effort, shared responsibility, and consistent application of standards across all areas of the sport.

The time has come for all stakeholders to demonstrate their commitment to the industry’s growth — not merely through words but through actions, consistent engagement, and a willingness to address difficult issues head-on.