Horse racing academy on the cards

Plans are in motion to establish a horse racing academy that will result in job opportunities for young Barbadians, says Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Charles Griffith.

The Minister made the declaration this afternoon at the Grantley Adams International Airport during the arrival of the Sandy Lane Gold Cup, the most coveted trophy in local and regional horse racing, which arrived at 3:22 p.m. on British Airways flight 255 under the command of Captain Gary Smyth and Senior First Officer Paul Whittle.

As anticipation builds towards Saturday, March 4, for the Gold Cup, Griffith told the media he believes a horse racing academy would boost and further enhance the sport.

He revealed they already located a plantation to start the process.

“We believe that a number of our youngsters can benefit from such an entity coming on board. My staff, we are looking to see how best we can actively have this horse racing academy started here. We have identified a plantation and are looking to see how best we can start the process there.

“We believe that horse racing can create a number of jobs. We believe that we can export persons which we are doing now to other jurisdictions to ensure employment… And if we continue to do what we are doing in terms of excelling, you have Patrick Husbands and others who are doing training, then it is a thing that can happen on the island where young persons will gravitate towards horse racing,” Griffith explained.

This will be the 40th edition of the Sandy Lane Gold Cup and director of the Barbados Turf Club, Rawle Batson said while the Covid pandemic had disrupted the staging of the prestigious event for the past three years, the Gold Cup continues to remain a household name.

He also thanked Sandy Lane for their 25 years of sponsorship and partnership.

“On behalf of the board of directors and members, we thank the owners of Sandy Lane for their goodwill, their generosity and the excellent quality of their sponsorship. Not only for this prestigious Gold Cup race, but other sponsored races which will be won during that day at the historic Garrison. We salute you Sandy Lane and we thank you and we look forward to your continuity in sponsorship, involvement and our association,” Batson said.

General manager of Sandy Lane Hotel, James Matthews also addressed the gathering and spoke about what he described as an “illustrious history” between Sandy Lane and the Barbados Turf Club.

“With an illustrious history of 40 years, the Gold Cup is one of the longest running sporting events on the island. As part of that history, Sandy Lane has proudly sponsored the Gold Cup since 1997 and we are happy to continue this historic tradition with this year’s sponsorship making 25 years of partnership with the Barbados Turf Club.

“What began as an opportunity to put Barbados on a horse racing map and to encourage participation from other Caribbean countries soon became a highly acclaimed and anticipated international event. Today the Sandy Lane Gold Cup is now one of the most prestigious events on the Caribbean horse racing calendar, attracting top international jockeys with thoroughbred racehorses,” Matthews stated, while disclosing that the trophy will be displayed at Bridgetown Duty Free.

Meanwhile, Captain Smyth said it was an honour to fly the trophy to the shores of Barbados.

“It has been a huge honour to continue this long standing tradition and bring back the Gold Cup to Barbados after three years. I was informed last Friday that I would have the pleasure of bringing the Gold Cup on our flight today.

“At that time I was relaxing back home in Northern Ireland. I am sure many of you are aware we have a passion for horses and horse racing back at home, so this has been a privilege for me as the British Airways Captain, to bring this trophy back to this beautiful island.”

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb