Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

Edwards

RESUMPTION of horse racing at Caymanas Park on Wednesday hinges on whether members of the Jamaica Racehorse Trainers Asso-ciation (JRTA) are comfortable with the security of their horses amid restoration work in the stable area.

Hurricane Dean, which skirted the south coast of the island last weekend, left several stables at Caymanas Park with varying degrees of damage to roofs, some of which were completely blown off.

In addition, almost the entire stable area was still without electricity up to yesterday evening, prompting trainers to voice their concerns over nominating horses for racing on Wednesday, starting this morning at 9:00.

Vincent Edwards, president of the JRTA, yesterday said the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) holds trainers ultimately responsible for the security of their horses and existing conditions at Caymanas Park are questionable.

Question of readiness

"The question of readiness can't rest with the decision of CTL (Caymanas Track Limited)," said Edwards, responding to the promoting company's announcement last Tues-day that racing would resume this Wednesday.

"That decision must involve other sectors. We had a meeting yesterday, our executive, and I conveyed to them the question of readiness cannot revolve around CTL.

"For instance, there is no light, how can you prepare a horse if you don't have light for security purposes with some of the stables still not properly secured?"

Edwards said other factors such as unlicensed persons working amid the horses in the stable area must also be looked at.

"When I went to my stables yesterday, stalls were still being repaired and unlicensed persons were among the horses," he said.

Walford Brown, chief executive officer at CTL, yesterday admitted most of the plant was still without power up to Saturday evening as the Jamaica Public Service had not energised high-powered lines leading into the park.

"We can't dismiss their concerns," Brown said.

"JPS apparently has difficulties on the outside as two high-powered lines were not re-energised plus, there's a downed pole, which carries two transformers, in the top paddock area," he pointed out.

Brown said CTL has been working to repair its internal lines and the decision to nominate, without power being restored, rests squarely with the trainers.

"If they have that concern, they will be the ones taking that decision," he said.

"Probably, by up to lunch time we should know where we are," he added.