THE SPORT of kings is about to clash with the King of Kings, and racing fans do not think it is a bad thing. The Gleaner visited Caymanas Track in St Catherine yesterday to gauge how punters felt about their pastime being held on Sundays, which is regarded by some Christians in Jamaica as a holy day.

Horse racing on Sunday, which is proposed for November 29 and December 13, has reignited the debate of what Sundays mean in a country which sees Christianity as the official religion. It has, to a similar extent, raised the spectre of the effects of gambling on society.

simmering cultural war

The move, which was announced by Caymanas Track Limited's Chairman Tony Hart on September 16, has also moved Jamaicans to share their views in the simmering cultural war in Jamaica where secularism and religion coexist.

Delroy Brown has been going to the track every race day, Wednesday and Saturday, since 1977, and says he will gladly add Sunday to his roster.

"Yeah man, we a enjoy it still, it is amusing. Sometimes on Sunday day it is boring and like how the race dem a start now we waan come a track fi win a thing cuz nuttin na gwan."

'daily' bread,

He said Sunday worshippers are already receiving their 'daily' bread, therefore, he has to look out for his own.

Weighing in, an elderly lady said she believes nothing is wrong with Sunday racing. She declined to give her name because she worshipped at a prominent Anglican church in St Andrew and did not want her fellow congregants to know that she attended the track as regularly as church, but she said many church persons are being hypocritical.

"I don't see anything wrong in Sunday racing because there are a lot of things that people do on a Sunday. You have pastors who come right out of the pulpit and go and have sex, so there is nothing wrong."

Chris Gordon believes there is room for racing and churchgoing on a Sunday for everyone, including Christians.

"Racing on Sunday now is a fun thing, cause me is a man weh come racing every day and if a man is a Christian and him like racing, him can come racing inna the morning and go church fi evening service."