Since the announcement by the Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) board on September 16, Sunday racing has become a hot-button issue not only among racing fans, but in the wider society.

Many persons, particularly those involved with the racing industry, can hardly wait to greet the first Sunday meeting. Others are sceptical that it will not catch on in any significant way, given the tough economic climate.

Some believe that supporting back-to-back race meets on Saturdays and Sundays will be counterproductive - one will affect the other.

Errol Nelson of Garveymeade in Portmore would rather stick with midweek over Saturday racing.

"Midweek racing gives punters enough time to refill and come again with fresh money.

"As we all know, the vast majority of punters lose on a Saturday, so it follows there will be little or nothing left in the kitty to support Sunday racing in a big way ... Don't get me wrong, I'm not against Sunday racing. But the level of disposable income has dried up in the past year and this will impact negatively on Sunday racing," he explained.

norm internationally

Paul Robinson of Spanish Town said he wholeheartedly supports Sunday racing as this has become the norm internationally, and Jamaica can ill-afford to be left behind if the powers that be hope to develop the industry in a meaningful way.

"I think the outcry from the church is hypocritical as they turn a blink eye to other forms of gambling, such as the Super Lotto, but focus on racing which, though driven by gambling, offers sporting and entertainment value.

"Come next year, I think CTL should put on one Sunday meet per month and increase the number in 2011. It should be phased in gradually," he said.

Tyrone Edwards from a central Kingston address said Jamaica has more churches per square mile than any other country, and Sunday, a rest day for most people, should be reserved for family interaction and worship.

"Although I'm a churchman, I'm not totally against horse racing, which is viewed as a sport by many. But gambling on horse racing (overseas racing included) already takes place six days per week and Sunday, by its character, should be free of gambling," he argued.

Leroy Reynolds from Rockfort in east Kingston believes that Sunday racing should have been implemented long ago, but the previous government was afraid of the church.

employment opportunities

"I'm a racing fan who believes that in this day and age racing must run every day of the week, as this will create employment opportunities for hundreds.

"The government should go all the way by allowing the betting shops to open on Sundays as well.

"I prefer buying paper bets from the bookies than gambling race-by-race at the off-track stations. I don't think it is fair to introduce something as new as Sunday racing and some people can get it from the government and some won't."

Lloyd Gordon from a Duhaney Park address believes there is too much gambling in the society already.

"To me, Sunday is not only a non-working day, but one for relaxation and quiet reflection with family members. We have gone too far with this moral decay, aided and abetted by the government," he said.

Yvonne Stewart from Havendale says she has only a passing interest in horse racing, but she sees nothing wrong with Sunday racing if this is confined to Caymanas Park and not the betting shops.

"I think it would be wrong to give the betting shops permission to open on a Sunday. It would create a bad environment," she argued.

- Orville Clarke