Bewitched and bewildered

I learnt a long time ago that one should never enter the kitchen unless one can take the heat. I was kept reminded about the turtle that rested on his desk: "Behold the turtle, he makes no progress unless he sticks out his head."

I therefore remain undaunted by the diatribe spewed out by columnist Gordon Robinson in the excuse for an article published in The Gleaner on June 21. This gentleman is better known as a lawyer. His excursions into journalism have been met with fervent rebuttal by those with whom he has dared to lock horns. As a lawyer, I am surprised that he does not get his facts right before rushing to get his weekly stipend.

The former minister of finance and the contractor general had to put him in his place for his recent excursions into fantasy land. I feel honoured to be numbered among these much more erudite gentlemen. I will, however, try to correct some of the inaccuracies put forward by Robinson in his article.

1) The "stakeholders" to whom Robinson refers so disdainfully include the professionals - veterinarians, farriers, jockeys, grooms, trainers et al, who have made a career in the racing industry and who are justifiably concerned at the gross mis-management of the industry. These,along with owners and breeders, have been meeting on a regular basis to arrive at a consensus on the way forward and how best they can precipitate action from the shareholders (government), who have refused even to meet with them or acknowledge correspondence.

2) The numbers present and voicing their concerns at these meetings were in similar proportion to those who elect our government every five years, and certainly larger in proportion than the numbers electing the local government. History has shown that action from successive governments is only forthcoming when disruption is planned or effected. This is unfortunate but, "When you are in Rome you have to do as the Romans do." The decision to protest through withholding nominations was taken with full regard for the financial consequences, but what we hoped to achieve in the long term was worth the sacrifice.

Championing a cause

3) I am not surprised that Robinson is championing the cause of our bookmakers, whose operation, by the way, is unique to Jamaica. Maybe Robinson can assist us in explaining how a business can survive when more than 50 per cent of their production is handled by a third party who makes no meaningful contribution to the cost of that production. The activities of our bookmakers have been a major problem for as long as I can remember. When the industry went bankrupt in the 1970s two major contributors were identified - the loss of revenue from the activity of bookmakers and the onerous and unproductive tax regime.

The formation of the stake-holders group, Racing Promotions Ltd, that took over the operation and eventually bought the property did so on the under-standing that there would be a tote monopoly. There was grave suspicion about the authenticity of sales figures presented so any percentage of "sales" was unacceptable. It is now 2011, some 34 years later, and we are still talking about the same issue and Robinson wonders why we should "protest".

Back in the 1960s and 1970s bookmakers sought some appeasement by investing in the industry. The founders of Track Price Plus - Melvin Chin and Lucien Chen - were major investors. Melvin Park Stud and Stable was one of our largest stud farms with stallions such as Tudor Rhapsody, Fire Rocket Best Reason, Complaint, and many other imported animals which made a major contribution to our racing stock. Today, you are lucky if you get a miserly contribution to a race day from the Young Turks who now own the business.

Fiscal incompetence

4) Robinson asks: "How does one address the fiscal incompetence of Caymanas Track Ltd?" That question is best addressed to the shareholders. Robinson should recall that in 1986 the Govern-ment forcefully acquired the assets of Racing Promotions Ltd for taxes owed of J$32 million, with the stated intention of restructuring the company (this, he will recall, was at the time when anything with the semblance of a democratic socialist structure was destined for destruction. There was going to be significant capital injection. It is now 2011; 24 years later and we are still talking. In the face of all of this Robinson wonders "why protest?"

5) He correctly pointed out that I was particularly peeved at the behaviour of the owners association's president, who was not present at the meeting of June 14. Robinson would better serve the cause of owners if he found out when was this president elected, when was the last annual general meeting held; in fact, when was the last time any meeting was held to discuss the concerns of owners?

The industry needs constructive dialogue. Let us grow up and do away with vitriol and personal abuse. Respect is due to all those who make this industry possible. All of us are "hoping that sanity will prevail and there will be no need for these brutish, boring threats".

Howard L. Hamilton, CD, JP, is a former chairman of Caymanas Track Ltd and is the current president of The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. He can be contacted by email athowham23@gmail.com