Est.2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

Banner promoting anonymous crime reporting with a phone and contact number 1 800 TIPS (8477), featuring the Crime Stoppers logo and a QR code for submitting tips.

Excitement Comes back To The Sandy Lane Gold Cup

← Back

Your message to the BLOGMASTER was sent

CONTACT THE BLOGMASTER ONLY

Grade I winner Bribon is one of the leading contenders for the Barbados Gold Cup. Order This Photo Photo: Coglianese Photos

This coming Saturday is Gold Cup day in Barbados. The BU household remember the excitement which use to surround this race in the 80s. Do you remember Bold Lewis the horse to win the very first gold cup in 1982? What about Iron Lover from Martinique and Tinker’s Image who gave Barbados its first win in 1984. The days leading up to the race created much excitement as gold cup fever would grip the island back then. The interesting thing was it did not matter whether you were a horse racing fan or not, you found yourself caught up in the excitement and on the Garrison Savannah come gold cup day.

In recent years the the race has slipped in appeal for one reason or the other. The Barbados Turf Club (BTC) has responsibility for horse racing in Barbados but has  had to navigate a rough financial patch in recent years. It is reported to be an industry which employs directly and indirectly 3000 people. It might explain why the David Thompson government forgave 19 million dollars in debt within the first year of assuming office. It is a decision which is still challenged by some because of the wealthy personages who are involved in the industry and manage the BTC. Why couldn’t they reach into their deep pockets to help the BTC at its time of greatest need?

We are told the field entered for this 29th gold cup is one of the best ever. Although there is no horse slated to run from the region, Barbadians will be treated to some graded horses out of the USA and Canada. Barbados’ resident Canadian billionaire Eugene Melnyk has tongues wagging with his entry Sterwins who will be partnered by Barbadian Patrick Husbands, the perennial Canadian champion. Whether last year’s winner Daylight Express can repeat has added to the excitement. Whoever wins the race will cash in $200,000 dollars, not a bad pay day!

Come Saturday BU expect the Garrison Savannah will be the place to be. Our beleaguered tourist industry can use all the help it can get from the international exposure which the gold cup is reputed to generate.  The race has been picked up be ESPN in the past and the local radio will broadcast for all to follow.

Although the race will run in the shadow of suspected doping case of last year’s favourite Apostle, the subject of an ongoing court case, the excitement is rising.

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

160 responses to “Excitement Comes back To The Sandy Lane Gold Cup”

  1. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    When you have a first rate jacka$$ like BT around this is why politicians have to make political decisions rather than economic ones.

    The accounts are published every year. Anyone can see them.

    There is a viable industry of owners, trainers vets etc in Barbados. About 12 Barbadian jockeys ply their trade in Canada every year and about a couple hundred grooms

    World class brand? At the garrison on Saturday will be a leading horse from Canada, a leading horse from America, the top jockey from Canada and the top jockey from UK.

    “They have been allowed to run a gambling operation since time immemorial raking in millions….”

    Evidence of this? Or just a lie you know your “fans” will believe?

    “How about the option to sue the club members who have been reaping the sweets all those years for the taxes due?”

    What sweets have the members been reaping? They receive no payments from the Club.

    The BTC is a club, the company’s act does not apply, which directors would you like to sue, the ones in charge when the debt ran up most now long dead? clever that !

    Would any club exist in Barbados if the debtors could go after members assets? Real clever that BT !

    That right, Thompson is the idiot, who “fell for this nonsense”. Its takes BT to see what it is really about. I suppose Arthur was clever like you too.

  2. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    “I am quite certain that the “race fan” might be someone from within the BTC.”

    Typical tactic.

    Why dont you challenge what I said.

    And for the record, I am not a member or employee of the BTC, I have good friends employed in the Club.

  3. David Avatar
    David

    If RC is an insider according to TMW then the question whether a businesscase was done to support the forgiveness of the debt stands.

    @RC

    It is nice to write we have an international field with graded horses but is it not also true to state the owners of some of the international horses happen to live in Barbados?

  4. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @David,

    You can see how easy it is to play the “elites” card.

    Thompson is no fool and he must have had a convincing case to take such a risky move.

    If there was some ‘quid pro quo’ for the “elites” about it, why did Arthur not go for it? Why would Thompson do it so early in his term? You would have to bea suggesting he is either corrupt or stupid.

    But BT and others who play this card, appeal to emotion, prejudice and offer no evidence of their own. Just innuendo lapped up by many. They cannot explain why Thompson did it.

    And we wonder why politicians just tell us what we want hear.

  5. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @David,

    I stated that already.

    However, the fact is that racing in Barbados punches above its weight.

    Its not perfect but the standard is high for a small Island. If the standard was unacceptably poor, owners no matter where they lived would not race their horses.

    We have also produced the champion jockey in Canada. Its no small feat of Mr Husbands and he got his start right here.

    We have also produced the champion trainer in the UK.

    No other island has a race with the same quality of horses and jocks.

  6. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @BT,

    “……..employing the lowest level of people ”

    Tell me BT, who are the “lowest level of people”

    And you call someone elite?

    LOL

  7. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @BT,

    “If millionaires can be forgiven for LEGALLY due debts”

    Which millionaire had their debts forgiven?? Name them and the debt forgiven. Give us facts and not innuendo.

    And you accuse me of spin?

  8. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @BT,

    “The Tax department should be selling a few houses as we speak! A couple directors should be on remand!”

    You sound like a politician on a platform.

    Which directors, which houses? on what basis?

    Again any facts for us? of just political games.

    David, do you see what I mean about the courage of Thompson?

  9. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @BT,

    “Does the new Company’s act not place the responsibility on DIRECTORS for debts incurred on behalf of a Company in such manner? …”

    This is misleading. It suits BT’s agenda to make it sound like special treatment for elites but as usual the truth is somewhat different.

    I did already point out that the companies act does not apply but I should have made the issue more clear.

    The power to go after directors is mainly in individual legislation, that is NIS, Income tax, VAT legislation, not the companies act. (Any lawyers here to confirm or correct, I am not a lawyer?)

    These are directors in the legal sense as under the companies act.

    The BTC does not owe any NIS, VAT, PAYE etc and so the “directors” are not liable.

    In the case of the BTC, the “directors” are not “directors” in the legal sense they are just “committee members”. They changed their name to “directors” some years ago but they are not “directors” as defined under the companies act. The BTC is not a company, it is a club.

    The debt due by the BTC and forgiven by government is for betting tax on gross revenue including interest and penalties.

    The Club has always fully paid NIS, PAYE, VAT etc etc to the best of my knowledge.

  10. Alex Fergusson Avatar
    Alex Fergusson

    Forget the distractions. The issue is the DLP’s dangerous mismanagement of the economy and the incompetence of its Minister

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++

    The gold cup may not show on CBC/DLP TV tomorrow although it may be shown on ESPN and other internation television networks.

    Word is that the cameras are being saved for Sunday when the DLP hand over houses in St. Philip. This is such a desperate DLP gimmick that the police band will also play then.

    To think that CBC/DLP TV was down Bath at the DLP Bashment fete and up Farley Hill but not at the Garrison – is shameful.

    The point is that the DLP is more concerned with looking good in a crisis than pulling Barbados out of the fiscal crisis it has placed it in.

    Here is something else: Thompson is talking about a team Barbados approach to fixing his manufactured fiscal crisis – but while everyone was at Sherbourne thinking that they were contributing to a plan to turn things around – Darcy Boyce was in Washington reporting to and taking fresh instructions from the IMF and the Word Bank.

  11. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    So the BT option is to throw some “directors” in jail (Sir Deny’s Williams?) for a debt they did not incur and are not liable for under the law of the land.

    Close down the sport and leave the 3,000 unemployed with a skill set totally inappropriate for any other profession. Let the NIS take care of them?

    I guess they will be comforted by the jailed directors and knowing the government illegally confiscated a few houses.

    Give Mugabe a call, you think like him and would be welcomed.

  12. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Methinks that this particular racing fan doth protest too much. What happen now? a bushman can’t have an opinion?
    ….OH I forgot, anyone with a different opinion is public enemy #one – pity the days of lynching are gone huh?!!

    Accounts are published every year!

    ….ha ha ha ha!!! skipper this is BU not the Nation or VOB, you talking to intelligent people WHO TALK BACK!! Stanford’s accounts were published too! So were ENRON’s.
    Bush Tea is very familiar with the scams that go on.

    ….no no! what I am calling for to be published would be the detailed ACCOUNTS of the ‘club’.
    …you know!! income, expenses, who were paid what ,and when….etc, not the doctored and polished financial statements that says NOTHING beyond what the pr people want to say.

    …for example, who else did BTC owe besides Government’s $19million? Did they owe for electricity? Telephone? Dacosta Mannings? Carters? Salaries? …and how was that settled?

    Race fan, you clearly have NO IDEA what world class means, so I will let you continue with your reverence of mediocrity…..

    As to the upkeep of the area – LOL is it not tailor made for the nocturnal activities for which it is famous? ..dark, dirty, muddy, and unkempt.

    As to the types of people that are employed…. Barbados provides universal free education up to university level. Progressive development would suggest that we should be seeking to create high skilled people who can utilize such education…..
    …what are the educational requirements of the persons employed in this business? One school of thought is that it is industry such as this that creates the demand for unskilled illegal immigrants…

    With respect to the PM/s actions, (and Bush Tea’s liking for the PM is well documented) he has CLEARLY made a mistake – probably having been duped by someone like you with your convoluted spin…. and sweet mouth.
    How could the PM have met with the Turf Club, listened to their pitiful spin, made all the needed arrangements, and forgiven their $19m debts – while in the meantime not being able to even respond to a letter from the minibus group offering to meet to address the vexing issue of ZR culture – far less meeting with them…. as alleged by President Lee.

    …. if that is not a mistake then there is no global financial crisis.
    But the PM is not God. he will make mistakes from time to time…. and Bush Tea will not fail to highlight them…. as I also highlight the mostly good strokes that he also makes…

  13. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    “etc, not the doctored and polished financial statements that says NOTHING beyond what the pr people want to say.”

    That is right when the facts do not fit, you just say they are doctored.

    The BTC is no Stanford or no Enron.

    Stanford did not publish accounts, that is why he set up in Antigua.

    Enron and the accountants colluded in a fraud because Enron paid them millions

    But sure throw out some names and that makes the BTC equally guilty.

    Clever.

    (and you say I have the sweet mouth?)

    So if an industry employs people without “suitable educational requirements”, to hell with it?

    Like any industry, there are all levels right up to highly educated vets.

    So your opinion must not be challenged??

    The PM was duped but NOT you.

    Sure, that makes sense.

  14. Tell me Why Avatar
    Tell me Why

    Race Fan.
    You keep saying that horse racing employs over 3,000 people. Do tell me if the 3,000 are directly responsible for the taxes which had to be written off by the Gov’b. If the answer is no, do tell me why would the turf club accumulate 19 million and had to get a write-off?

  15. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Race Fan

    You have a problem with reading? I did not say that the BTC books were doctored. What I said was that the fact that accounts were published does NOT in itself say much, because after such accounts are ‘polished’ (if you have a problem with doctored).. one can hardly deduce anything meaningful about how the business was managed.

    Why are you so defensive? Bush Tea can easily be proven wrong by answering the questions asked.

    Who else was owed?

    How do we know that the reason for the $19 million debt was not that various benefits (valued in the millions) were not distributed among the boys in the ‘club’?

    …We don’t know, but you seem to….

  16. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @BT,

    Here is what you wrote;

    “…you know!! income, expenses, who were paid what ,and when….etc, not the doctored and polished financial statements that says NOTHING beyond what the pr people want to say.”

    You said “doctored”.

    Maybe you have trouble reading.

  17. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @BT,

    “Who else was owed?”

    The main expenses of the club are employees. They do not have much creditors/suppliers and they have no outstanding debts. The debt to government is many years old.

    “How do we know that the reason for the $19 million debt was not that various benefits (valued in the millions) were not distributed among the boys in the ‘club’? ”

    Well you can look at the audited accounts. (polished but not doctored!? lol)

    Club members do not receive money from the club.

    You attack, I defend.

    What is wrong with that

  18. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @TMW

    “You keep saying that horse racing employs over 3,000 people.”

    I do??

    It was David that made the claim, I just repeated it.

    The industry employs a lot indirect and direct, I have no idea the precise number. Probably close to 3,000

    I am struggling to understand your question(s)

    The people employed by the BTC are not liable for the debts of the BTC. I think that is question 1.

    The debt has accumulated over 40 years with interest and penalties from tax levied on betting revenue.

    Not VAT, PAYE, NIC etc

    Betting tax which is unique to the turf club.

    No turf club, no betting tax income for government.

  19. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @David,

    I hope you see Thompson’s decision in a slightly more favourable light with the additional info I have provided even if you still do not agree.

    It is decision that is politically dangerous as can be seen by the easy way it is to throw mud at the “elites” because people conflate the club members with rich horse owners.

    However the critics do not offer any solutions, just throw mud.

    How about some answers from the critics.

    What should Thompson have done?

    – waive, foreclose or ignore

    Why did Thompson do what he did?

    – stupid (ie duped), or corrupt?

    I have put my answers on the table. Lets hear from the critics.

  20. ac Avatar
    ac

    @RACE FAN

    The more i think about this issue . the more iam begin to think
    that the heart of this matter has very little to do with saving jobs. Most of those employees would have found jobs over the years. You need to stop repeating that line because it comes across as a red herring. I don’t think the people know the real truth onthis matter.

  21. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @ac

    “I don’t think the people know the real truth onthis matter.”

    More innuendo. Can we get a substantive argument from anyone? What should Thompson have done?

    “You need to stop repeating that line”

    But I never said it was about “saving jobs” (far less repeated it)

    I told you the reason was to allow the BTC to borrow money. Read my very first post.

    I asked what should Thompson should have done and if you say foreclose that would have cost jobs but the reason the write off was needed was to allow the BTC to borrow money.

    It was not needed for the day to day operations to stay afloat, I thought I made that clear.

  22. David Avatar
    David

    @Racing Fan

    You have admitted you know people at the BTC, can you find out if a businesscase exist which would have been used to support the PM’s decision to forgive 19 million?

  23. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @David,

    I will certainly ask a question but I think something would have had to been done to secure funding.

  24. ac Avatar
    ac

    @Race Fan
    It is obvious the public position was not to forgive the debt.So
    then you ask what then.Instead of putting the public on the spot maybe a director of the BTC ought to respond to this matter on the blog since it is their best interest to do so as they need the public support to maintain the sport. People are looking for answers . Remember it is the taxpayers money that keep them
    running. 19million is no small matter.

  25. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @ac,

    “People are looking for answers . Remember it is the taxpayers money that keep them
    running”

    With respect, I thought I had given the “answers”, ie the reason for the write off.

  26. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @ac

    The club does not use taxpayers money to “keep them running”

  27. ac Avatar
    ac

    @Race Fan
    Are you purposely confusing me. Idn’t think so.
    Question isn’t it the19m forgiven debt owed to the government which is the people or taxpayers.

  28. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @ac,

    The forgiven debt was not needed to “keep them running”.

    And they have never received money already collected from taxpayers.

  29. ac Avatar
    ac

    @RACEAN
    Inever said that BTC received money already collected from taxpayers.Themoney is money owed to the government.In any case BTC did not pay their fair share of taxes owed

  30. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @ac,

    No one disputes the BTC did not pay the taxes due.

    It is useful to note that this is betting tax, not income tax, vat, nis etc.

    I am sorry that I did not convince you, another race fan, that the write off was the best solution for Thompson to take.

  31. ac Avatar
    ac

    @Race Fan

    What’s done is done .However the real convincing part is that the BTC could have figure a way out collectively to pay the debt over the years beforeit had accumulated to such an outrageous amount. It was really unfair for the BTC to put the government in a damned if you do vs damned if you don’t situation.
    That is why the public is not willing to forgive the BTC and the government.

  32. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    So Race Fan,

    I am a small businessman, but things have not been too rosy since I brought some new equipment, so between you and me, I ain’t pay no road tax for my lil van now over ten years.
    Right now I hoping to butt up on the PM on the side and ask he a question – but what do you think is the best option for me?

    – forgive the $5,000 debt?
    – foreclose the lil business and send the children to welfare?
    – ignore the situation and leave well enough alone?

  33. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    Nice try

    Road tax is not a debt that accumulates.

    Imagine if Government implemented a policy where small businessmen (manufacturers maybe) could have very old NIS debts (for example) waived subject to certain criteria for size and business plan because say the NIS debt was stopping them getting an otherwise approved loan from say the BNB.

    The scheme to be managed by say the BIDC.

    Would you support such a policy?

  34. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    Might be a good policy initiative to support on cusp of an economy coming out of recession, no?

  35. David Avatar
    David

    @Race Fan

    The issue of the businessplan (if there was one) to support the debt forgiveness we will have to keep revisiting. It was the taxpayers money that was used and the people deserve to know. This is where FOI would be useful.

  36. ac Avatar
    ac

    @Race Fan
    Why did the Btc let the debt accumulate over the years?

  37. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    How about another scenario…………

    Imagine you create a foundation or charitable organisation that raises funds and uses them to support some kind of sport of other social activity. The organisation is strictly non profit and run by a committee of ordinary Barbadians.

    Your fund raising activity eventually gets the attention of the Government who passes specific legislation to tax your funds as received in order to get a share.

    Things go well for a few years but your income source takes a turn for the worse and spending commitments for the activity you support means your cash flow dries up and you end up indebted to the Government.

    Eventually through your own efforts, you find another funding source and things go good again and you can keep funding the activity and keep all your creditors current including the Government. You struggle however with the arrears and the interest and penalties just keep climbing.

    Now one day your committee comes up with a great idea but it needs funds you do not have at the moment. You approach the bank and they agree to lend you the money but subject to you paying the old to the government. A bit of a catch 22, if you had the funds to pay the old debt, well you would not need the bank.

    So you sit down with the government. Your tax is unique and is extra revenue for the government and you explain your investment idea and the problem you face.

    The government wants the investment deal to go through and waives the old debt.

    Good policy or bad??

  38. David Avatar
    David

    Imagine you create a foundation or charitable organisation that raises funds and uses them to support some kind of sport of other social activity. The organisation is strictly non profit and run by a committee of ordinary Barbadians.

    @RC

    The BTC and the patrons who are close to the BTC are no ordinary Bajans by any stretch of the imagination; some of them for sure.

  39. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @David,

    Your point is of course completely valid.

    In my scenario no doubt some formal criteria such as a business plan would be needed to implement a general policy.

    Possibly it was enough to convince Thompson in a single case scenario to show the bank backing.

    I will try to find out.

  40. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @David,

    I agree they are not all ordinary but most in fact are.

    But perhaps if they were perceived as all ordinary, this whole move would be seen more favourably.

    That why I deliberately said ordinary Barbadians in my scenario.

    What really is the objection? Is it the write off or is it who is perceived to have received it?

    Perhaps it is latter that is bothering everyone.

  41. ac Avatar
    ac

    It seems to me with good management this problem would not have occurred .To me this was a deliberate way of holding the government as hostage as Tourism is an essential part of the countries survival and the BTC new that the government had no other choice but to forgive the debt.Had not for tourisim locked into this problem the government would have tell the BTC to take a long walk on a short pier.

  42. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @ac

    I cant answer that specifically, one would have to look at the history in detail.

    However, the simple answer would be they were unable to make sufficient arrears payments.

  43. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @ac

    You are right. If the industry was not important Government would have foreclosed many years ago.

  44. David Avatar
    David

    @RC

    ac touched on it in an earlier comment. Instead of forgiving the debt some effort could have been made, or greater effort in getting one of the fat cats i.e. very rich racing patrons to come to the BTC’s aid. Does anyone believe that Sir David Seale, Sir COW Williams, Smith, Eugene and the likes would have allowed horse racing to collapse? No Sir!!

  45. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @David,

    “This is where FOI would be useful.”

    The BTC is not a secret organisation. The traditional media could have asked the same question and informed the public.

    I have no problem with FOI, but we do not need a sledgehammer for a nail.

  46. David Avatar
    David

    @RC
    Will by in to that sledgehammer nail argument when we eyeball the businesscase/proposal submitted to government to justify the debt forgiveness.

  47. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    I think only Sir David is a member.

    If the Government foreclosed they would not have a choice. Williams, Smith, Eugene all run horses in other countries.

    You keep forgetting that the waiver was not needed to save it from collapse.

  48. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @David,

    For what it is worth, nobody expected Thompson to agree. Figured it was to much of a political problem.

    I give him a lot of credit for taking a decision he KNEW would give him “licks”.

    Irrespective of whether you think it was wrong or right, is it not refreshing to have a politician take a politically expensive decision because he thinks it in the economic interest?

  49. David Avatar
    David

    It doesn’t matter if they were members, they have an interest. While they run horses in other countries guess what they all have in common?

    Frankly in Thompson’s position we would have call the BTC’s bluff or those advocating on its behalf. The fact that the GG is a patron must have made the lobby for debt forgiveness mighty powerful. RC you can rationalize all you want but the way this debt forgiveness went down has left a sour taste in the mouths of people.

  50. Race Fan Avatar
    Race Fan

    @David

    “Frankly in Thompson’s position we would have call the BTC’s bluff or those advocating on its behalf. ”

    They have been lobbying for debt forgiveness for 20+ years.

The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.

Trending

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading