Latest update February 15th, 2025 10:14 AM
Jan 31, 2010 Sports
The Message is champion horse
It was a double win for horseracing magnate Mr. Colin Elcock of the Delmur Trading Company stable of Don Robin Farm No19 East Coast Berbice. The entity was adjudged the top racing stable for the 2009 racing season, while top horse The Message of the same entity was adjudge the champion animal with seven wins from nine starts. What was commendable is the animal, which is classified D2, achieved most of its victories running among bigger and higher class animals in the E, C and B class events.
Horses running out of the Elcock stables chalked up a whopping 18 victories, an achievement that placed it head and shoulders above the rest of establishments.
Speaking to Kaieteur News recently Elcock expressed pleasure with the performance of his stable.
Speaking about his entity’s achievement the horseracing Mogul said that he was happy that his stable could have been adjudge the top stable for 2009, but he was not all that surprised, since he has put a lot into the sport. “Its no big achievement and they are no big rewards, but you feel satisfied that you have been adjudge the top stable.”
Elcock who has been into horseracing for as long as he can remember, said he was born into horseracing, sports in general and community activities. His Great Grand father was the first Creole to be a part of the horseracing fraternity in Guyana, an association which dates back to the early 1920s. His uncles Senior Council Marcel Crawford and Selso Crawford are still very much involved in the sport. He still takes advice from Marcel Crawford who he says is like an institution on the sport in this country and who he considers his mentor.
He said that horse owner’s do not make any money from the sport, contrary to what most people believe. It is a very expensive hobby. The animals have to be well taken cared of. Milk, Barley, Guinness and other special feeds have to be acquired apart from medication, care and training.
Elcock who has responsibility for the Ryan Crawford Turf club which was fostered to him in 2006, owns his own stable at NO 19 East Coast Berbice which he acquired in the late 1990s. Before that he was at various stables having started around 1985 at the family entity at Alness. He also owns a stable in Trinidad and says he prefers to breed his own horses which are done mainly in the twin Island republic. This he says is because the situation in Guyana is not yet up to standard.
He stated that he lost a lot of horses before trying to breed in Guyana, which forced him to relocate back to Trinidad. He is giving it another try, the main reason being to try and improve the local stock and the blood line at home in an effort to raise the level. If the horses can be successfully bred at home then they might be cheaper and more people can enter the game, was one reason cited. A few of his horses are bought from other Caribbean countries.
He was high in praise for Dr. Dwight Walrond who he feels is doing a tremendous job in helping to improve the standard in Guyana.
Speaking about his champion horse The Message, which was bred by him in Trinidad, the businessman said the animal was born to be a winner since both his parents came from Winners, The Grandson of Storm Cat and Aldar both Derby placers in The USA. Since its arrival in the country it has always placed among the top finishers, placing second in its first race a few days after its arrival. The Message which will be five years old this year came into the country as an F3 animal and has quickly climbed the ladder to D2 in less than two years, an achievement which is rare. The Delmur Trading Company stable which has over 20 animals, has about eight active runners and apart from The Message, Miss Republic is considered one of its main rivals and was also outstanding with some four wins running in the C and B class events. Other outstanding performers for the stable were Peaceful, Alphabet, Face the Music, Lady of My Dreams and Delmur Gold. Elcock was quick to point out that most of his stables achievement was done without the services of two top contenders in Delmur Gold and Celebration which were injured. Other animals such as Pyro Flow, Miracle Run and Air Control are expected to make their mark this year.
Elcock has added responsibilities since he is the manager of the Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sports Facilities, the family entity which was handed to him to manage being one of the most senior of the younger generation around. The track has a reputation of being one of the best in the country and dubbed the fastest by horseracing acolytes. So far he has handled the pressure well with the track maintaining its top billing to date and will be hosting its first race for this season on Sunday (today) which ironically will be the first race for the 2010 calendar. Mr. Elcock was high in praise for cooperate Guyana for being on board with the horseracing fraternity over the year. A number of those entities have really being patriotic. He was high in commendation for banks DIH limited, which single handedly is undoubtedly the biggest sponsor and supporter of the sport in Guyana.
He like most other racing enthusiast are very disappointed in the Government for failing to pass the necessary legislation which will help to standardize the sport in Guyana and help to bring Guyana back to some semblance of the early days of Durban park when Guyana ruled the roost and was among the top in this hemisphere.
The entrepreneur plans to be around for some time, but like most Guyanese that will, depend how things pan out. “It all depends on the people around if they are really interested, if the want to learn.” There is only so much that can be done by a few. Many persons are entering the game and do not know anything about the sport. It is like a driver buying his drivers licence and does not know to drive or the rules of the road. This will lead to chaos. The government is the biggest culprit.”
Elcock wants to know if there is legislation among Caribbean countries (Caricom) concerning trade, free trade and duty free, why animals coming in from the Caribbean has to be taxed. The tax man and government attitude is killing the sport, he reasoned.
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