The year was 1982. The Commodore 64 personal computer was the newest craze in technology, even though it was heavy enough to replace a barbel at the local gym. Sony was about to release the first portable CD player.
Here in Barbados, something big was also happening. It was called the Cockspur Gold Cup, and it had horse racing fans across the Caribbean buzzing with excitement.
After all, the Sport of Kings was about to reach its apex in the region, with the Barbados Turf Club taking the bold step to invite Trinidad and Tobago and Martinique to send their equine champs to Barbados to settle the score once and for all, as to whose horses ruled the track in the Eastern Caribbean.
Barbadian horse racing fans lapped it up, and January 30, 1982, remains to this day, arguably the greatest in the history of the Barbados Turf Club, as the Garrison Savannah, not a small confine by any stretch of the imagination, was, as they say now, “burst with people” in every nook and cranny.
When news of the first Cockspur Gold Cup spread, I knew I had to be there. I went, watched it from the Grand Stand, and it remains etched in my memory.
I can still see today, images of hundreds of Barbadians falling through a roof which couldn’t handle the human weight, as they watched Trinidad’s Bold Lewis win the inaugural event.
Horse racing remains immensely popular in Barbados. The Gold Cup, now under the sponsorship of luxury hotel Sandy Lane, is still the region’s top draw for a horse race, but no honest Barbadian can say the vibe is the same as when the first seven or eight versions were held in the 1980s.
It’s tough to apportion blame as to why the first Saturday in March no longer means much to mainstream Barbadian sports fans. And it’s not like horse racing alone. The same has happened to the Run Barbados series when it comes to a serious dip in popularity.
The Barbados Turf Club, cash strapped and still trying its utmost to attract Barbadians to the betting booths, have their hands tied due to the rough economy.
The Garrison track is under siege by its own, with a number of jockeys, headed by Barbados’ most famous, Patrick Husbands, continuing to bemoan the size of the track, its tight angles, and the fact that it remains one of the few remaining horse tracks which runs in a clockwise direction.
Over the years, the number of imported horses racing in the Gold Cup has also dwindled, with creoles getting their chance to shine.
What is clear, in my mind at least, is that the Gold Cup, and horse racing in general, can only survive if it moves from the Garrison as quickly as possible.
That may be easier said than done, based not only on the inancial position of the Barbados Turf Club, but also because of availability of land for a modern track. But I do have an idea, and it involves the four biggest names in horse racing in Barbados.
The names are Eugene Melnyk, Sir Charles Williams, Sir David Seale, and Ralph “Bizzy” Williams. nThese names aren’t just synonomous with the sport of horse racing. When it comes to business and financial prowess in Barbados, they roll off the tongue with no fear of contradiction.
And it’s not just about the wealth they have. It’s about the influence as well. Which is why I feel those four men should not leave finding a new home for the Barbados Turf Club, to the Turf Club alone.
Melnyk, a multi-millionaire from Canada, loves Barbados, loves horse racing, and calls this country his second home. He has supported numerous charities here, and even names his horses after places of interest on the island.
Sir Charles is one of the country’s premier horse racing owners and most astute businessmen.
Sir David is another prominent Barbadian businessman who has been involved in racing long before the first Gold Cup.
“Bizzy” Williams is also no stranger to racing and business development projects.
So here’s my idea.
I feel that these four men have what it takes to save horse racing in Barbados. They have the wealth, the love of the sport, the financial know-how, and most importantly, the influence. I’m thinking a new race-track would take in the region of $200-250 million to become a reality.
I’m doubly sure that the two Williams brothers, Melnyk, and Sir David can conceptualise the idea, then walk into any financial institution in Barbados, and start negotiations for a $300 million dollar project to save horse racing in Barbados.
The Sport of Kings seriously needs a regal effort to be saved, and I feel these four men can do it.
Then again, it doesn’t have to be only the four of them. Other local interests can make a contribution, and it doesn’t have to be financial. Architects can help with the design, consultants can help with the logistics, Government can help with a consultation to find the land.
After all, the Gold Cup should not be just by name, but also by nature.
