GOVERNMENT is considering a $10 million grant requested by the cash-strapped Arima Race Club (ARC) to put racing back on a right track.

The funds will be used to improve the facilities of the Santa Rosa Track. This would include refurbishing the stands, new betting equipment, relaying the turf track and improvement to the sand track.

The grant is among a number of proposals submitted in the rationalisation plan presented to government by the stakeholders in the racing industry.

This plan over the past months has been going backward and forward between a government-appointed committee and the stakeholders with no indication when it will be submitted to Cabinet.

Sources close to Trade and Industry Minister Ken Valley (under whose portfolio racing falls) say that he has found favour with another plan to turn around the fortunes of the sport, submitted by former racing officials Derick Chin and Chris Armond.

But this plan would only be considered with the approval of the stakeholders.

One racing official said racing needs a “godfather” in government to move the industry forward.

He said while Valley has been supportive of their needs to improve the sport, he has not been showing the keen interest to get the “race” started.

Some stakeholders say while racing was viewed in the past as a Sport of Kings and gambling, it also provides entertainment.

“It is an industry that employs more than 2,500 persons, who would have had to depend on government for handouts,” one official noted.

“The racing industry employs more people than some of the energy sectors,” he noted.

However, some turfites are blaming poor management of the crisis facing the sport.

While government has been slow in responding to the plans put forward to make the sport viable, some argue that there is need for full-time experienced racing officials to implement the project.

“Members of the management committee should have no interest in racing (like being a trainer or owner) because of the perception of a conflict of interest,” one turfite suggested.

Currently with no Track and Paddock Manager, there is hardly a member of the management committee at the race track on a Sunday to listen or address complaints.

ARC President Gerard Ferreira’s time is taken up training his horses and managing his nearby Humming Bird Farm.

“The ARC has to get its act together if racing has to improve,” one owner said.