Nearly a year after a bill was passed, the government on April 4th this year published the names of the members of the governing board for the Guyana Horse Racing Authority.
The persons named to the authority are Dr Steven Cheefoon, Adrian V Anamayah, Dr Nardeo Bassoodeo, Amernauth Kiritpal, Zahir Khan, Poona Bhigroog and Mohamed Naeem Kamal (Port Mourant Turf Club -racetrack support and administration).
The sport had gone through a rocky period and even though the bill had been passed for the authority on April 28, 2025, the government had not proceeded to name members until April 4th this year.
On August 17 last year, jockey Kishawn Perreira was killed in an accident on the track amid chaos and concerns about the quality of the ground on which the race was being run. Even then, the authority had not been formed.
It is unclear what the authority has done since it was formed and whether the death of Perreira and the operation of the 2025 edition of the Guyana Cup where it occurred will come under investigation.
Perreira lost his life after sustaining fatal injuries during the marquee event, a tragedy that shocked the racing fraternity and wider sporting public. In the immediate aftermath, there were calls for reform, greater oversight and stronger safety protocols, particularly given the high-risk nature of the sport.
The bill passed in 2025 caters for a governing board to act on behalf of the Horse Racing Authority. The board will consist of no fewer than five and no more than seven members, appointed from individuals with experience in law, business, horse racing, or other relevant fields. The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport will appoint a chairperson, while the vice-chairperson will be elected by the board members.
Members of the board will serve a term of three years and will be eligible for reappointment as determined by the minister. The board will also appoint a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), subject to ministerial approval, for a three-year term. Additionally, the board may form any number of committees deemed necessary for the effective functioning of the authority, including a disciplinary committee.
Once a report is made, the disciplinary committee will launch an investigation and once completed a report will be submitted to the board with the recommended manner in which the complaint must be handled. The committee has the power to suspend or revoke licences when necessary. All licence suspensions or revocations will be published in the official gazette.
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