Let there be light
Plans afoot to improve visibility at Caymanas Park
Published:Thursday | May 27, 2021 | 12:18 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
In a bid to improve the visibility at the island’s only horse racing facility, Caymanas Park, particularly during early morning workouts, promoters Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) will be erecting lights along a section of the facility.
SVREL General Manager Lorna Gooden made the disclosure while pointing to what she described as long-standing lighting issues on the backstretch, as a major setback for racing personnel who utilise the facility in low-light conditions.
“We are waiting on the Jamaica Public Service to come in and do their assessments so that we could commission it and so we are hoping that it will be commissioned soon,” said Gooden. “They (lights) were recently tested because we did a preliminary test with our generating plant to ensure that it is functional and you might have seen a couple photos on social media of the testing.”
“It (project) is the lighting of the backstretch in particular because it is not the entire track (that will be addressed) at this moment. This will help to improve visibility particularly early in the mornings at that time of the year when it is dark, say about 5:00 a.m. when we start exercise,” Gooden noted.
She underscored that the installation of lights at the facility is part of SVREL’s plans for the redevelopment of the Caymanas Park facility.
“There was light on this stretch even before we took over and so this is a new and a first for Caymanas Park,” Gooden said. “We are just trying for now to improve visibility during the exercise period for the safety and benefit of the horses and horsemen at the facility.”
Meanwhile, president of the United Racehorse Trainers Association (UTRA), Ryan Darby, said his organisation was delighted with the move and believed the new lighting system will improve safety at the venue.
“This is a very good thing for us because especially in September, October, November and December, the mornings are dark and so this will definitely help a lot in that time of the year,” said Darby. “It will make the early workouts a lot safer in the dark season.”