President of the Arima Race Club (ARC) Robert Bernard is quietly confident that the 2021 'Triple Crown' of local racing will come off, once racing restarts in September.
Speaking by phone to Bernard on Thursday, he intimated that the Arima Race Club (ARC) is being proactive and are getting set for a smooth restart of racing, once given the green light by the government.
"A recent update from the management of ARC also advised that with the recent relaxation of some of the pandemic restrictions, the club which is being proactive has written to the Minister of Health requesting permission for the resumption of local racing, which is a non-contact sport.
"The Arima Race Club has pointed out that with the urging of the ARC, a large percentage of employees and stakeholders have received the vaccination. It may be necessary to request that on resumption patrons will need to present their vaccination status in order to gain access to Santa Rosa Park. This will provide the authorities, a greater level of comfort in granting approval.
"With the mass vaccination drive in the country, the ARC has been asking the members of the racing fraternity to get vaccinated to ensure a quick restart when given the green light by the government of T&T."
Horse racing in T&T was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic for a second time in April, this year. Racing was first shut down on March 14, 2020. However, racing resumed on June 27, 2020, and continued until April 24, this year.
ARC president Bernard confirmed that the ARC is doing all in its power to ensure racing a smooth restart of local racing. He stated that with the COVID-19 situation if all continues well, hopefully, racing will receive the green light in September and as such the ARC has planned for a September 11 start.
Should that not be possible then the ARC will look at Republic Day (September 24) and that day is expected to be the first jewel of local racing's 'Triple Crown", the Guineas.
President Bernard intimated that should all go as expected then the second leg of local racing will be in October and the Derby will be run off in November as it was last year.
"However, should the pandemic not let up and we are unable to get clearance until October then the 'Triple Crown' races will be contested beginning in October, November with the prestigious final leg, the Trinidad Derby being run off on December 26, Boxing Day."
When asked about an estimated restart to local racing, Bernard stated, "We expected to have a restart in August but that is impossible, the September 11 restart now looks questionable. As it stands now, it looks as though the resumption of racing, will hopefully come in late September."
Champion trainer John O'Brien saddled the last winners on day eight of the 2021 racing season when champion jockey Brian Boodramsing partnered the unbeaten Soca Symphony to her fourth success in her career from stablemate Princess Steffani which was ridden by "Triple Crown" winning rider apprentice Kimal Santo on April 24.
With the local racing's 'Triple Crown" still on the front burner of the ARC, the horse to beat in the 'Triple Crown' is the Lester Alexis-trained/Nigel Amin-owned, Arsalan.