AN embarrassing incident marred the opening day of the 2009 racing season yesterday at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.

It was a sad day for the sport and the overcast conditions that pervaded the track for the entire afternoon were bright when compared to the off-field action taken by the jockeys riding in the co-feature seventh race, the 1,100-metre First Citizens Sian’s Gold Sprint, listed to be run on the turf.

It came right after the exciting finish of the 1,200-metre First Citizens First Classic provided by owner Merlin Samlalsingh’s first-time Jamaica-bred runner Hurricane Watch, ridden by Rajpaul Rajkumar and trained by Harriram ’Pepsi’ Gobin, who got the better of odds-on favourite Mister Kingston on the line, with Illusionist third and Call Of Wild fourth.

What followed forced racing into the limelight for the wrong reasons in a year that could be very turbulent amidst the global economic downturn.

Jockeys were weighed out to ride in the Sian’s Gold Sprint and the seven runners were saddled and awaiting their riders, but then the jockeys took a decision not to ride on the turf track, forcing a delay.

Meanwhile, punters had their bets down on horses they felt would prevail on the grass. And although the horses weren’t being led onto the track, an announcement was made confirming the race would be run on the turf, with the starting gates already in position.

There was then another announcement that the ’Sprint’, which was scheduled for 4.25 p.m. and was already half-hour overdue, would be run on the main course, and punters who wished to have their bets refunded would be facilitated, although only a handful succeeded in obtaining refunds.

That came after newly-installed Arima Race Club (ARC) chief executive officer Ken Ogeer and ARC president Kama Maharaj relented to the jockeys’ ultimatum, after consulting with the sponsors and a legal official.

All this action was taking place outside the Trainers Pavilion in the full view of the public, who had become very agitated, and to compound the problem darkness was falling and there was still another race to be run off.

The lack of a forceful decision by Maharaj, Ogeer and the ARC stewards came in for some strong adjectives from horsemen and punters.

Trainer Maniram ’Boboy’ Maharaj did not mince words after the race was run, with trainer John O’Brien’s Sweet Alex, the 2/1 second favourite with Brian Harding aboard, prevailing by 1 1/2 lengths from Champagne On Deck, Summer Cactus and evens favourite Divine Bull in a fast 1:05.32 on a sloppy surface.

’The stewards have to take full blame,’ Maharaj fumed. ’They handled the situation poorly. When the jockeys took the decision not to ride on the turf, the stewards should have called all the riders engaged in the race and put it to a vote and then a decision should have been taken.

’But then they had already committed themselves by weighing out to ride and Brian Harding has to be blamed.’

A source close to the riders told the Express: ’Yes, we weighed out to ride, but we did not know where the race would be run. Harding went to the stewards and complained on behalf of all the jockeys that the turf track was not safe.

’The stewards did not make a decision and they said it was only one more race to run on the turf.’

While being led in aboard Sweet Alex, Harding became the first rider at the centralised facility to be booed after winning a feature event.

’Well, I rode in Jamaica for two years and was booed almost everyday and people have things to say,’ said Harding.

’I did not take the race off the turf. They always have things to say... it’s a normal thing.’

ARC president Maharaj added: ’It’s a sad day for racing. I am extremely embarrassed for the sponsor (First Citizens) and I apologise on behalf of the management committee and members of the ARC to the patrons and First Citizens.

’It’s no secret where the protest to come off the turf was made. The result tells the story. It’s difficult for me to say unfortunate...but it’s bad day for the sport and when people seek their own personal interest and do not look at the bigger picture it always come full circle,’ he stated.

First Citizens senior communications officer Stephanie Boisselle said: ’From our point we cannot make a comment...it wasn’t an issue for us and we remain committed to the sport.’