Horse Owners Association makes use of grant
One group of horse owners, The Boys Stables, has already benefitted from the grant with assistance towards the purchase of a new horse (Leave It To Bern) in the sum of $5000.
Education Minister Hon. Myron V. Walwyn had made the donation to the Association in May 2013 following their successful application for the grant which was expected to increase participation in the sport.
Hon. Walwyn had also met with the President previously and committed an annual subvention in the region of $25,000 from government to the sport of horse racing.
According to the President, negotiations had been set in motion in Puerto Rico for the purchase of a second horse on behalf of the Horse Owners Association in keeping with the grant secured for the purchase of horses..
“We don’t choose [the beneficiaries of the grant], it’s whoever presents themselves and says that they are interested,” Mrs Smith-Aaron revealed of the selection process in acquiring the grant.
She indicated that persons acquiring a grant from the association are required to repay on a percentage basis based on winnings accrued from races.
The President cautioned though, that the process may not be as simple as it appears as once a horse is purchased, the owner has to be fully prepared to care and feed the horse. “That’s why we don’t take the full purse, we only take a percentage of the purse after the race,” she stated.
She explained that there were many things involved in having a horse such as the purchase of hay, feed, and payments towards the exercise jockey that will be assigned to the horse among other things. “Even if we are assisting you in purchasing it, you will still have to actually have to be able to train and feed it,” Mrs Smith-Aaron noted.
The grant had previously been met with some amount of resistance from teachers once it had been announced with some claiming that more funds and attention should be focused in the area of education and the acquisition of teaching materials at schools instead of a contribution to the VI Horse Owners Association.
7 Responses to “Horse Owners Association makes use of grant”
Meanwhile, schools still moldy and in terrible shape. Teachers poorly paid, you want to show real appreciation baldy? Pay them more. Ever hear saying "you get what you for?" Youth activities haven't seen a penny. Sports activities for youthsn nothing.
Please let this two years go by fast so we can get baldy and the rest of the bandits out of office.