On the eve of the first race organised by the newly-formed Royal Turf Club, Secretary Lucille Dahanayake, President Suranjith Premadasa and CEO Wayne Wood of the Royal Turf Club, spoke on matters of importance pertaining to horseracing, sports tourism, equestrian activities and, most importantly, restoring this wonderful sport to its former glory.

Q: Horseracing in Sri Lanka has a history of about 200 years. Could you elaborate on your experiences with the sport of horseracing thus far?

Dahanayake: My first association with racehorses was a meeting with a beautiful horse called Little Babu, who was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Vincent de Soysa. I have sat on him but was not able to ride him as he was a racehorse, but my love for horses increased and I learnt about horses from my husband who has been a gentleman rider in the past and rides even today.

Q: Among the many aspects of horseracing is the management of the sport and the racecourse. How does the newly-formed RTC intend to better the track record of the former Turf Club?

Dahanayake: Firstly the RTC has totally rehabilitated the track – redoing the railings, the Grand Stand, the stewards’ room, jockey room and the ring after 30 years. We have many more race dates on the cards.

Q: Is the Tourist Board collaborating with you in this venture?

Dahanayake: Not at the moment, but I am sure they will when they see the improvements and our commitment to take it forward by promoting the sport and venue internationally, especially in India.

Q: Any successful sporting venue also brings about many opportunities for the local community and also the country and region at large. What are some such opportunities the Royal Turf Club has made available for the short and medium term?

Dahanayake: The local community will benefit directly from the job opportunities, as they already have. The allied industries will develop as there will be a constant flow of visitors to the region. The country will develop from the foreign investment into this industry.

Q: What are the RTC’s plans for the next five years?

Dahanayake: One step at a time, but we intend to encourage breeding by starting stud farms and hopefully open other race courses too.

Q: As the President of the newly formed RTC what steps will you take to ensure its longevity and smooth running? 

Premadasa: Initially, we need to increase the number of horseracing events that are being held in Sri Lanka. Increased events encourage viewership which in turn creates an environment where new owners would like to invest and participate in horseracing. We also hope to establish a smooth day-to-day operation for horseracing stables, with a regular management that would be facilitating the care and maintenance of the infrastructure of the Nuwara Eliya racecourse.

Q: Will you be importing more horses to your stables in the near future?

Premadasa: Yes, there are plans to import new horses to my own stables that would be engaged in horseracing in the future.

Q: What is the future of horse riding as a leisure activity in Sri Lanka?

Premadasa: Horse riding as a leisure activity is one that is actually dependent on a thriving horseracing industry if it is to develop and exist. Increased attention to horseracing and infrastructure, specialists in the field etc., would create a spillover effect for horse riding and leisure clubs in the island. Retired racehorses will automatically become available for horse riding and equestrian purposes.

Private ownership of horses increasing would of course encourage equestrian sports in the island and subsequently active international participation. Development of specialist knowledge on horses (farriering, training, veterinary care, saddlery, stable care etc.) would in turn increase the care of horses not just involved in horseracing but also in leisure riding and equestrian events. This is an automatic spillover, which would result in more interest in owning horses for leisure activities.

Q: Horseracing in Sri Lanka in recent times was covered in a fog of doping, race fixing, etc. Is this going to be something of the past and can we look forward to clean racing in Sri Lanka?

Premadasa: Strict protocols are going to be followed with regards to testing for horses being doped. Race fixing and doping will be frowned upon severely with regulations in place for inquiries, with fining or banning race owners if necessary to ensure that rules are followed stringently. 

Q: Will the RTC be bringing down anymore foreign personnel?

Premadasa: Yes. Sri Lanka is in need of foreign assistance in developing the sport to meet international standards. This will include foreign individuals in presentation, trainers, farriers, veterinarians etc.

Q: How do you feel about your contract with the Royal Turf Club?

Wood: I am relishing the challenge of bringing professionalism to the horseracing industry in Sri Lanka. My committee is very enthusiastic and with the support of owners, trainers, jockeys and lovers of horseracing, we will make Nuwara Eliya the must go to horseracing area in Asia and attract people from around the world. This rejuvenated racecourse will be a tremendous attraction for sports tourism in Sri Lanka, also for employment in the Nuwara Eliya District.

Q: Would you look at continuing with the Royal Turf Club?

Wood: I have been with the Royal Turf Club a little over a month in a 24-month contract. I have a long way to go in this contract and need to prove to the committee and the participants that I am the right man for the job. Yes, I have the runs on the board. I have been associated with racehorses since I was seven and started riding track work at 13 for Ted Stanton, an uncle of mine who trained at Rosehill in Sydney. My first racing administration position was with the Sydney Turf Club in 1972. After two years I started with the Australian Jockey Club where I was the Assistant Starter. Then at 22 years I became the youngest person to start a metropolitan race day in Australia. I did a cadet stipendiary stewardship at Tamworth in New South Wales before moving to Western Australia. Then at 33, I became the youngest person to ever be appointed Chairman of Stipendiary Stewards for a Principal Race Club. I have been the Chief Integrity Steward at Royal Western India Turf Club in Mumbai and more recently held the position of Director of Racing and Chief Stipendiary steward at the Bangalore Turf Club. I was awarded the W.A. Racing Achiever of the Year for the person to contribute most to the advancement of racing in Western Australia. I believe I am the only Racing Steward in Australia to receive this award.

I intend to have the Royal Turf Club on a solid footing by the end of this contract. If I am still wanted and if I can see further direction to take the club on an international scene then I will stay.

Q: What steps would you take to uplift the standards of horse racing in Sri Lanka?

Wood: To put it in a nutshell, various and many. When I first came to Nuwara Eliya and saw the state that the racecourse and its buildings had deteriorated to, I was saddened to see this great lady sick and sore. The restoration has been led by Nisitha Rupasinghe, our Treasurer, with much support from the committee. When you go to the races on 20 March or any of the other 11 race days we have scheduled thus far, I am sure you will be taken back by the charm of the old buildings erected by the British and marvel at what a great job they did in setting out the racecourse. Sometimes I feel like the walls want to talk and tell of the great days of racing in Nuwara Eliya and thank the Royal Turf Club for bringing them back to life after being neglected. I walked around the track earlier this week and it has hardly been marked by the horses which gallop there every morning. The club has inspected racehorses in India and after they pass a veterinary examination they shall be purchased and an auction will be held where members of the public can purchase a horse to race. Ten individuals can spread the costs by making a syndicate and race a horse. With more racehorses on course we will require a professional veterinarian to attend to these equines; then as numbers grow, a fully-equipped and staffed veterinary hospital. Under Sinclair Marshall, who rode nearly 1000 winners, our local riders will receive valuable tips to improve their riding style and their art of race riding. We will permit horses from other countries to race here, not only India, but England, France, Japan and any other country. I have been asked about the possibility of a breeding industry and this can be achieved after due process. Most importantly I have had discussions with the Sri Lanka Anti Doping Agency who will be present at every race meeting to collect samples from selected horses to be analysed to ensure that we have drug-free racing.

Q: Worldwide today, sport is beset by scandal – do you think you could remedy this vis-à-vis horseracing during your tenure in Sri Lanka?

Wood: Well, I have spoken about the drug testing that will be carried out and we shall be vigilant in enforcing the Royal Turf Club rules of racing which is over 100 pages; both of these major changes are in line with international racing bodies. This is the 163rd racecourse that I have officiated on and sometimes during my various tenures as a stipendiary steward I would officiate at three race meetings a week, so I have seen plenty of races and what tricks some people try to get away with. Then you take Sinclair Marshall’s experience into account as a jockey and a Stipendiary Steward , there would not be much that combined we would not be aware of, even to how owners and licensed people think.

Q: What does the RTC need to do to attract overseas racing enthusiasts to Sri Lanka?

Wood: We are in our infancy. Most people in Sri Lanka may not know that there is a racecourse in Nuwara Eliya or the history that surrounds the buildings. As racing will now be conducted professionally by Sinclair Marshall, another stipendiary steward and I, it is up to us to demonstrate that horseracing will be conducted in a fair and just manner without fear or favour.

At the recent Turf Authorities of India meeting in Chennai, there was much social discussion on the fact that we are here and how superb it is that racing is starting again in such a manner in Sri Lanka. That is one positive step; then we intend to apply to join the Asian Racing Federation linking with the leading clubs in Japan , Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Turkey, Australia, to name a few. This is the premier body of racing in the world. We will then be in a position to promote our racing on the international stage and hopefully one day host the Asian Racing Conference. I would love to be around when that day comes and I am sure it will come with the support of the people of Sri Lanka. What a boost for Sri Lanka and tourism that will be.

Q: With regards to jockeys, their training etc., what steps will you initiate?

Wood: Sinclair Marshall and I started an Apprentice Training School at the Bangalore Turf Club. We held classes three days a week covering their fitness, diet, the art of race riding, the mechanics of and care for a racehorse, public speaking, how to address owners and trainers, respect for each other, the importance of integrity and having a clean name on and off the racecourse and we even had a bank manager address them on finance and the importance of saving. Sinclair gave of his own personal time to these lads. I am happy to say we passed 12 and all bar one rode winners in their first 12 months. We can do much the same here.

The Royal Turf Club initiates drug testing for racehorses

For the first time in Sri Lanka, racehorses will be given drug tests prior to racing. The Royal Turf Club stated that it was dedicated to ensuring and upholding ethics through maintaining a zero-tolerance policy towards drug and animal abuse.

In the past in Sri Lankan racing, there may have been a dark side in which cruelty and abuse through doping destroyed the lives of these beautiful animals. As passionate equestrians with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of racing, the Royal Turf Club, headed by renowned CEO Wayne Wood and its committee, was formed to ensure that such cruel and inhuman treatment of horses is brought to a complete halt. The Royal Turf Club races with the horse’s welfare in mind.

The Royal Turf Club adheres strictly to the rules pertaining to the welfare of horses, ill treatment and anti-doping.

The thoroughbred horses are in clean, well-ventilated stables and are exercised in the morning and walked in the afternoon. They are well fed and watered as any athlete should be. Trained stable hands attend to these most precious animals. Surprise inspections are also carried out by stipendiary stewards to ensure that they are being well cared for.

The Royal Turf Club will also set up a modern specialist equine hospital that will provide veterinary services to horses.

Among the long-term development objectives of the Royal Turf Club, is a drive to strengthen the sport’s growth avenues by engaging more young people through gainful employment on full, part time and seasonal basis.