By Neto Baptiste
Members of the Antigua Turf Club (ATC) have penned a letter to sitting president, Hansen Richards, raising “concerns over the state of horse racing in Antigua and Barbuda” while requesting an “urgent Extraordinary General Meeting as per Article 36” of the body’s constitution.
The letter, signed by several members of the ATC, also sought to address concerns over stalled work at the Cassada Gardens Racetrack and reminded Richards that “Article 38 of our bonafide Articles of Association requires the requested meeting to be called by no more than 21 days”.
In December last year, the former president and a sitting member of the ATC, Neil Cochrane, said members remain in the dark regarding the status of the planned EC$30 million investment into the Cassada Gardens Race Track by the St Croix-based Caravelle Group.
Among the items listed for discussion by the membership is the alleged “Unconstitutional changes to the ATC’s Memorandum of Association/Articles of Association, without the same being placed before the general membership for discussion, voting, and ratification”.
The members are also seeking clarity on what they believe could present a possible conflict of interest involving Richards and other members of the executive. The letter also raises concerns over “the current state of affairs between the Caravelle Group, the government, and the ATC”.
Observer media’s attempts to reach out to Richards for comment were unsuccessful.
However, in a social media post in October last year, Richards suggested that work at the Cassada Gardens Race Track was at a standstill due to Cabinet’s delay in approving “a certain tax exemption request” which he deems was “crucial for the investment to proceed”.
In January 2025, the government revealed it had received a request from the Caravelle Group in St Croix, hoping to improve the Cassada Gardens Race Track, but noted that “Cabinet is considering alternatives.” However, following negotiations between Cabinet and the ATC, it was decided that the track will remain at its current location, despite a push by government to have it relocated.
The Cassada Gardens Race Track has not hosted any races since June 2022.
