Barbados celebrates

A dream and a goal which started over three decades ago has been finally realized as the lights at the historic Garrison Savannah were turned on by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and Sir David Seale yesterday.

With the sun dipping below the horizon and the light quickly fading, Sir David and the Prime Minister pulled the switch and the lights lit the track along with some fireworks.

Sir David, who is the president of the Barbados Turf Club, told those on hand for the first race that ‘Racing Nite’ was a quest for lights that started way back in 1985. Seale said that, “...It was 35 years and two weeks ago... and when I had real thick black hair.”

“But finally the quest has finally ended and the first race night is upon us and this history-making event will bring horse racing in Barbados beaming with pride into the 21st century and I could not be more delighted.”

The evening first saw the Royal Barbados Police Force band playing before the switch was thrown.

He thanked the Prime who classified horse racing as an industry and thus be treated the same as all industrial concerns in this island. “By so doing, relieving the club of paying of duties and vat on the lighting equipment imported.”

Sir David added that racing in the cool of the evening will be very attractive to locals and visitors alike.

With the application to Town and Country planning  also came some challenges as the Garrison falls under the UNESCO designation for the World Heritage site of Bridgetown.

However, Seale said that they presented a case which highlighted that racing under lights will in no way damage the value of the Garrison, while at the same time providing visitors with an attraction at night which will boost our economy.

The Prime Minister said that the special moment was originally slated to happen on Independence Day, but circumstances did not allow for it because of the track being waterlogged.

“But perhaps that was the Almighty’s way of intervening and ensuring that this first historic evening of lights should happen within 24 hours of your (Sir David Seale) birthday, given that fact that you have long stayed the course on the ambition for three decades.

“Those who contemplated us introducing lights in this year 2020 might have become frightened because of the onset of the pandemic, but let me

assure in the pioneering Barbadian spirit that we know to be ours, COVID-19 is not an excuse but in fact an inspiration to do better and more.

“We have not allowed the pandemic to stop us in our tracks.”

Winner of the first race of the inaugural race night was Delano Lopez, who rode De Conkie Man and came past Dream Society ridden by Anderson Trotman on the home stretch.

Lopez mentioned it took a little while to get his mount into strife, but once he got going, he was rolling. He added it was a beautiful experience and he really enjoyed it.

“It was my first time running in the night time as before it was only overseas in USA and Canada you would see that. So the experience was amazing.”