Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

Miracle Man ... (left) won the Confraternity Classic in Puerto Rico last Saturday. - file

THE aftermath of MIRACLE MAN's historic victory in Saturday's Confraternity Classic in Puerto Rico has sparked a stand-off between Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) and Dr. Paul Wright, a former CTL director, now host of a popular horseracing programme on a local radio station.

Dr. Wright angered the promoting company's chairman, William Chin-See, by allegedly making on-air criticism of a lack of promotion of Saturday's race as well as the absence of a CTL representative in Puerto Rico.

Chin-See, who said CTL signed off on a $1.5m cheque to assist in MIRACLE MAN's transportation costs to Puerto Rico, has since threatened to pull the plug on Dr. Wright's twice-weekly programme, which CTL also sponsors.

"We haven't made a decision as yet but I am getting the tape of the programme," said Chin-See.

"I understand he was lambasting CTL for its non-participation. I understand one of the points he was making was how we were not there.

"We didn't send a representative because CTL believes in prudent management of money," added the CTL chairman. "What would our presence in Puerto Rico have done," he asked?

"We don't train horses. What should we have done? Go down there and shout?"

Promotional visibility

Dr. Wright, who also co-hosts a race-by-race programme each raceday, was adamant CTL should have made itself more visible in the promotion of the race.

"I was conducting an interview with the chairman of the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC), who was in Puerto Rico and I bemoaned the fact that very little was done to promote the race in Jamaica," he explained.

"In fact, I had CTL's racing secretary on the programme last Tuesday and he wasn't sure if the race would have been shown at Caymanas Park," he added.

"The chairman of the JRC pointed out that no representative of CTL was in Puerto Rico and I felt that was bad. The promoter has a duty to be part of the group to support the owner, Joseph Duany," Dr. Wright explained.

"At the end of the interview, the JRC chairman said CTL had donated $1.5m to the trip and I said that should have been released by CTL.

"I also said one of the reasons MIRACLE MAN didn't get to compete in the Caribbean Classic last year was indecision by CTL, which resulted in a decision being made after the Superstakes to send him to Puerto Rico. If the agreement was made from the first day, he would have gone through.

"They withdrew their sponsorship after he ran a bad race or two and it was a late rush to get everything together. I said it was that type of lack of support which was hindering racing in Jamaica."

"It's a lie"

Chin-See, infuriated by Wright's statements, dismissed the former CTL director's arguments that his company was to be blamed for MIRACLE MAN being sent home from Miami after it was discovered he had tick fever antibodies in his system.

A late decision was taken by the JRC to ship MIRACLE MAN through Miami to get to Puerto Rico in time.

"It's a lie," said Chin-See. "We had nothing to do with the fact that the horse was quarantined in Miami. Why didn't they treat the horse properly for tick fever?

"Let's assume CTL didn't put up the money right away. Weren't there numerous other factors," Chin-See asked?

"Why is it being placed at the feet of CTL? Couldn't this all be avoided? Couldn't the test be done? All I am saying is, don't put this blame at our feet. Nobody can force us to put up money. Speak of the whole thing and not just a part."

Meanwhile, Chin-See said he is discussing CTL's future association with the local radio station.

"The door is not closed but certain things will have to be done," he said.

"Nothing less than a public apology, several times over, on the same programme, will satisfy me," he said.

"He won't bring it off as any joke and I am very serious about it or we'll pull our sponsorship. That's what business is about," said the CTL chairman.