NEIL POON Tip, one of the leading owners and breeders in the local horseracing fraternity, is not too optimistic over the future of the breeding industry in Trinidad and Tobago.
Poon Tip is the son of Alwin Poon Tip, who founded the Poon Tip Stud Farm, in Santa Cruz, in the 1960s.
Horses sired and foaled at the farm have won the Trinidad Derby 11 times, between 1981 and 2020.
[caption id="attachment_930122" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Dexter Ramjit, manager of the Poon Tip Stud Farm, with one of the farm's top horse Grand Riviere. Photo by Sureash Cholai[/caption]
Poon Tip, who is a businessman by profession, is the proprietor/operator of the Poon Tip Stud Farm, but he sees a dim future for the industry, due to the covid19 pandemic as well as decisions made by various arms of Trinidad and Tobago horseracing.
“The breeding industry would be reflected by what’s happening in the racing industry," said Poon Tip. "(While) the racing industry is very much on the downturn, it affects breeding because the thing about breeding is that it’s long-term.
"If somebody wants to get into breeding and they get a mare, you’re not going to take that horse (into racing) until three years’ time. With the uncertainty in racing, nobody wants to make long-term decisions. Unfortunately, I think a lot of the decisions made in the past have led to the decline in the local breeding industry, even prior to the pandemic. The pandemic basically hastened everything and made it a lot worse."
[caption id="attachment_930124" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Poon Tip Stud Farm manager Dexter Ramjit shows the savannah area where the horses pasture. Photo by Sureash Cholai[/caption]
He continued, "A lot of short-term decisions were being made which breeding is not, breeding is long-term. When you made short-term decisions, you affect people (who may think) ‘should I invest in breeding if this is going to be the situation, and what will happen in three years’ time'."
What is one of the decisions made what could have affected the breeding industry in a negative way?
Poon Tip replied, “There are a number of things. For example, at one time, they were giving subsidies to purchasing horses in Jamaica, when there is no subsidy in Trinidad. It’s unheard of in any country to subsidise an imported product ahead of a local product. They were doing that because they said they needed horses to race immediately, but that affects the local breeding industry."
He added, "They were giving travel allowances for horses coming from Jamaica and there was no subsidy for the local breeding industry. Another significant fact, which is probably more significant, is that when the Betting Levy Board’s finances got tight, the first thing they cut was breeders’ entire premiums."
Poon Tip was asked if the breeding industry can return to what it once was, post-pandemic, or if there are more dark days ahead.
[caption id="attachment_930125" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Saint Vigeur, one of the top horses at the Poon Tip Stud Farm. Photo by Sureash Ch
