The Accra Turf Club (ATC), has put itself in readiness to revive horse racing in Accra.
Mr Samuel Nii Armah Turkson, Secretary to the Club who made this known to Ghana News Agency (GNA) Sports during a visit to the new race course at Agyirigano, near Zoomlion Headquarters in Accra, urged horse owners to train their horses at the facility.
He said the first phase of the project has seen 10x12 100 stables with guest rooms for those who would take care of the horses completed.
He said: “I am satisfied with the progress of work at the moment, although we do not have all the facilities but as soon as the contractor, Zakhem Construction hands over the place we will start mock racing for classified horses.”
Mr Turkson said five to 12 furlongs of the tracks, parading ring, tickets booths have all been completed awaiting the handing over of the facilities to the ATC as soon as possible.
He noted that lack of adequate financial support for the horse owners is what is affecting the development of horse racing, adding: “Most of the horses are being kept in their stable while feeding them without racing leading to the death.”
He commended the contractor for their early completion of the first phase of the project.
Mr Pucci Filleppi, an Italian and Treasurer of ATC, also told the GNA Sports that he would mobilise funds to support the commencement of the horse racing.
He said brewery companies and the banks believe in supporting horse racing and truly, “they did not let us down in the past hence the need to consult them again for support when we start racing.
“We will start races with majority of the horses born and bred in Ghana before later we bring in the Nigerian, Mali, Burkina Faso and Sudanese horses,” he said.
