CABINET last week announced the appointment of Christopher Brown as the new chairman of Caymanas Track Limited (CTL).

Brown takes over from Joseph Matalon who resigned as chairman of the promoting company three months ago. But who is Christopher Brown? What is his background? What are his plans for the ailing company he now exercises power over? The Complete Racing Guide (CRG) spoke with Brown and asked him those and other questions.

CRG: Chairman Brown, what is your training?

CB: I have a first degree in Management and Economics and I did my second degree in International Relations.

CRG: Where are you presently employed?

CB: I am currently the head of Corporate Regulatory Affairs at Carreras Jamaica Limited.

CRG: How long have you been associated with horse racing?

CB: For quite a while now. I am a lover of horse racing and an avid punter. In terms of years, more than seven years.

CRG: What do you bring to the table as chairman?

CB: I believe the strong ability to target the big-ticket issues, allied with an understanding of what needs to be done. Foremost on my list is the financial security of CTL. Thankfully, I have some experience on the CTL board, as I served as deputy chairman when Joe Matalon was chairman. With that experience, it is very clear to me that my primary focus is to bolster the financial position of CTL. It is necessary for me to build on the good job Matalon did in bringing respectability to the company. Let me explain. Matalon embarked on a programme of putting financial systems and protocols in place to ensure the company was managed properly. The years of financial bleeding and wasteful financial practices had to stop. Plus we received a rather damning assessment from the accountant general, and the board that Matalon led responded by tightening the internal financial processes to make it stable and more transparent. We are now reaping the benefits of those necessary interventions and I will continue in that vein in a robust manner.

CRG: That’a all about finances, but what about the other areas of racing?

CB: You will agree that it has to start with an improvement in our finances. We have to earn more to pay our bills and ensure that the stakeholders get their purse money and our loyal supporters are treated well. We are looking at ways to increase our take from the betting dollar by modernising the Caymanas plant and by using technology to enhance the betting platform we have now. I am thinking about exporting our racing product, expanding our Offtrack Betting Parlours (OTBs) which provide over 70 per cent of our handle, and the introduction of the long overdue telephone (internet) betting options. There will be more Sunday race days with our OTBs open for business. Not for one minute do I undervalue the conditions prevailing at Caymanas. Punters deserve better and I will, along with the other board members, work assiduously in creating better conditions for them.

CRG: The Matalon-led board, of which you were a part, had stormy relations with the stakeholders, especially the trainers ……

CB: Stop right there. I recognise that without the professionals there is nothing, no product to promote and I respect the work they do. I will be working with the stakeholders to advance the cause of racing, especially its financial stability. I have already taken a decision to have monthly consultation meetings with the stakeholders to hear their views, listen to any possible innovations they might have and to keep the lines of communication open. I have also taken the decision not to cut purses as was previously sought. This latter decision makes it even more important for us to be innovative and to seek solutions to earn more for all concerned.

CRG: Thank you for now.

CB: Anytime.