Trainer Robert Darby Sr - File Robert Darby Sr. has experienced the peaks and valleys of racing at Caymanas Park, but the good times far outnumber the bad.
The 63-year-old trainer is enjoying a wonderful season, having saddled 31 winners so far to occupy fourth in the standings with $10.28 million.
His recent windfall includes a sparkling triple on Saturday, August 11, comprising SAID I SAID at 3-1, NASATOL at 5-2 and ALL FIRED UP at 13-1 in the J. W. 'Judge' Hardie Memorial Cup high claiming feature over 1600 metres.
On that rain-affected programme, Darby went a step further by notching a fourth winner in the Alden Fancis-trained 12-1 outsider ALI SPENDER, for which he is the owner, while he posted the first two - NASATOL and FREE FALL - in the tough-looking open allowance sprint.
Great satisfaction
Despite bad weather and the experience of Hurricane Dean which caused the cancellation of the last two race meets in the second half of this month, no trainer can challenge Darby in August.
Inclusive of the August 11 three-timer, he has so far saddled six winners -ALL FIRED UP (twice), UNCLE D & ME and 5-1 chance SOY GRANDE at the last meet on August 18.
Commenting on his impressive form, Darby said it was nothing new in a career spanning 16 years, but getting among the winners quite frequently at this stage of his career has given him great satisfaction.
"As usual it requires hard work and application to get the horses fit and running. But I can go further by saying that my present success has a lot to do with proper planning and being patient.
"I came back strongly last year, but that was merely laying the foundation for this year and already I am set to surpass last year's tally of 38 wins," said Darby, whose notable winners in 2006 include SIR KHAN, SIMPLEXITY, HOOKEDONJAZZ, MAMA'S GIRL, ROYAL MALICE, MOST WANTED, TIME OF MY LIFE, DON'T STAY NAKED, NATURAL SELECTOR, QUICK MEDIC, WHITE WATER, BABY RENEE, TOCUMEN and FIWI EMBLEM.
Training methods
Darby spoke of his training methods.
"After claiming All Fired up for $400,000 on July 27, I put her on a different nutrition programme and the end result is that she has won back-to-back races, including the 'Judge' Hardie Memorial Cup on a $420,000 claiming tag.
"Another thing is having an eye for good claims and knowing where to place your horses," said the one-time claiming king.
During the '90s, Darby was the undisputed claiming king at Caymanas Park. He not only lost the title as the winners dried up after the millennium, but focus as well.
His fall from grace during that period could be attributed to the loss of leading patron Derrick Darby (his nephew), with whom he teamed up for numerous successes in the mid and late '90, as well as Mark Hinds who was the top owner at the stable in later years before he too departed.
Darby, whose sons Ryan and Robert Jr. followed him into the training ranks, is a past student of Calabar High where he represented the school in the Manning Cup football competition as goalkeeper in the early '60s. On leaving school, he spent two unbeaten seasons as goalkeeper at Cavalier Football Club.
Darby is a trained accountant who was once employed to the ICD Group of Companies.
However, racing proved an irresistible magnet and he entered the sport as owner with trainers Harry Jaghai and Thomas Rochester with whomhe was assistant trainer.
He successfully completed the Jamaica Racing Commission course for assistant trainers and became a full-fledged trainer on February 1, 1991.
Rewrote local history
Six days later, he saddled his first winner with his first winner, WINDSTORM, under jockey Gary Santos. He has seldom looked back, going on to rewrite local racing history.
Darby capped the award as most improved in 1994 and the following year was named the outstanding trainer of 1995.
In 1996, he recorded one of the most remarkable training feats, saddling run of the mill claimer PRINCE AKEEM to finish second to the Trinidadian horse ADORING GROOM in the prestigious Red Stripe Superstakes, upstaging the Triple Crown winner and then favourite, WAR ZONE, who finished third, but was unbeaten in 12 starts coming into the race.
The following year, he purchased the unsound horse ROBIN HOOD cheaply and turned him around to win eight consecutive races. ROBIN HOOD entered the 1997 Superstakes as one of the highly-fancied runners, but broke down during the race and was never the same horse again.
Darby is on the brink of an important milestone in his career - his 500th career win. SOY GRANDE marked his 495th winner and he is only five away from the magical figure. Not bad for a man who has never been able to train quality horses.
- O. C
