Howard Hamilton
The Trinidad racing scene is bubbling with excitement. The Betting and Levy Board have recently increased purses by some 400 per cent, repeat 400 per cent.
Their top race, the Gold Cup for 3-y-o and up, going over 2000 metres (similar to our Supersakes) and run on Boxing Day, now attracts a purse of TT$500,000, approximately J$6 million. Their Derby, run on the 24th of September, attracts the same level of purse.
The cheapest of their feature races carries a purse of TT$100,000. Needless to say, owners are most excited about this and many of them had flown up to Ocala for the recent 2-y-o-in-training sale. Of interest was the fact that there was not one Jamaican there this year.
Racedays in T&T
There are only 46 racedays in T&T with an average of six to seven starters per race. They are crying out for more horses and it is against this background that the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association of Jamaica (TOBA) has been using every inducement to increase our sale of horses to the Trinidadians.
Our locally bred horses have been performing consistently well both in Trinidad and Barbados, so there is great acceptance. We recently sponsored a race for only Jamaican-bred horses and this formed part of the promotion of a 'Jamaican Day at the Races' at the Arima Race Club at Santa Rosa Park in Trinidad.
This was a most attractive promotion - GraceKennedy had Jamaican products on display, Jamaican jerked pork and chicken, along with curried goat and our famous ackee and salt fish, were the food of choice. Reggae music took centre stage from the traditional soca and calypso.
The racing programme featured eight races with their top horses going in the Caymanas Park Trophy Open Handicap over 1100 metres and the TOBA. Jamaica Trophy Handicap for 3-y-o and up Jamaican-bred horses going a distance of 1350 metres. The TOBA race was won by the Elias Haloute-owned URAM, a 7-y-o chestnut horse trained by John O'Brien.
Among top earners
This LAW OF THE SEA/REGINA SAVAGE horse has been one of the top earners in Trinidad with lifetime earnings of TT$353,431. He has 33 career starts with eight wins, 11 seconds and four thirds. Unfortunately, the race attracted only six starters - three having to withdraw because of injury the week prior to the race.
This was well worth the effort. The intention is to make this an annual affair. The Jamaican team certainly made an impact and we can expect an increased level of interest in our yearling sale scheduled for November 9 this year.
So successful was this promotion that it has been suggested that a 'Trinidad Day at The Races' be staged in Jamaica. The weekend of our yearling sale may be the ideal time to 'wine and dine' our visitors.
The local programming has still failed to address the problem of A-class races. It is interesting to note that Horse of the Year, DISTINCTLY IRISH, and runner-up MUSICAL MAESTRO have yet to race and we are now into our fifth month. Who can blame me for taking my chances in Trinidad?
Our local situation still remains in limbo. Training fees are heading over J$1,500 per day and there is no word on increases for purses. We note that the chairman was recently quoted as saying that Caymanas Track will focus on making a profit.
This is a significant statement. We thought that the promotion of racing was being conducted by a 'NOT FOR PROFIT' organisation and that all surpluses were distributed to stakeholders after capital and maintenance expenses. We need some clarification since we have heard nothing on the future direction of our industry.
Howard Hamilton is a former chairman of Caymanas Track Limited and is currently the president of the Jamaica Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Email: howham @cwjamaica.com.
