Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

GOOD CITIZEN, running at odds of 4-1 under five-time champion jockey Trevor Simpson, turned in an impressive weight-carrying performance to win the fifth running of the CTL Imported Stakes over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Meanwhile, PRIME MINISTER (8-5) romped the Kenneth Mattis O.D. Trophy over 2000 metres (overnight allowance), a commemorative race put on by CTL to honour the eight-time champion trainer who retired in early July.

Significantly, Mattis has the unique distinction of being the only racing person to be inducted twice into the Hall of Fame of Thoroughbred Racing - firstly for his exploits as a jockey and in later years as a trainer. Mattis rode 446 winners as a jockey before switching to training in 1972. He not only won eight trainers' title but saddled 1,070 winners in a long and distinguished career during which he was associated with such legendary horses as LEGAL LIGHT and ROYAL DAD, who won the first Triple Crown at Caymanas Park in 1981 and once held the record of 11 consecutive wins.

Mattis, who celebrated his 72nd birthday on Friday, was conferred with the National Honour, the Order of Distinction (O.D.) in 2001 for his contribution to horse racing.

Glowing tributes were paid to Mattis by Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance Don Wehby and CTL's chairman Pat Rousseau, as well as the company's executive manager for marketing Millicent Lynch, racing secretary Denzil Miller Jr and Owners' Association president Laurence Heffes at a function in his honour inside the Directors' Room after the eighth race.

lifetime passes

Mattis was accompanied by his wife, Yvonne. They both received lifetime passes to Caymanas Park along with a DVD of his life and times as jockey and trainer. Also present were the trainer's daughters, Stacey and Michelle, grandchildren Renee, Jodi and Dominic, brother Arthur McKenley and stepson Michael Lyncook. GOOD CITIZEN, stepping down in class, raced prominently in third under the big weight before disposing of long-time leader and 5-2 favourite PURE SILK from early in the straight to win by 4 1/2 lengths from late-closing DR. SOCRATES (7-1) in a field of 11. The winner, an American three-year-old filly, is owned by Elfreeda Williams and trained by Delroy Waugh.

Simpson also won aboard 5-1 chance THE GREYT DOCTOR for owner/breeder Dr. Paul Wright and 14-time trainer Philip Feanny in the Dr. Ralston Feanny Trophy over 1,100 metres, run in memory of the trainer's father.

Simpson had a third winner on the card in 3-5 favourite PICCOLO and narrowly missed a fourth when LINDA BLAKE (7-1) failed by a head to catch the 30-1 outsider NO RUMOUR (made all) in the Winnie Anglin Memorial Cup for two-year-olds over the round five course. The chestnut filly was ridden by Jason Simpson for owner Phillip A. Azar and trainer Gary Griffiths.