Jamaican horse racing is unique in one respect. Even without research, one can conclude that this must be the only jurisdiction where, over the last decade, five of the previous six most recent champions have transferred their tacks to jockeys’ colonies in North America.
Dane Nelson, Shane Ellis and Dane Dawkins are practising in Canada while Anthony Thomas is now engaged in the United States.
This is partially the explanation for this season’s dominant performances of the quartet of Tevin Foster (96), Raddesh Roman (90), Robert Halledeen (47) and reigning champion Reyan Lewis (37).
It is indeed heartening that these reinsmen are so well respected elsewhere, but in economic terms, their decision is symptomatic of the declining opportunities to ply their profession successfully in Jamaica.
The fact, however, is that with 855 races in 2021, 845 in 2022, 802 in 2023 and 750-760 by December 31 this year there will be a reduction of at least 100 races over the last three seasons.
Foster, for the first of four winning mounts on the day, won the opening event aboard High Diplomacy (3-1) saddled by owner/trainer Greg Fennel for a nearly 12-length romp over the 1400 metres of the gallop.
Half an hour later, over the same distance, there was another wide-margin winner with Peter-John Parsard’s US-bred Main Mistress (1-2) in front all the to register a winning margin of eleven lengths in a time of 1:25.3.
Race three was the second event for juveniles this season and Burning Hedge (21/1), bred, owned and trained by Carl Anderson and ridden by two-kilogramme claimer Shane Richardson was five lengths better than her nearest rival over the 800 metres.
For his second, Foster guided Adrian Prince’s Another Wave, 3-2 favourite, to a winning margin just short of three lengths over the 1000 metres straight of race four.
In race five, title-chasing jockey Raddesh Roman had the first of two on the day aboard Philip Feanny’s Unbelievable Force (USA) clear by just over five lengths at the end of her exertions over the 1000 metres of the straight course.
In race six, run at 1100 metres, Foster secured his third in partnering Absolute Blue (4-5), declared by David Powell to a near two-length success.
Featured on the programme of nine races and staged as race seven, was another renewal of the 1200-metre traditional None Such Sprint Trophy.
Desert Of Malibu (USA) saddled by Gary Subratie was the fourth imported winner on the day. Ridden by Roman to confirm his riding double, the brilliantly speedy five-year-old mare scored from in front by over eight lengths in an impressive clocking of 1:10.1.
Foster’s inevitable four-timer materialised in race eight with Patrick Taylor’s Awesome Anthony (2-1) scoring by three and a half lengths over the 1100 metres.
Former five-time champion reinsman Omar Walker had former three-time titlist Anthony Nunes’ maiden filly, My Sunshine (5-1) in front in the 1100-metre nightcap to score by two and a half lengths.
