KINGSTON, Jamaica - Christopher Pierre is an emerging young trainer from a relatively long and capable line of racehorse owners, breeders and conditioners.
Pierre, after years of trying and sinking his teeth into the task of becoming a trainer of thoroughbreds, has started to reap some success.
Pierre shared his experience with this website.
QUICK GALLOP: QG
CHRISTOPHER PIERRE: CP
QG: Tell us about your background and how you became involved in racing?
CP: I got into racing from a young age. My cousins Peter John Scully and Norris Scully were trainers and I remember they trained horses such as Warfare — still the holder of the 10-furlong track record — and other horses like that. My father owned horses but he is back in Guyana where he is from originally. I always wanted to become a jockey but it just never worked out so, I went to New York and took the trainer’s test there at Belmont Park and there is where I got my licence and I came home to train horses here. The people who encouraged me to become a trainer are jockeys Wesley Henry, who now plies his trade overseas, and Hall of Famer, Winston Griffiths. I have to give much credit to the most eminent Winston Griffiths, who impressed on me to become a trainer, probably to continue the strong legacy left by my relatives before me.
QG: How was it in the US?
CP: In the US, it is who knows you — it is not who you know. Back home, I am more comfortable because I know a few people and I must give Mr Donald Wehby a lot of thanks for the foresight and for allowing me the opportunity to train his horse Fearless ABI and there are a few other owners, who have given me strong support. Mr Wehby is a great and respected owner and I will want to train some more horses for him.
QG: When did you leave Jamaica?
CP: I left Jamaica in 1986. I played daCosta Cup football for Clarendon College and then I decided to go into racing and went to New York.
QG: Which horse was your first winner in Jamaica?
CP: I can never forget that horse. It was the filly, Explosive Princess. I got Explosive Princess from owner/trainer/breeder Peter McMaster. She [Explosive Princess] had a lot of issues and I had to be patient with her and trained her accordingly. I could not take her to the track very often and we turned her around and she came up victorious for me to log my first win.
QG: Tell us about your major race winners?
CP: My major winners include The Promise Land. The Promise Land broke his maiden beating A Thousand Stars, who came back to win the Jamaica Oaks. The Promise Land went on to run against some of the best horses here, including Will In Charge, Bigdaddykool, Chace The Great and those were some good horses who he competed against and was beaten by them. The Promise Land was a nice horse and I think he is the best horse that I had trained until today with the emerging filly Fearless ABI on the horizon.
QG: What makes you special as a conditioner?
CP: I just work with the flow. I get in early in the mornings and leave the stables at about four o’clock in the evening. I work hard to have things structured so as to avoid pitfalls.
QG: What is your advice to young trainers?
CP: The best advice I can give any young trainer coming into the profession is just to keep a cool head. Plus, you have to know and be around the horses in your charge. Don’t be too aggressive and watch your horse keenly as they [the horses] will tell you what they want you to know.
