The tenth year of operations for the Caymanas racing plant under Supreme Ventures Racing & Entertainment Ltd concludes as the final quarter begins. Despite criticisms directed at both the promoting company and the regulatory Jamaica Racing Commission, standard operational fundamentals have been maintained. On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the highest, performance for both entities rates at an average of about 7.5.
A structural analysis indicates that horse racing in Jamaica faces inherent limitations due to the adoption of the American claiming system model, a challenge that has persisted for over 33 years.
Claiming tags themselves are not the main source of the problem; rather, the issue lies in the artificial classification of the horse population. Requiring inferior horses to concede weight to superior ones creates races with abundant long odds-on favourites, causing the racing product to underperform as a sales unit. Furthermore, the complicated nature of this system prevents the customer base from growing proportionately with the national population, resulting in virtually no interest among female demographics.
The promoting company operates as best as possible within a flawed product framework. The United States Jockey Club recognized these drawbacks a year ago and moved to a rating system that functions effectively as classification, while allowing claiming races to continue unabated. A similar rating and classification framework is available in Jamaica and has been published in local racing supplements for the last 12 years.
The current allotment of purses presents an even more serious challenge, as training expenses move vertically due to reliance on imported inputs. The notice issued to occupational group members regarding outstanding balances due on September 30 serves as a stark reminder of these persistent financial pressures. However, industry stakeholders continue striving to sustain involvement in the sector.
Statistical analysis for the final quarter highlights competitive races across multiple categories with 21 days of racing remaining:
Four-time reigning champion trainer Jason DaCosta holds a significant lead over former three-time champion Anthony Nunes at $77.5 million to 300,000 Mouttet Mile will heavily influence the ultimate destiny of the 2026 trainer's title.
The competition for 2026 riding honours remains fiercely competitive. Tevin Foster, seeking a first title, leads with 73 wins, followed by two-time reigning champion Raddesh Roman on 67 wins. Tajay Suckoo, previously fancied in a few quarters but was sidelined by injuries, sits tied for third on 51 wins alongside 2022 champion Dane Dawkins, making a late surge unlikely to overtake either frontrunner.
Locally bred horses occupy five of the top ten spots on the list of top earners. Dual Classic winner Dream Catcher (1000 Guineas & Oaks) leads overall at $7.7 million, followed by Phenomenal Power (USA) in second at $7.5 million. Derby winner London Bridge holds third place with $5.5 million, while US-bred Girvano sits fourth at $4.9 million.
Stardom, boosted by placed finishes and the Winston “Fanna” Griffiths Classic triumph, accumulated $4.7 million to hold fifth place. 2000 Guineas winner Salute The Don lies sixth ($4.3 million), Barnaby (USA) seventh, St. Leger winner We Jammin eighth ($3.9 million), and Rideallday (USA) alongside Pack Plays (USA) tied for ninth to complete the top earners list.
