KINGSTON, Jamaica – With three race days in the offing next weekend (April 16-18), racegoers will be missing the talent of leading rider Dane Nelson.
Nelson is expected to leave the island this week for his riding engagements at the Century Mile track in Canada. The Century Mile season is set to begin on April 30.
The “Warrior Chief” as Nelson is affectionately known by racing fans, leaves his home track as the leader among the jockeys with 27 wins, one more than Dane Dawkins in second place.
Dawkins started the year with a bang, which has allowed him to maintain a place in the top three. Of late, Dawkins has cooled down a bit, thereby allowing Nelson and champion Anthony Thomas to make-up ground.
Thomas has been blowing cold up to last Saturday (April 9) when he brought home a four-timer, to bring him to 21 wins, six behind Nelson and five short of Dawkins.
In the fourth spot is Robert Halledeen with 16 wins. Halledeen carried over his rich form from last year to the early part of this season but in the last month or so, he has come off the boil, with the doubles and triples fading away.
Tevin Foster, who has shown much improvement in recent times, holds down position number five with 15 wins to his credit. He too started the year in good nick, but the winners have been slow in coming in the last month and a half.
The 10 ten list consists of four champions, Nelson, Thomas, Shane Ellis, and Christopher Mamdeen. Missing champions, who are still riding at the Park are Omar Walker and Trevor Simpson.
Walker is having a lean run. He is more of a freelancer these days, without a firm attachment to any one stable, whether big or small.
Simpson can be ruled out because, for most of the year, he plies his trade at various tracks in Canada.
Saturday, April 16, sees the return from injuries resulting from a fall on December 18, 2021, of Dick Cardenas, who has secured three rides on the day.
Cardenas’ three rides based on the Overnight for Saturday, April 16, are Hail Mary for trainer Gordon Lewis; Sir Kel for trainer Oneil Markland, and Artesia for trainer Richard Azan.
