The first of the nine races was over 1000 metres round and was virtually reserved for 10-year-old bay horse Storm Valley. Saddled by owner/trainer Andre Adams, he cantered in by nine lengths at odds of 1-9 for leading reinsman Tevin Foster to register the first of yet another of his frequent riding doubles.
Winner Storm Valley had no identifiable threat as the imaginary and faulty division of the horse population into 21 categories for the claiming system plays havoc with and undermines the economic viability of the promoting company.
It is a fact that globally in each jurisdiction the breed produces only eight categories of ability. The lack of quality of the local racing product guarantees its under performance in the gaming market. For example, of the 474 races since New Year’s Day 2024 attracted 252 odds-on favourites not to mention a plethora of freakishly wide winning distances as well.
A gaming product cannot be successful if the majority of players are convinced that there is the likelihood a certain number will play. Profitability is only achievable by competitive wagering as the unpredictability of winning lottery numbers demonstrate.
The British Horseracing Authority system of classification ensured there was a 300 per cent growth in the number of races from 1959 to 1992. This entity warns that only a system of classification can be in the interest of the majority.
In 1993, the claiming system inherited 84 race days, 115 runners and between 11 and 12 races per day. This has declined to an average of less than 100 starters and less than 10 runners per race. Additionally, there were over 900 owners, 250 breeders and 900 brood mares.
The decline in these numbers is now precipitous with no immediate prospect of returning to those halcyon days.
It can be demonstrated effectively that claiming tags is not the source of the problem but it is the splintering of the horse population compounded by the necessity to accommodate races for the range of distances (sprint, middle and long) creates small fields.
The operation of this flawed claiming system is now early in its fourth decade and the stakeholders of the United Racehorse Trainers Association of Jamaica (URTAJ) and the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association (TOBA) continue to pretend it has been successful while hounding the promoting company for non-existent purse increases.
The government of both political parties shared US$40 million in cash injections and tax write-offs over 25 years up to the 2017 divestment in ensuring their own promoting company Caymanas Track Limited remained operational.
Promoting company, Supreme Ventures Racing & Entertainment Limited (SVREL) has also made blunders which will be dealt with in this space at another time.
Interestingly, it is now the stakeholders at all levels that are now making this sacrifice as the 2022 report indicate a collective expenditure of JA$2.8 billion in support of the horse population with only $766,000,000 paid in purses to the stakeholders.
It is time these entities (URTAJ & TOBA) offer the promoting company, whose side I am on, the opportunity to improve the racing product.
Crimson (4-5), trained by Carlton Cunningham won the 1500-metre race two by seven lengths with two-kilogramme claiming jockey Shane Richardson securing the first of a double. This was confirmed by Sheboom (9-1) declared by Alroy Watson for race six over 1400 metres.
Speaking of a double, Tevin Foster secured his second in the 1000-metre race four over the straight course aboard Byron Davis’ Midnight Flight (5-2) scoring by just over five lengths.
Bet at odds of 3-5 and saddled by Phillip Elliott, three-year-old maiden Indestructible (Raddesh Roman) won the 1100-metre third by eight and a half lengths.
Roger Hewitt rode 23-1 shot Babla, from the camp of Randolph Scott over the straight course to win race five by seven lengths.
While race seven, the featured 1400-metre Poorlittlerichgirl Trophy, went to the Ian Parsard conditioned Mahogany (3-5) in near eight-length romp easing down with Shane Ellis astride.
Backed at 7-5, four-year-maiden debutant Equinox did nothing wrong in scoring by almost six lengths with two-kilo claiming rider Abigail Able declared by Jason DaCosta for the 1000-metre straight eighth event.
Over the same distance, a narrow half a length victory at 2-1 by Sister D (USA) was executed by veteran jockey Oneil Mullings for the stable of Gary Subratie.
