KINGSTON, Jamaica - After seeing his professional riding career cut short due to weight issues, Davidan Robinson could have given up on the sport. Instead, he opted to engage a different aspect of the racing industry by becoming a conditioner.
The 35-year-old Robinson who resides in the community of Waterford in Portmore, St Catherine, is among 41 applicants selected for the 2022 Trainers Training Programme, which got underway yesterday ( Thursday, May 19).
Despite not being able to see through his career as a jockey Robinson said that he has always wanted to be a trainer.
“My riding career ended because of weight issues and so I turned to be an assistant trainer. I am assistant trainer to Patrick Lynch. Lynch apprenticed me to become a jockey and so he was always in my life; riding; not riding and then he called me and said now time for you to become a trainer so come and give it a shot and so I said yes, I am ready,” Robinson said.
He continued: “My riding was good; I liked being in the saddle, and I wanted to go further but I enjoyed myself. I hope for the best, I love the game and it is just for me to put out the hard work as my trainer trained me and hope for the best,” he said.
Robinson shared his journey into the racing industry.
“I am [from] St Elizabeth where I was born but I grew up on Waltham Park Road and did most of my living here in Portmore. I always saw my father going to the betting shop to bet on horses and so the thought of horses was always around.
“But I had a friend from primary school and and high school named Omelio Francis, who was very interested in racing and he tried out to become a jockey, so when I moved to Portmore, I went to the racetrack to find him.
“I came to the stables of Neville Cooper, one of his (Francis) trainers, and from there on I was around the racetrack until I found a comfortable spot and stayed in the game,” said Robinson.
s, who was very interested in racing and he tried out to become a jockey, so when I moved to Portmore, I went to the racetrack to find him.
“I came to the stables of Neville Cooper, one of his (Francis) trainers, and from there on I was around the racetrack until I found a comfortable spot and stayed in the game,” said Robinson.
