GET TO KNOW TRAINER MICHAEL HALL

QUESTION: Q

MICHAEL HALL: MH

Q: How did you get into horse racing?

MICHAEL HALL (MH): I got into horse racing through Arthur Bell — the senior brother to the football coach and commentator Neville Bell. We worked at Appliance Traders: I was in the capacity of sales manager and Bell was in the industrial field department and he owned horses such as Triarky, My Son, as a stallion, and other horses. Because we worked together, I became involved and interested, and eventually bought my first horse from a gentleman by the name of Clifton Wright who was an owner, breeder, and tidy trainer. The horse I bought was named Judy which I won with years ago ridden by jockey James Douthall.

Q: When did you get your trainer's licence?

MH: I eventually got my trainers licence in 1996 and have been conditioning horses for racing since then. I have saddled several winners, not many though, but I have enjoyed myself, having fun by training for friends and family. Outside of that, it is a good game and I love it for the pleasure it provides me. It is a hobby, though it has become inordinately expensive.

Q: What does it take to train a horse?

MH: I will not say 'trainer'. I will say 'conditioner' as, based on the condition of the horse, it can improve. But, there is no miracle. You have to dedicate yourself, keep your training method, and nutrition is also important as nutrition plays a big part, and you have to have horses that can win races to repay you for your effort and labour.

Q: At present, how are you doing with the string of horses under your care?

MH: At present I am sorry I cannot own the quality of horses I would have liked to as I once did in past years. I had some lovely horses in past years. [I] remember owning a horse by the name of Shanique, Temperence Oaks, which was once trained by the illustrious Philip Feanny. That gave me a lot of pleasure and confidence and since then I have been only tagging along. It is an expensive exercise but I am still hanging on, hoping that things will improve with time. Since I have begun to own and condition horses I have had some very good years by winning some nice races in the past. I have been sidelined because of the limitation of the types of horses available today, and truly, I cannot continue in the present trend. I will love to continue in the sport as think I do have a few more good left years in me left and I hope one day to produce more good winners.

Q: Which is the best horse you have produced in your toil so far?

MH: There have been several. I won the New Years' Day Trophy in 2007 with Grand Attitude, a horse that I acquired from trainer Kenneth Mattis because the horse had gone bad and Kenneth was tired of going through the tediousness of getting him race-worthy — and I nearly got it for the next to nothing, $40,000. I went on to win the New Years' Day Trophy, among several other wins, until my good, late friend Wayne DaCosta claimed it from me and also went on to win more races — and that is how the game is.

Q: Which is the best horse you've seen run at Caymanas Park?

MH: Some really good horses have run at Caymanas Park but I have to say She's A Maneater. She might not have created any individual records but was unbeatable when prepared for races at all levels.