KINGSTON, Jamaica - THE ultra-modern Caymanas circuit was opened just under three years prior to 1962, and Saumarez, trained by former jockey Aston Commock and ridden by popular heavyweight reinsman Sylvester “Suit” Williams , was the first winner of the Derby in Independent Jamaica.
Horseracing as a viable industry had the consummate racing men and women at the helm in its first decade of operation, and this cohort had several who made the list of all-time best. The household names included Allan E “Billy” Williams, Michael and Laurie Silvera, Nigel Nunes, Aston Commock, Gerry Skelton, and Eileen Cliggott; the last two were UK citizens who emigrated to Jamaica.
The most revered local-bred horses in this opening decade were sprinter None Such and 1968 Guineas and Derby winner Rameses. In this decade there were three riders — Neville Cousley and Trevor McKenzie who won two titles each, and Winston Ellis with three.
The highlight of the decade of the 70s was the introduction of midweek racing in 1973, and in 1975 the Jamaica Guineas for both sexes over 1,800 metres gave way to the 1,000 and 2,000 at a mile. The racing itself was fascinating and saw the continuation of Nunes’ success with Balladier (1972 Derby) and Hot Line (1976 1,000 Guineas), as well as a very talented thoroughbred in the form of Harlequin (1977 2,000 Guineas) trained by Paul Newman.
Legal Light, winner of the 1977 Derby and St Leger, was special. There was also the emergence of young trainer Philip Feanny, and young jockeys George HoSang and Charles Hussey were destined to join the ranks of the greatest ever. By 1980 they left Jamaica, however, with HoSang and Hussey establishing outstanding careers in Canada and the United Sates, respectively.
Former heavyweight jockey, destined to be champion trainer, Kenneth Mattis saddled Royal Dad to Triple Crown glory in 1981 to be the first at Caymanas. During the decade of the 80s the dominance of Philip Feanny developed in earnest on his way to 14 championships eventually.
Four of the greatest riders — Winston Griffiths, Emelio Rodriquez, Charles Hussey, and Andrew Ramgeet — emerged in the 70s. They dominated the 80s along with Hubert Bartley and Trevor Simpson.
The three greatest local-bred horses of the decade were Royal Dad (Triple Crown), Prince Consort (1986 Derby), The Viceroy (1989 2,000 Guineas and Derby for Feanny), Thornbird (1984 1,000 Guineas and Derby), and Distinctly Native (1990 1,000 Guineas and Derby).
From the outset of the 1990s it was clear that Wayne DaCosta would be an unchallenged champion for the then-foreseeable future whenever Feanny relaxed his stranglehold on trainer titles. The cohort of great trainers — headed by Feanny, DaCosta and Williams — continued to produce highlights for the record books, along with the top riders, at different stages of their respective careers.
The Nunes brothers — Andrew (Restless Babe, 1993 Derby) and Anthony (Terremoto, 1998 Derby) — were also coming of age.
Numbered among the greatest Classic horses of the 90s were Miracle Man (2005 Derby and St Leger), War Zone (1996 Triple Crown), and I’m Satisfied (2000 Triple Crown)
During the first decade of the 21st century Feanny, almost as if it was the heralding of his last hurrah, trained Millimetre (2001 Guineas and St Leger), Simply Magic (2002 Triple Crown), A King Is Born (2003 Guineas and Derby), Herecomesfudgie (2003 St Leger), Distinctly Irish (2004 Guineas and Derby), Rum Talk (2007 Guineas and St Leger), and Bruceontheloose (2009 Guineas and St Leger). Such were these accomplishments that the 14-time champion, in tandem with all-time great rider Winston Griffiths, made the Guinness Book Of World Records for the most wins in Classic races.
By the mid-2000s though, DaCosta had established himself as the top conditioner. The most important riders to emerge in this early 21st century period were Shane Ellis, Omar Walker, and Dane Nelson, to head the new generation of reinsmen, along with Trinidadian Brian Harding and Panamanian Dick Cardenas fully integrated.
There were a plethora of outstanding horses in this first decade of the 21st century, among them Alsafra (2008 Triple Crown) and Mark My Word (2010 St Leger).
With Anthony Nunes saddling Technomoto to win the 2011 Derby, Relampago 2014, Orpheus 2016, and Supreme Soul 2019 (Triple Crown) he positioned himself as the certain successor to the DaCosta championship era.
This was the second and final decade of the DaCosta dominance (December 24-03-21), and his success was nothing short of extraordinary as he responded to the challenge of Nunes with Perfect Neighbour (2013 Derby, St Leger), Seeking My Dream (2015 Derby) and She’s A Maneater (2017 Triple Crown).
She’s A Maneater, Mark My Word, Typewriter, Perfect Neighbour and Supreme Soul were the greatest thoroughbreds in the second decade of the 21st century. It is to be noted that She’s A Maneater, apart from the Triple Crown, was successful in three straight Superstakes and two Diamond Mile events.
Any list of top trainers over the 6o independence years of Caymanas racing must include Wayne DaCosta, Philip Feanny, Kenneth Mattis, Allan E “Billy” Williams, Nigel Nunes, Eileen Cliggott, Laurie Silvera, Richard Azan, Ren Golzalves, Anthony Nunes and Gary Subratie.
Any list of the greatest riders must include Arthur Jones, Winston Ellis, Kenneth Mattis, Richard DePass, Winston Griffiths, Emelio Rodriquez, Charles Hussey, George HoSang, Hubert Bartley, Trevor Simpson, Andrew Ramgeet, Shane Ellis, Dane Nelson, and Omar Walker.
Any list of greatest locally bred racers must include Rameses, None Such, Legal Light, St Cecelia, Eros (1,200, 1,300 and 1,400 metres track records), Prince Consort, Seeking My Dream, Mark My Word, The Viceroy, She’s A Maneater, Royal Dad, Hot Line, Perfect Neighbour and Miracle Man.
A list of outstanding imported horses would include Kilowatt, Qualitex, Monte’s Stitch, Blumenthal, Temprence Oaks, Element, Secret, Eight Thirty, Stranger Danger, She’s On Wheels, among others.
