KINGSTON, Jamaica – There were twenty races over the weekend of Saturday, November 18, and Sunday, November 19, 2023, of which seven were contested over the straight course, four and five furlongs.
In six of those seven races, the winners were all drawn on the outside, giving deep resonance to the long-held and established that, straight races are the domain of horses drawn on the outside.
The Quick Galloper explores these seven races.
Race three on Saturday was over four furlongs with seven horses entered. The winner was horse number six My Smokey ridden by Jordan Barrett for trainer Donovan Plummer.
Race five on Saturday was contested at five furlongs straight with nine horses entered. The winner was horse number two, Muzzo with Reyan Lewis in the saddle for trainer Spencer Chung. This was an aberration from the norm for the result of races down the straight chute.
Race six on Saturday saw 16 horses swooping down the five straight chute. With this packed house, Bernard De Quick with Omar Walker riding for trainer Peter-John Parsard was able to last home, beating Superio by a nose, with De Lye Lye third and Manoushe fourth. It should be noted that Superio was drawn at 15, and Manoushe at 13. This gives even more credence that outside-drawn horses dominate straight races.
Race ten on Saturday saw 13 horses facing the starter at four furlongs. The winner was English Anne, who earned a long overdue win for trainer Welsh Soutar with Odeen Edwards in the saddle. English Anne started from the number 13 draw. Second was number eight, Money Boy, drawn at eight, and Heezalion third from gate number nine.
Race one on Sunday, contested over four furlongs had six starters after the withdrawal of Mardele with victory achieved by horse number six Undecided for trainer David Powell and jockey Marshall Porter. Second behind Undecided was Silverstine from the five gate and third was Matriarch from gate number seven.
Race five on Sunday was a five-straight contest with eight horses entering the starting barriers. It must be noted that two horses fell during this event, The winner was horse number eight, Sudden Flight with Phillip Parchment in the saddle for trainer Anthony Dixon.
Race six on Sunday has two late non-starters leaving 12 horses to fight it out over five furlongs. The winner was James from gate 12, second went to number 11 – Shadow of a Doubt, third to number 13 – Crucial Alexxya, and fourth – number 14, Deadly Nightshade. So, it was a one-two-three-four finish in this event for horses drawn on the outside.
