An Examination of dwindling field size

With only 71 declarations on Sunday's (January 21), eventually reduced to 69 by two late scratches, this must be close and competes with the lowest ever with an average of just over 7.8 runners per race on a nine-race programme.

The size of the fields is directly related to sales turnover. Therefore, the continued compounding of the 1993 error when the horse population was divided into 25 categories to accommodate the establishment of an American flawed and unsuitable claiming system continues to be costly.

Up to 2016, the government, for over a decade and a half supported the industry to the tune of US$33.0 million.

Additionally, a JA$1.2 billion tax liability accumulated by the government-owned and operated promoting company Caymanas Track Limited was handled as a debt write-off to facilitate divestment.

A population of around 750 viable horses available, divided into 21 categories as exists currently, will continue to yield small fields.

The 80 odd race days slated for 2024 is an ambitious projection which is slated to be bedeviled by the lowest annual average number of starters per race ever.

The opening event restricted to maiden three-year-olds and contested over the 1000 metres of the straight course was won by 4-5 favourite and debutant First Grandson. Schooled by Patrick Lynch and ridden by Tevin Foster, although champion Casual Trick is the sire of this bay colt, a final time of 1:03.0 suggests that only extraordinary improvement on the part First Grandson will yield a productive season at any level.

Veteran conditioner Joseph Thomas saddled Mister Mandate (utero) with Roger Hewitt, the declared rider, to score easily in race two. Favourite at 3-5 the six-year-old gelding, whose dam was imported from the USA in foal, makes him one of the best bred in training with Grade 1 winners on both sides romped the 1000-metre straight by eight and a half lengths.

Mister Mandate had a setback as a juvenile and has been lightly raced but has a good record of seven wins from only 24 appearances.

Saddled by owner/trainer Anthony Dixon, front-runner Tigray Express (6-5), with Paul Francis at the reins, gave his rivals no chance as the advantage remained uncontested for the duration of the 1400 metres of race three to return a winning margin of just over six lengths.

In race four, three-kilo claimer Ms Abigail Able held up Fly Messenger Fly (2-1) for 1,100 of the 1500 metres and induced a sustained successful challenge of long-time leader Prissie (UTERO) to win by just over one length for the first of a three-timer for Jason DaCosta.

Former five-time champion and record holder of most winning mounts (172) in a season, Trevor Simpson brought back memories of his heyday. Partnering She’s Myhedgefund (5-2) for two-time titlist Jason DaCosta in the 1400-metre fifth event, the filly showed no interest in racing in the front rank of nine of her last 10 races but, made all the running and held on well under Simpson’s experienced and skillful handling to secure the second for the stable.

DaCosta’s third was confirmed with US-bred Fred The Great (Robert Halledeen) sprinting in a three-length winner of the 1200-metre race six at odds of 1-2.

Trained by Steven Todd, maiden colt Ertugrul (Phillip Parchment) on his 12^th career appearance won the day’s 1000-metre round seventh race from in front at odds of 5-2.

Lawrence Freemantle’s Princess Talise (4-5), ridden by 2022 champion Dane Dawkins outstayed her nearest rival by over three lengths to score in race eight over 1300 metres on this her 20^th career start.

The featured Bonnie Blue Flag Trophy, run as the nightcap over 1500 metres, went to Rhythm Buzz (3-5) with Javaniel Patterson in the saddle to justify his status of odds-on favourite by a one-length margin of victory.