BETTING, Gaming and Lotteries Commission kicks off Jamaica's Independence 50 three-day celebrations through thoroughbred racing with an eight-race card today, headlined by the eighth running of the $800,000 BG&LC Trophy at Caymanas Park.

The celebration continues on Saturday and culminates on Monday, Independence Day, with a 10-race card paying homage to racing's faithfuls.

Today's card, while truncated to eight races, will provide good entertainment for punters as a number of other trophy races are scheduled for the 71-runners race card.

Top among the horses is the in-form three-year-old American bay colt Richieshappynotion, who is the morning line favourite to win the day's BG&LC feature.

An Open Allowance, three-year-old upward dash over 1,100 metres, the event has attracted a field of eight runners and is scheduled to be run approximately 4:45 pm, with first post at 1:15 pm.

Richieshappynotion may not be the best horse in the line-up but is the one who is showing the richest vein of form at the moment and, in search of his third win on the trot, looks a safe bet, even with top weight of 57.0kg and campaigning among some senior Open Allowance runners.

Trained by Lorne Kirlew for owner Jigzy blades, Richieshappynotion has already chalked up four wins from six starts for the season and looks poised for his fifth, as only the top American runners Blast Them Away, Noon It Is and Hupumone have so far lowered his colours.

They are not present today, but there some worthy opponents in the imported roan mare Lady Macbeth, the local bred Jet Setter, Americans Sir D, Rio Cobre and Sir Von.

Some of these horses have already tasted defeat by Richieshappynotion who, in his search for more glory, could repeat as he looks destined to be going places — as is his stablemate Mismyrtleboyrichie. Omar Walker will ride.