It was one year ago that 20 apprentices began their formal competitive riding careers at Caymanas Park after completing their training period with the Jamaica Racing Commission.

As with all competitive endeavours, the best of the lot will rise to the top, while the others will barely make it and struggle to continue in a harsh and unyielding trade. Even a cursory look at the apprentices’ statistics reveals the disparity in achievements thus far among this group of young riders.

Of the 20, only four – leader Shamaree Muir, Prince Holder, Ruja Lahoe and Renardo McNaughton have ridden 30 or more winners, representing 20 per cent of the lot of apprentices. Thirteen of the new apprentices have ridden fewer than 10 winners, while three are still unable to find the path which leads to the winners’ enclosure. It is interesting to note that of the 20 new apprentices, 14 have been able to book over 100 rides during the one-year period they have been plying their trade. Not surprisingly, the apprentices who have no winners have the least number of rides.

Muir leads the way again with 357 rides (up to Saturday, September 7) while Sadiki Blake, Kareem Richardson-Garvey, and Zac Meikle, the three apprentices yet to ride a winner, have only been able to ride 22, 24, and 31 times respectively. These are woefully inadequate numbers, especially if these young riders hope to pursue careers as jockeys.

The key factor for the continued success of apprentice riders is their weight-claiming allowance. When they lose this allowance, which they must with time, then they have to vie for rides and winners with the proven and very strong general jockey population. It is abundantly clear that many of these apprentices must do whatever is necessary, maybe by an increase in their work rate, if they are to progress.

WINS RIDES

1. SHAMAREE MUIR 52 357

2. PRINCE HOLDER 37 311

3. RUJA LAHOE 30 247

4. RENARDO McNAUGHTON 30 313

5. ORLANDO FOSTER 16 246

6. ROMARIO SAUNDERS 15 164

7.KURI POWELL 14 239

8. DAVIDAN ROBINSON 7 110

9. ORAYNE SEWELL 7 169

10. O’BRIEN WHITE 5 130

11. RAJIV CHATRIE 4 45

12. OMAR SIMPSON 4 107

13. JEMAR JACKSON 4 168

14. RYAN NELSON 2 101

15. DAMION BROWN 1 16

16. HOLANDA BUTLER 1 59

17. MARC GRIFFITHS 1 126

18. SADIKI BLAKE 0 22

19. KAREEM RICHARDSON-GARVEY 0 24

20. ZAC MEIKLE 0 31

PHOTO: HOLDER PRINCE 4565

Prince Holder

PHOTO: MUIR SHAMAREE 1jd;p

Shamaree Muir

PHOTO: GRIFFITHS MARC

Marc Griffiths

PHOTO: FOSTER ORLANDO

Orlando Foster

PHOTO: JACKSON JEMAR 456

Jemar Jackson

PHOTO: LAHOE RUJA STOP A GAP

RujaLahoe