Veteran trainer Sydney Watson is dead. The flags at Caymanas Park flew at half-mast in memory of the man who, in the 1970s especially, had a telling impact on the sport he loved so much. Watson is probably best remembered for his association with Melvin ‘Babu’ Chin who owned Melvin Park Stud and Stables which was located on St John’s Road in St Catherine. The combination of Watson and Chin reaped many successes, none more so than in 1975 when Tudor Wit ridden by Emilio Rodriquez won the Jamaica Derby.

SIX HORSES CLAIMED ON WEDNESDAY

Six horses were claimed on the nine-race programme at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. Alphaletta was claimed by Andrew McDonald for Big Business from Ryan Darby for $250,000; Hogan’s Hero was claimed from Leroy Tomlinson by Denrick Chambers for JR Stables for $250,000, and Laptop was taken from Phillip Elliott by Leroy Tomlison acting as both trainer and owner also for $250,000 from the fourth race. In the sixth race, Lance Richards claimed Legendary Pleasure for Stafford Subratie from Harry Jaghai for $400,000, and Mr Luval was claimed from Wayne DaCosta by Marlon Anderson for The Real Lucky Star for $450,000. The Dalton Sirjue-trained Doc Holiday was claimed out of the seventh race by Rudolph Hardial for Soldier Camp for $180,000.

CHANGE OF EQUIPMENT

There were two instances on Wednesday when changes of equipment produced a winning effect. In the day’s third race, trainer Carl Anderson put the tongue tie on Official Report, and this resulted in a win. Ridden by Prince Holder, Official Report got up in time to beat Agakhan by a nose over 1,000 metres. Then in the day’s sixth, Fitzgerald Richards replaced Miss Boss Lady’s blinkers with cheek pieces, and the result was a three-quarter-length victory going over 1,820 metres.

HOVER CRAFT GETS THE JOB DONE IN STYLE

The consistent five-year-old bay gelding Hover Craft, who has been knocking at the door for some time, finally found the winning post in front on Wednesday. Ridden by Robert Halledeen for trainer Wayne DaCosta and owner Elizabeth DaCosta, Hover Craft (He’stherealthing – Royal Pizza) achieved an easy three-and-three-quarter length victory in an Overnight Allowance contest for three-year-olds and upward going over 1,700 metres. The winning time was 1:45:2 minutes. It was his first win this year from four starts.

‘Daggerman’ HOLDER WINS AGAIN

Apprentice Prince ‘Daggerman’ Holder is finding winners more easily these days. Holder, who was the most-improved rider in 2013, went through 2014 riding only two winners from over 200 mounts. This year he has so far ridden three winners from 35 mounts and 51 winners overall since he started riding at the Park in 2012.

His latest winner came on Wednesday when he steered the Carl Anderson-trained Official Report to victory. “Like I said earlier, this year I am in a no-nonsense mood. I have identified some problems and now I am correcting them. My main focus is to win races and that is what I am working towards,” Holder said.