Canada-based Barbadian-born jockey and now eight- time Sovereign Award winner, Patrick Husbands returned on the Easter weekend to ride for a third time in Jamaica.

“This is the third time I have been to Jamaica in over 20 years and all three times that I have been here, it’s a storm. I was here in 1991 and there was a storm, I came back in 1992 and racing was cancelled due to a storm, and now here I am again and it’s raining pretty hard,” Husbands told the Complete Racing Guide.

Apart from the rain, Husbands says he really enjoys riding in Jamaica.

“Jamaica is beautiful, the place is just astonishing and the atmosphere is fantastic as well. So far it has been good, I have no complaints as everyone has been very accommodating to me since I am here,” he said.

“Everywhere you go you have to go with the flow of things. It is raining, it is not a nice day to be at the races (Easter Saturday), but at the end of the day it is just racing and that is what we have to do,” the 41-year-old Husbands said.

Husbands received a stirring welcome from racing fans when he entered the Parade Ring to ride Prince O’Shaun in the third race, his first of six rides on the 10-race programme on April 4.

Husbands, who have been based in Toronto, Canada since 1994, revealed that after he concludes his riding assignments in Jamaica he will return to Canada to ride at his home track, Woodbine, as their schedule is set to begin shortly.

“I can’t wait to see my family and friends. The year before, I got injured so I took the winter off. Now, I have got steel in one of my legs, so I have to keep on riding to get fit. As a result, I passed through the Caribbean. Three days ago (Wednesday, April 1), I was in Trinidad and Tobago and now I am in Jamaica riding over the Easter weekend.

“I called trainer Anthony Nunes the other day and asked him if he had any horses in the Classics and that I am interested in riding at Caymanas Park, and so I am here to ride despite the rain,” he said.

Husbands rode Come Dance With Me in the 1,000 Guineas finishing in 13th position and Siempre Bueno (fourth) in the 2,000, both for Nunes.