April 16, 2015
Caymanas Park’s first Classic-winning jockey Raphael Smith is dead
Retired jockey and groom, Raphael ‘Pintos’ Smith, died last Friday at the Kingston Public Hospital after battling with cancer for some time. He was 75.
Smith won the first Classic race ever run at Caymanas Park when he guided the Aston Commock-trained Father Christmas to victory in the 1959 Guineas. At that time the Guineas included colts, geldings and fillies.
After a distinguished career as a jockey, Smith later became a groom and was inducted into horse racing’s Hall of Fame in 2009.
As a groom, Smith worked at the stables of trainers Jose Pinchin, Vincent Edwards and Dennis Lee among others.
— Ruddy Allen
