When did you start your career as a trainer?

My career as a trainer started on September 1, 2009 but I was involved in the sport from a younger age as I was once an apprentice rider. One of my feet broke at one point in my riding career, but I returned to ride seven months later. However, by then I put on a lot of weight as I moved from 98 pounds to 147 pounds. In 1980, I rode my last race on a horse named Commitment after which I decided to try training, joined trainer Anthony Nunes and for seven years was his assistant trainer.

Which horse was your first winner?

I won my first race as a trainer with the first horse that I started, Earthwindandfire ridden by Clive Lynch. That day words could not have described the feeling I had, it was just wonderful as I started my career with confidence. I was proud of my hard work and at one point in my winning celebration, I thought I was in heaven because it was just pure sweetness that day.

Which horse was your longest odds winner?

Shane Ellis won on Wise Fit which paid $680 to win. It was $10 for a win ticket back then. Ellis rode a good race that day and I thought that it was a well-deserved victory.

Which is the best horse that you have trained?

Although he didn’t race long enough for us to see his true potential,Titanium King is the best horse that I have trained in my career so far. Titanium King raced five times and broke his maiden on his fourth start. After that he had a serious injury to one of his feet and I had to take care of him for three years. I then brought him back to the races and he won, but eventually broke down again and that was that for him. Magna Cum Laude won the most races for me, three in total.

Which is the best horse that you have seen race at Caymanas Park?

There were the very talented Legal Light, The Viceroy, and Prince Consort, just to name a few. But for me, Eros was the most outstanding horse I have ever seen at Caymanas Park. Eros won races from 1,000 metres straight to 1,820 metres and with the most track records. Not taking anything away from the other horses, but Eros was phenomenal.

Who influenced your career the most?

I get along with almost everybody at Caymanas Park and I have learnt a lot from everyone. I was around George Kinghorne, who was my apprentice master when I was a young rider, and I was als around ‘Billy’ Williams. But the number one person who influenced my career is trainer Anthony Nunes. Ispent seven years around Nunes before I got my licence and I can tell you he treated me very well and taught me everything there is to know about training horses. I have a lot of respect for him and up to this day, I am still around him.

PHOTO: THOMPSON DONOVAN – 2

CAPTION – Donovan Thompson

Racehorse trainer