Former champion and leading rider, Shane ‘Canter Man’ Ellis, is giving his weight to the Diamond Mile, saying it is a significant development for horse racing in Jamaica. The ‘Canter Man’ says excitement is building among his peers as the December 5 Diamond Mile race day comes closer.

The Diamond Mile carries a record purse of JA$13.5 million (US$115,000), with the remaining races on the day each carrying a purse of $1 million and over, which makes the race day the richest locally and in the region. “Well, this is a very good initiative for racing.

The excitement and expectations are growing and that alone tells you how wonderful the race is going to be. It also carries a massive purse and I am looking forward to it. I don’t know who I am going to ride in the race as yet, but I am looking forward to the race with great eagerness,” Ellis told the Complete Racing Guide.

“The addition of the Diamond Mile to the racing calendar will urge owners, trainers, jockeys and grooms to try their best to push hard to win this race. And this is what we need in racing – competitiveness. Competitiveness draws a lot of attention, and racing on a whole needs that,” the former champion jockey said.

The conditions of the race state that imported three-year-olds and upward will carry top weight of 57.0 kgs, while native-bred four-year-olds and upward will carry 55.0 kgs.

Native-bred three-year-olds will carry 53.0 kgs, while fillies and mares will carry 51.0 kgs. While some racing pundits would prefer if the race was handicapped, Ellis offers a different view; he has no problem with the conditions of the Diamond Mile.

“Over the years, the American-bred horses have been a cut above our local – bred horses, so I think the conditions of the Diamond Mile were made perfectly and we just have to work with it as it is,” he said.

“Unfortunately, if a horse like Pete’swildone gets into the race he will carry top weight, but he is not as good as our local horses and so it is a disadvantage for him.

But take Uppa Tune, for instance, he is one of the top horses at present and he is also a mile specialist, so the top weight is adjusted well. Whereas you have local-bred Perfect Neighbour, who is also one of the top horses, he is not a mile specialist and so the 2.0kgs will make their chances equal,” Ellis explained.