Canada-based Chavion Chow won his first race on home soil when he rode The T’s Stable-owned Messithegreat to victory in the ninth and final event at Caymanas Park last Saturday afternoon.

“I am feeling so great right now knowing that I won my first race here, at home, at Caymanas Park. It is a wonderful moment for me as here was where my love for horses had developed and I am happy that I could get a victory,” beamed Chow, who received a standing ovation from fans at the Park on his way to the winner’s enclosure.

“I must say a big thank you to the trainer (Philip Feanny) and the connections for believing in me that I could get the job done. I hope this win can bring more victories,” he said.

He continued: “I have been working really hard of late and I always back myself to do well. I am always confident and I have patience and think that those were the keys to my first victory here today (Saturday).”

Chow settled the Philip Feanny-trained Messithegreat (Traditional–Princess Terri) into second position behind Fire Alarm (Robert Halledeen) for most of the way in the 1,000-metre straight event.

When asked to run by Chow in the last furlong, Messithegreat then took over the lead and drew away from the field to win going away by two-and-a-quarter lengths in the Restricted Allowance event for native-bred four-year-olds and upward non-winners of two.

Man In Blue (Odean Edwards) was second, Fire Alarm third and Twilight Citizen, the mount of Omar Walker, was fourth.

Messithegreat, a four-year-old chestnut gelding, covered the distance in 1:00:1 minutes.

“The race wasn’t that difficult to ride. He (Messithegreat) has speed so I just got a good break at the start of the race and kept him close to the leader, and when I asked him to run in the last furlong and a half, he just sprinted away from the rest of the field to win quite easily in the end,” explained the 29-year-old Chow, who last rode at Caymanas Park during 2011.

Chow, who rode 63 winners from 284 mounts to finish atop the jockeys’ standing at Assiniboia Downs racetrack in Winnipeg, Canada, last season ahead of Rohan Singh (55), Christopher Husbands (54), Adolfo Morales (46) and Dane Nelson (42), said that he will return to defend his championship when the winter season ends.

“I have had a good season riding overseas, winning the jockeys’ title and all of that. However, at the end of March or probably early April, I am off to defend my title at Assiniboia Downs as everybody will want to take my crown.

“To win races it takes a lot of hard work, commitment, determination, dedication, confidence and belief in oneself. However, none of those are possible if you don’t get the rides, as good mounts will show off your talent,” he said.

Chow, who rode 188 winners from 1,551 mounts with earnings of CAN$1,698,840, said that he has no regrets in choosing a profession in the racing industry.

“Riding racehorses is my dream and so far I have no regrets. I applied here two times, the first time I didn’t get through and the second time at which I got an opportunity to go to Canada and I took it and I am pleased with how everything has turned out. This is my dream and I am living out my dream,” Chow ended.