Racehorse owner/trainer Raymond Townsend has said that horse racing could continue to provide quality entertainment and a decent livelihood for many Jamaicans if more mega race days such as the Diamond Mile Race Day programme could be staged more frequently at Caymanas Park.

“But let me add, it is not pretty at this time. My hope though is that whosoever is taking over the track, then I expect to see some improvement in the future for the industry. It surely can work. If you were to look at the results of the Diamond Mile Race Day, you will see that if more programmes like that are put on, then it is obvious that the industry will surely progress out of its present quagmire.

“I am, therefore, hoping that whoever takes over the industry will move in that particular direction so as to be able to enhance that type of programme in a way that we could get some good races and some attendant good purses… horse racing is lively and healthy entertainment (and) a horse is a graceful and delightful spectacle to behold when in full flight, and entertainment at its peak,” Townsend pointed out.

Townsend, a veteran of horse racing who owned his first horse in 1992, outlined to the Complete Racing Guide how his love for horses grew and how he was pulled into the business in 1996, when he took out a licence to become a racehorse trainer.

Four years after becoming an owner, Townsend approached trainer Richard Todd to become an assistant trainer. Townsend served his four-year apprenticeship with Todd, did the examination and graduated in 2001. He thereafter set about launching his career as owner/trainer.

The former banker recalled that he started out with one horse named Nyammy Nyammy. “And when that horse raced for the first time, it won,” Townsend recalled.

“After this, I progressed along the way and got in some horses. I remember Triple Account, an imported horse, and the best horse that I have ever trained. There were some other horses along the way that I had won a couple of races with… I can rememberSmokin Man.

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Smokin Man is another horse that created much impact for me in racing, and there are a few others that I won a race or two with — Lashing Force comes to mind, Guiding Light and Redwood. I think I won two or so races with Redwood,” shared Townsend.

He is of the view that if he had a higher pedigree of horses, he could have made a greater mark at the track.

“As it stands, I have been progressing along the way quite well with the material that I have. However, if I had better material, I think that I would have done much better. Nonetheless, I believe that I have done the best I could with the calibre of horses who were under my care,” Townsend stated.

He claims he has saddled “some 50 or so winners” since making his entry into the competitive arena in 2001.

Townsend won only two races last year with a barn of four runners under his care for 2016, but he hopes to do much better this year.

“There is enough good material among my small string of four horses to do well with the impending change in the management structure of the industry,” Townsend said with an air of optimism.

Townsend could increase his barn size, and possibly the opportunity for greater success, but is not keen on the idea of training for other owners.

“No dice unless it is someone I know personally, who will honour his debt,” he said.