Richard Azan made the bold decision to train racehorses rather than to pursue a career as a medical doctor. Now some 23 years later, that decision turned out to be the right one, as Azan has gone on to become an astute scholar of the thoroughbred industry and a winner of some of the most cherished races on the calendar.

His dazzling career is littered with victories in the much sought after Classic races, plus he has wins in some of the country’s top races. These outstanding achievements have not gone unnoticed, and he was duly inducted into the Hall of Fame of Thoroughbred Racing in Jamaica on June 22 at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel.

It was a fitting honour for a man who first conditioned thoroughbreds in Panama prior to taking out a licence to practise in Jamaica in 1994.

Azan has built a lasting reputation as a trainer, especially in preparing horses for the major races, with the most noticeable being his stranglehold on the much vaunted Superstakes event. Azan has won this November ‘Classic’ a whopping nine times.

The first came courtesy of Dorval, one year after he received his licence in Jamaica, and he further demonstrated his impeccable conditioning prowess when Menudo won the event on four-consecutive occasions from 1999.

“I have worked hard and long as a trainer. I got an award and was inducted in the trainers’ category. So I am grateful for that, but it’s the joy that I get being involved in this sport and I try my best to do it as best as possible and these are the results and rewards that we get from it.

“I just hope I will have enough health and strength that I can continue training horses for a long time to come,” Azan told The Complete Racing Guide, shortly after his induction.

Azan had double success on the night at the recent induction ceremony, as his charge and the Elite Bloodstock-owned Mark My Word was also inducted in the Hall of Fame.

The versatile Mark My Word handed Azan racing immortality in 2010 when he won the ‘Holy Grail’ of racing, the Triple Crown, comprising the Jamaica 2000/1000 Guineas, the Derby and the St Leger. He was later named Horse of the Year.

In an outstanding career that yielded until recently a record $24.4 million in stakes earnings, Mark My Word registered 16 wins, one second-place finish; three third- and fourth-place finishes and was only left out of the frame once in his 25 races.

“ Mark My Word was most deserving of this award because he was one of the best horses I have ever trained. Unfortunately he died while he was at the peak of his career. I think he would have gone on and broken Menudo’s record of four consecutive wins in the Superstakes because he was such a versatile animal, but I guess that’s how life goes,” said Azan in paying tribute to the charge.

“However, I am so grateful to have been able to train a horse like Mark My Word, as that is what every trainer or owner dreams about in the racing industry. So I am very happy to have received a trophy on behalf of Mark My Word,” he added.