Three prominent members of the horse racing fraternity have received national honours in the officially published list on Independence Day.

The three are owner/breeder Alexander Hamilton, chairman of the Supreme Ventures Group Limited, the sole promoter of horse racing, Paul Hoo and legendary jockey George HoSang.

Hamilton and Hoo received the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander (CD) while HoSang was given the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer (OD).

Hamilton has been a part of the racing industry since the 1950s and was primarily responsible for donating the land on which the present Caymanas Park is located in Portmore, St Catherine. Hamilton also played a huge part in the actual planning of Caymanas Park which became the new home of horse racing in 1959 replacing Knutsford Park and other minor tracks across the island. Hamilton, for a long time was one of the top breeders in the country through his Caymanas Estates Ltd.

Hoo has been a long-standing owner of thoroughbred horses including Bruce On The Loose, the filly Princess Popstar, who became the first two-year-old to be crowned Horse-of-the-Year, Buzz Nightmare, among others.

On March 7, 2017, the Hoo-led company, Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited took over the promotion of horse racing in Jamaica after a successful divestment bid. Supreme Ventures Limited operates the lottery and several other games of chance.

“I am very pleased, very honoured to receive the national honour of Commander of the Order of Distinction.

“It is indeed a distinction to be honoured by your country, and I accept this award with great humility and a lot of pride.

“I feel very privileged,” Hoo said in an interview with the Complete Racing Guide.

HoSang could not hide his joy when contacted at his home in Florida.

“I was totally surprised when I received a call last week from someone from the Office of the Prime Minister to inform me that on the advice of the governor general, I was going to receive the national award of Order of Distinction in the Officer class.

“Wow! It took me a while to actually believe this news, but then the caller started to explain and while still in shock I then realised that it was true.

“Well, I am totally over the moon. To be honoured for your accomplishments is really something special, and it is so good to know that someone like me, a jockey, now retired, can be so honoured.

“I am on top of the world right now. I am so privileged, I am blessed and I thank all those who made this signal award possible. It is liking riding the winner of a Derby,” said the man who won four championships in Jamaica and two in Canada in a career which started in 1969.