Two women — Kibbiesha Little and Keisha Lawrence — were among 22 assistant trainers who graduated from the 2017 Jamaica Racing Commission’s (JRC) Trainers Training programme and will now join the conditioning ranks at Caymanas Park. At present Margaret Parchment is the only licenced female trainer in the country.

Of the 22 graduates, 21 were present to collect their diplomas at the graduation ceremony which was held at the offices of the JRC on Winchester Road in St Andrew on Tuesday last.

The training programme, which was carried out in two parts, got under way on March 13, 2017, and ended last month. Classes were held on Mondays and Thursdays between the hours of 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm at the Veterinary Department/Salix Centre.

Shaun Williams, who was the valedictorian, won two of the three awards presented. He won the Chairman’s Award for best overall student and the Dr St Aubyn Bartlett Award for best performance (practical), while the Dr Sophia Ramlal Award for best performance (theory) went to Carlos Leung.

Guest speaker at the ceremony was Minister of Finance and the Public Service Audley Shaw, who encouraged the new trainers to pursue their careers with excellence.

“In the pursuit of excellence, one person can make a difference, one trainer can make a difference, one entity like Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) can make a difference, and I want to say to all you graduates, do what you are doing well, and do it with pride.

“We have seen where excellence has paid off. We have seen horses like She’s A Maneater and Seeking My Dream, but guess what? They are champions because they had champion trainers to train them to become champions. So, God bless all of you on the journey you have embarked on and remember to go with God, go with humility and pursue excellence,” Shaw urged.

Also speaking at the ceremony was the newly appointed chairman of SVREL, Michael Bernard, who welcomed the budding trainers to their new profession.

“On behalf of SVREL and its parent company Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL), we want to welcome you to the group of what I call service providers for the industry and for the promoting company.

“Your job is to nurture and develop the product that allows for the promotion of racing in Jamaica, and as trainers you will be charged with ensuring that you attract owners who will give you the opportunity to make your contribution towards making the racing product attract punters, well-wishers and all parties who enjoy the game all across the world,” Bernard said.

Also welcoming the new trainers were Ryan Darby, president of the United Racehorse Trainers’ Association (URTAJ) and Vincent Edwards, president of the Jamaica Racehorse Trainers’ Association (JRTA).

Darby said: “URTAJ congratulates you all. Today (Tuesday) represents a significant milestone. Training is a difficult job. Most of you have been around the racetrack and around trainers, so you know how difficult and challenging the job can be at times. I must congratulate the government and SVL for their significant contribution in advancing and promoting the sport over the years – a sport which affects us all. Horse racing is the sport of kings, so let me officially welcome you to the training fraternity where you will continue to work alongside many of the greatest trainers in the region.”

Edwards also offered words of encouragement: “Congratulations to my brothers. I must congratulate Dr Sophia Ramlal and Dr St Aubyn Bartlett for the way they have improved the graduation of trainers. Dr Graham Brown, president of the Jamaica Racehorse Owners Association, also played his part.”

“Despite everything that you have been through, despite all the challenges and all the disappointments of the past, never let that define your future, because the future might be something quite different from the past. So with that, I want to congratulate you all who have now graduated from the training programme, and the persons who are responsible for taking you here,” said Brown.

These are the 22 graduates: Ian Alexander, Alford Brown, Errol Burke, Marvin Campbell, Byron Brown, Anthony Dixon, Leroy Francis, Orville M Johnson, Keisha Lawrence, David Lee Sin, Carlos Leung, Kibbeisha Little, Prince McDonald, Keffin Murray, Ian Roberts, Derrick Roman, Donovan Russell, Junior Small, Nicholas Smith, Edward Stanberry, Ryan Williams and Shaun Williams.