There were many outstanding moments on and off the racetrack at Caymanas Park during the 2017 racing season. Moments which have left indelible imprints on both shareholders and stakeholders. The team from the Supreme Racing Guide has compiled the top 10 most outstanding and far-reaching moments in horse racing. The list below is placed in order of priority.

1 – DIVESTMENT: THE ADVENT OF SUPREME VENTURES LIMITED – By far the most profound development on the sport of horse racing during 2017 was the divestment of the government-owned and operated Caymanas Track Limited after many years of waiting and uncertainty. The nation’s foremost gaming company, Supreme Ventures Limited, then chaired by Paul Hoo, took over as the sole promoter of horse racing in Jamaica on March 7 through its wholly owned subsidiary, Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) with Hoo as its chairman, Brando Hayden as the chief operating officer, and Christopher Armond as the director of racing. Almost immediately the impact of SVREL was felt by stakeholders, as an approximate $100 million purse increase was announced. There was a quick regrading of the racetrack, and the company also took the decision to allow free entry to patrons in the lower sections of the grand and club stands. To further cement their commitment to horse racing, SVREL decided to pay purses, including first-place purses, four to five days after race days. The payment of purses was always a sore point in the racing industry. Before this bold initiative by SVREL, the payment of purses lagged some six to eight weeks behind, thereby causing undue tension and uncertainty along the ‘backstretch’ at Caymanas Park. There is still a long way to go, as the physical development of the Caymanas plant still leaves much to be desired, but based on its first nine months, the divestment of the racetrack to Supreme Ventures Limited has been mostly positive, and is impacting the industry in a truly fundamental manner.

2 – SHE’S A MANEATER WINS TRIPLE CROWN

On July 15, She’s A Maneater won the Boom Jamaica St Leger and accomplished one of the most cherished and defining feats in horse racing in any jurisdiction, that of winning the Triple Crown (1000/2000 Guineas, Jamaica Derby and Jamaica St Leger), becoming the 11th horse and third filly to do so. The Triple Crown is the Holy Grail of the sport and the most sought-after title in any racing jurisdiction. It was truly amazing to witness the brilliant filly She’s A Maneater achieve that accolade. Her name has moved into the history books alongside the greatest of horses to set hooves on the racetrack at Caymanas Park. The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Mark My Word in 2010. The other two fillies to have done so were Simply Magic in 2002 and Alsafra in 2008. It was the second Triple Crown achievement for trainer Wayne DaCosta, a first for jockey Omar Walker, and a first also for probably the happiest man in Jamaica that day, owner/breeder Winston Kong, a veteran of the sport who has made significant investments in racing for over 40 years. DaCosta won his first Triple Crown in 1996 with War Zone.

3 – SHE’S A MANEATER’S DIAMOND MILE GLORY

Without a doubt, the victory by She’s A Maneater in the third staging of the $14.26-million Diamond Mile on December 2 was something special; it was something magical. Never before has racing been blessed with such a brilliant filly. Despite winning the Triple Crown (1000 Guineas, Jamaica Derby and Jamaica St Leger) and Superstakes, the Diamond Mile was expected to be her sternest test, but She’s A Maneater, who was pitted against the top sprinters, the top middle-distance runners and top stayers in the land – all in one race, put rivals in their place to come out on top in the richest race to be run at the Park. She’s A Maneater was up against the likes of Chace The Great, the Caribbean Sprint winner; Choo Choo Blue, the Gold Cup winner; Houdini’s Magic, the Invitational Mile winner; Will In Charge, the Prime Minister’s Stakes and Governor General’s Stakes winner; and Bigdaddykool, the champion stayer, but her amazing acceleration at the top of the lane was breathtaking as she romped home by six-and-a-half lengths in a time of 1:36.4, which was two-fifths of a second slower than the time of 1:36.2 done by her stable companion Seeking My Dream in the previous two Diamond Mile races. Racing fans were simply stunned as She’s A Maneater once again created history, as she not only lifted herself but also the sport to a higher level, becoming the first horse, and a filly to boot, to win the Triple Crown, Superstakes, and Diamond Mile all in the same year. Three-time champion jockey Dane Nelson, who was riding the bay filly for the first time, is to be commended for a brilliant ride, as he navigated She’s A Maneater through the crowded field of 15 runners and brought her with an electrifying run that crippled rivals in deep stretch. Wayne DaCosta also must be commended for his excellent work as the conditioner. Owner Winston Wong was in seventh heaven with the win, as after nearly 50 years as an owner, Kong was reaping his well deserved success. She’s A Maneater, the obvious Horse of the Year, ended the season with nine consecutive wins and earnings of over $20 million, the first racehorse in history to earn over $20 million in a single racing year. Her lifetime earnings of $25,465,250 from 12 wins and one second-place finish from 13 starts place her second in the all-time stakes earners behind Seeking My Dream with $25,631,950.

4 – SHE’S A MANEATER WINS SUPERSTAKES, WAYNE DACOSTA FIRST SUCCESS

She’s A Maneater cemented her undeniable position in the pantheon of the greatest-ever horses to race at Caymanas Park when the talented filly impressively won the Burger King-sponsored Superstakes on November 11, 2017. In winning the Grade One event, She’s A Maneater became only the third horse and the first filly to win both the Triple Crown (1000 Guineas, Jamaica Derby, Jamaica St Leger) and Superstakes in the same year. The other horses to have done so were The Viceroy and Mark My Word. What made the win even more significant was that trainer Wayne DaCosta, after over 40 years of conditioning horses and winning more than 2,060 races, enjoyed the thrill of a Superstakes victory thanks to She’s A Maneater. It was also the first Superstakes win for breeder/owner Winston Kong and apprentice Anthony Thomas, for whom She’s A Maneater was a chance ride.

5 – PAUL FRANCIS RIDES 700TH CAREER WINNERPaul ‘Country Kid’ Francis entered the record books on November 4, 2017, when he steered the Christopher Pierre-conditioned Ten Carats to victory, to become the 11th jockey in the history of Caymanas Park to ride 700 or more winners. Francis added another winner to his tally when he won aboard Lightning Lily, trained by Philip Feanny, in the ninth race. The other riders to have accomplished that feat are Winston Griffiths, Trevor Simpson, Charles Hussey, Andrew Ramgeet, Emilio Rodriquez, Shane Ellis, Dane Nelson, Omar Walker, Hubert Bartley and Wesley Henry. ‘Country’ is to be congratulated, as he has been a great ambassador for his chosen profession. His achievement is significant and a testimony to his commitment and hard work.

6- ROBERT DARBY SNR EARNS 600TH CAREER WINNER

Robert Darby Sr rose from being a racehorse lover to become one of the most successful and gifted trainers of thoroughbred racers at Caymanas Park. Dubbed the “Claiming King”, Darby Sr became only the 10th trainer in the history of horse racing in Jamaica to saddle 600 or more winners. That milestone was achieved on September 30, 2017, when the veteran won the seventh race with Ballon d’Or, ridden by apprentice Dane Dawkins. Darby Sr trails Wayne DaCosta (over 2,070 winners), Philip Feanny (over 1,980 winners), Anthony Nunes (over 870 winners) and Richard Todd (801 winners) for most wins as trainers at Caymanas Park who are still active in the racing industry.

7 – GARY SUBRATIE SADDLES MILESTONE 500TH CAREER WIN

Trainer Gary Subratie became the 18th conditioner to saddle 500 winners in the 57-year history of Caymanas Park on August 26, 2017. Subratie’s ground-breaking moment was achieved when his two-year-old filly, My Sister, won the first race — the Rhoel Rhoden Memorial Trophy, over five and a half furlongs (1,100m). It didn’t stop there, as he saddled a second winner on the day – Golden Glory, who won the last event on the 10-race card. “This is a very special feeling for me. I am really grateful and happy for this moment in my career. The feeling is like when I won my very first race as a trainer; I am very happy to have achieved this particular milestone,” Subratie said right after winning his 500th race. 8 – THE RISE OF APPRENTICE ANTHONY THOMAS

Anthony Thomas was one of 20 apprentices who started their riding careers some three years ago. It was a rather slow beginning for the young St Mary native as his colleagues Linton Steadman, Bebeto Harvey, Dane Dawkins, Javaniel Patterson and Odeen Edwards were riding the winners race day after race day. To his credit, Thomas remained steadfast in his work and his attitude. He was early at the track in the mornings and steadily started to build his confidence. Then the breakthrough came for Thomas about midway during the season when the winners started to flow and flow extravagantly. Thomas was now reaping the rewards of his hard work when winner after winner came. On Superstakes Day (November 11) Thomas crossed the boundary of the ordinary when he won the Sprint Championship on Chace The Great. Then came a chance ride at very late notice in the Superstakes itself on the warm ante-post favourite, She’s A Maneater, and what a ride Thomas delivered! He waited, then pounced with the assurance of a seasoned jockey in what was a truly spectacular moment for the young man. Thomas finished the year in third position in the jockeys’ championship with 53 winners behind champion Omar Walker on 69, and Shane Ellis on 59. A manifestation of what can be achieved with hard word and good manners.

9 – MARQUESAS SITS ATOP TWO-YEAR-OLD PERCH

It was delightful to see the new faces in the winners’ enclosure on Boxing Day (December 26) after the running of the Supreme Ventures Limited-sponsored Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes. Trainer Michael Marlowe of good racing vintage produced his finest career moment when his charge Marquesas (Shane Ellis) took the premier juvenile event. Marquesas has now established himself as the winter book favourite for this season’s Classic races and ended 2017 with three wins from five starts.

10 – OMAR WALKER’S RECORD SIXTH CHAMPIONSHIP

Without much fanfare, which is a true reflection of his character, jockey Omar Walker has accomplished the feat of winning the jockeys’ championship at Caymanas Park for a record sixth time. In addition to this singular feat, Walker took home the Triple Crown series of races for the first time. In 2017, Walker won four of the five Classic races on offer. The champion rider managed to make it win number six despite being unable to ride because of a wrist injury sustained at exercise in early November.