The 2018 racing year is exactly half way done.

There have been a number of developments involving the promoting company, Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), the horses who grace the track, and the professionals within the industry.

The Supreme Racing Guide does an assessment of the first six months of 2018.

THE PROMOTING COMPANY

There a still many initiatives that needs to be done with the placement of digital scales in the appropriate areas being a top priority. Already we have had the disqualification of horses because jockeys have returned with less weight compared with the weight they went out with. The unfortunate situation which took place on Saturday when Obama Girl was disqualified, the fracas that took place in the winners’ enclosure and the subsequent state of unease must never happen again.

The weigh-in area (scale) in the winners’ enclosure has to become a sterile area, and someway, somehow, SVREL has to control the ease with which people populate the winners’ enclosure. It has been too long now.

The upgrade of the totalisator is imminent and cannot come too soon, while the purchase of an automatic timing system should be explored with haste.

As to the backstretch, there has not been much change there, and there needs to be change.

The requests are many and varied and the hope is that SVREL will make the priority decisions necessary to move forward the industry.

THE TWO-YEAR OLDS

Unfortunately, there have been no juvenile races on track to date. Three have been offered by the promoting company with two failing to get the numbers required, while the third had five but was not placed on the final programme. It is essential that these two-year-old races get off the ground as it must be self-evident that, over the years, Classic winners and the better horses more often than not emerge from the juvenile pack, plus it is always a pleasing sight when the youngsters perform.

THREE-YEAR-OLDS

None of the current crop of three-year-olds has stepped up to take control. Commander Two has travelled the furthest thus far, winning at the Open Allowance level, while Oaks heroine Fayrouz was a winner at the Overnight level and is now qualified to race in Open company.

Marquesas, who entered 2018 as the champion, is probably the most consistent of the lot, without actually winning a race. Now is the time for Marquesas to really step up and fulfil his talent.

It is significant that none of the major races so far for three-year-olds have had repeat winners. The 1000 Guineas went to Disability Charm, who is now faltering badly; the 2000 Guineas was taken by Commander Two, who is essentially a sprinter at heart.

Fayrouz was quite impressive in the Oaks, but was 28 lengths behind the second-placed horse in the Derby, thereby leaving the impression that she is best going from seven to 10 furlongs.

Drummer Boy’s victory in the Lotto Classic seems to have been accidental, while the Derby went to Drone Strike, who entered the race as a non-winner of two races.

A number of the promising three-year-olds have been hampered by injuries, including Patriarch and Brandy, while the on the improve Western Legend died suddenly.

Another Vigorous is fast, very fast, but is inconsistent and needs to be corralled in order to progress.

Two foreigners, Hilly’s Halo and My Elle Belle, are progressing well and should be followed.

THE OLDER HORSES

While the dearth of top-class horses is always a problem, the competition is fierce. Will In Charge has been impressive with two wins, including one over She’s A Maneater, but Will In Charge was brought back to ground zero by Houdini’s Magic last Saturday.

She’s A Maneater is not the dominant force she was among her age group, while Bigdaddykool is without a win having raced twice in 2018.

A number of horses are just below Grade 1 at this time; just waiting to move up, that is, if they have the requisite quality. These include: Dontae, Mr Universe, Marvellous Marva, Houdini’s Magic and Another Bullet.

THE PROFESSIONALS

The now rivalry in the trainers’ championship involving champion Wayne DaCosta and Anthony Nunes continues with even more venom. Nunes was off to a quick start, going into the lead early, which he held until May 26 when DaCosta landed the Lotto Classic and the Lotto Sprint. Both DaCosta and Nunes pack a lot of ammunition, so it is going to be quite interesting to see the end result come December 31. A lot will depend on which of these two trainers win the big races which are left, like the Supreme Ventures two-year-old series, the Superstakes and the Diamond Mile.

Trainer Patrick Lynch lies in third place after his Derby win on Saturday. Lynch continues to demonstrate his ability as a conditioner with 18 wins thus far this season, including two Classic races.

Among the jockeys, champion Omar Walker is riding without much confidence after recovering from his fall late last year. He is still unsure in the saddle and is showing a tendency of not wanting to take chances. Walker is apparently losing races because of fear of falling again.

At the halfway stage of the year, apprentice Anthony Thomas is leading the pigskin pack with 50 winners, 14 more than Shane Ellis in second. Dick Cardenas is third with 31 wins.

A new batch of apprentices is currently in training at the Jamaica Racing Commission’s Jockey School and should be plying their trade by the end of September.

Noticeable progress have been made by apprentice Javaniel Patterson and Aaron Chatrie who both had the distinction of riding their first Classic race winners.