RICHARD Lake, the group chief executive officer of Restaurant Associates Limited, operators of Burger King, Little Caesar’s and Popeye’s in Jamaica, is no stranger to the sport of horse racing.

Lake has been a long-time owner and breeder of race horses, with the likes of Rhythm Of My Heart, Classique, Temperence Oaks, Michelle’s Magic and Captain Bone wearing his familiar blue and yellow silks with distinction.

Lake is also the man leading the sponsorship of the Super Day of racing, featuring the Burger King Superstakes, the Coca Cola Invitational Mile and the Glen Mills Sprint Championship, through the aforementioned companies. Super Day 2018 is set for tomorrow at Caymanas Park.

His knowledge of racing is vast, but when The Supreme Racing Guide sat down with him, the interview was not only on the many achievements of his horses, but his treasured memories of Super Day over the last 40 years.

“Of course, I have many memories of Super Day. The Viceroy’s victory in 1992 was from the top draw, the very top, as his jockey the great George HoSang returned to Jamaica to show one and all how great a rider he was. His display on The Viceroy was awesome, and don’t forget that he beat the Triple Crown champion Milligram, who was aiming for the $1-million bonus.”

Lake then shared one of the funniest and most endearing moments he has ever encountered at Caymanas Park.

“I remember the moment vividly. Dr Paul Wright is a long-standing friend and I served with him on the board of Caymanas Track Limited for many years. Anyone who has even a passing acquaintance with Dr Paul knows that all 206 bones in his body is completely filled with horse racing. He eats, sleeps and drinks only one thing — horse racing.

“Well, in 1998 Dr Paul’s pride and joy, Miracle Cure, ridden by the great Emilio Rodriquez, won the Caribbean Sprint Championship and for a moment, time froze, and then in his own inimitable style, Dr Paul, who was visibly having difficulties controlling his emotions, said with a quite reverential look on his face: ‘Lord, don’t tek mi now; please don’t tek mi now, because heaven can’t betta than this.’ “That, for sure, even though I have won the Sprint and the Imported Mile, is my most treasured Super Day moment,” Lake said.