Michael Marlowe, who was voted as the most improved trainer for the 2018 racing season is grateful for the recognition of his hard work and is committing that he will continue to do even better in his profession — training horses for thoroughbred racing at Caymanas Park.

Last year, Marlow saddle 14 winners, 24 second-place finishes and 26 thirds from 161 starts with earnings of $15,686,125. He finished seventh in the trainers’ standing.

“To be voted the most improved trainer among a distinguished cadre of trainers is in itself a noble honour, to be among these good trainers here in Jamaica and to be seen in such a good light. This is solid and fearless encouragement,” Marlowe said.

The recognition should come as no surprise as Marlowe grew up around his father, the late, great trainer Valbert.

Valbert Marlowe gained notoriety especially with his handling of Kilowatt in the prestigious Benson and Hedges Gold Cup.

“It is good to get this award, but to go forward and in a good clip you need good owners and good horses. My family was my first set of owners.

“I have expanded with a few good owners and they seem as if they will be with me for a while. “Nonetheless, good owners and good horses are the factors in thoroughbred racing that support the system and give you that edge that keeps you active to continue to challenge your resolve.

“For me, I always have to raise my old man’s name (Valbert Marlowe) as he is the guy that set all of this in play, and I want to keep this legacy going,” Michael promised.

Marquesas, by winning the 2018 Jamaica St Leger, was Marlowe’s top performer for the season but later had to be taken out of racing to undergo surgery.

“ Marquesas had his operation back in November and it has been three months now; and he has started to swim and he is rounding into a monster. At present, he is acting as though he has never had an operation. This is a very good sign and we are looking forward to big things from him later down in the year. By then, I think we would have a much better horse in Marquesas and hopefully, we can come up with another Marquesas or something close to him,” Marlowe hoped.

“No man is an island and at the end of the day to succeed at whatever you do you have to have a good staff around you.

“A trainer cannot see everything. You have to have good and capable help. Good grooms are indispensable. Grooms need to be knowledgeable about their functions and carry out…duties with the greatest of attentive care.

“There are times when little signs arise that you should bring to the attention of the trainer for him, in turn, to know what to do and to work together to remedy the situation before it can develop into a crisis. This is a fundamental part of the exercise expected from assistants around you,” Marlowe stated.