“To start my career as a trainee apprentice rider at the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) Jockeys’ Training School by winning the first race put on is quite a good start for me,” declared Ramon Nepare. Nepare guided Congrats Suckie to victory in race one of several races designed for the apprentices in training over 5 ½ furlongs (1,100m) on the Sunday (June 30) racecard. Congrats Suckie is owned and trained by Michael Marlowe.

Notwithstanding the good encouragement of the win, Nepare believes that if one is not careful about how his chosen path turns out, it could have serious implications.

The 23-year-old says it is not only about riding and he is not going to neglect other important areas while at school.

“I have been around horse racing since 2012 and have found that there are other things like behaving right and discipline, which are just as important as becoming a good rider and as I see it, if I want to become a competent jockey, with time, and cannot carry out instructions of the trainers, then being a good rider may not be enough.

“About winning my first race, I want to thank Father God for this victory. I went into the race very confident as I had been programming this horse from two weeks ago and it is a nice victory for the trainer Mr Marlowe, who has spent a lot of time with me, guiding me with positive things to take with me beyond school.

“I feel very proud of the victory and happy for the trainer. He was behind me with the whip, teaching me and it made me very proud to win for him.

“This was my second race on the track as I first rode in an exercise riders’ prep race and this is the first race while attending the official JRC Jockey Training School programme as a trainee apprentice rider.

“I just listened to instructions and waited before getting next to the leader and then I went on my way to win,” Nepare offered.