Last week the Jamaica Racing Commission began a six-month course for trainers of thoroughbred horses with 41 participants.

Included in that lot of 41 is one female, Lydia Anglin.

The Supreme Racing Guide spoke with Anglin, who shared her background, ambitions, and why she wanted to dive into a profession dominated by men.

SUPREME RACING GUIDE: (SRG)

LYDIA ANGLING: (LA)

SRG: Tell us about yourself

LA: Before attempting to get into horseracing, I entered the business world as an ICI investor. After giving up that endeavour, I became fully attached to this business of horseracing at Caymanas Park. I grew up in a horseracing family and fell head over heels with the idea of becoming an owner of horses in the year 2001.

The move was made after returning to Jamaica from an overseas trip. I am no stranger to horses as my uncle, Joe Thomas, is a trainer plus I have other close relatives who work with horses. The Saturday after returning to Jamaica in 2001 was a faithful day. It was the day when my little sister said to me … “let us go to the track.” In turn, I said to her “what would I be doing there,”. So, we went to the track and I enjoyed myself immensely on that Saturday in the stands. I did not know what I was doing nor did I know anything about the horses I was betting on but I was betting and having lots of fun.

SRG: After that introduction, what happened next?

LA: On the third Saturday, I came to the track, and my elder brother, who is a groom, told me that a horse was for sale and that I should buy the horse. My response was where would I tie the horse? He answered that I should just buy the horse. Then I asked what is the cost of the horse? $60,000 was the response. I then gave the idea a positive look and went by a friend and told him that I was going to buy a horse. Then I went to my uncle Joe and told him that I am buying a horse. He asked me what is the name of the horse and I told him, Rude Boy. He turned and said to me, “what are you doing with that, ‘it’ done”. “Matters not,” I responded. I want that horse. Uncle Joe said all right and I then went and bought the horse and carried Rude Boy to Uncle Joe’s Stables and tied it there on the range, but I saw uncle Joe coming and we drove off, leaving the horse tied up on the range. In the excitement of owning a horse now and the build-up, I never grasped the idea that you had to buy sawdust, feed, grass, and other tangibles.

The following morning, I returned to the stables and saw the horse was in a cozy nook in a stall and being looked after. Uncle then call me and said to me: “You bought the horse, you are stubborn and you are hard ears though, what are you doing with that?”

The feed man is passing and you must buy feeding. I went and bought the feed as was advised.

SRG: So, you are now an owner, though not registered officially, what happened next?

LA: The first horse I owned, Rude Boy, was owned and trained by Joseph Thomas, as I was ineligible to operate at the time, as an owner. At that time my uncle and brother looked after the horse. The first time the horse ran, it came second with Charlton Riley in the saddle. Rude Boy then won a couple of races. Then Rude Boy won again after which uncle Joe sold the horse the next day.

Lesson number one: never put your horse in other people’s names. I then made the effort to register as an owner by going to the Racing Commission to find out what were the requirements. I then interviewed to get my owner’s licence. In that interview, one of the stewards asked… ‘which horse I was buying?’ I told them Rude Boy, and both gentlemen laughed. The laughter was jovial, but it made me feel bad, and after more questions and answers, they granted me the licence. Then one of the stewards said “let me see what you are going to do with “that.” The first time I ran that horse in my name, Rude Boy won. From there on, I owned other horses. I bought one named Rucks and won quite a few races with him. The presence of COVID-19 hampered me in a significant way but I have good friends who rallied with me strongly when I wanted to quit. One person said that I must not quit. That person sat with me, looked into my eyes, and said: “Do not talk to me like that, look at all those people, you see out there succeeding if they had stopped trying, they would not have been where they are today. Take heart and persevere”. I did and, I am happy about that.

SRG: Training horses is a male-dominated profession. Why did you decide to go this route?

LA: There comes a time when you heed a certain call, and now is the time for me. At Caymanas Park we have had several female trainers who have done well (Eileen Cliggott, Emma Chen, Margaret Parchment), so there is no reason on earth why a female trainer cannot make a mark in the profession. Plus, let’s face some facts, the world is changing rapidly, especially since COVID-19, and change is inevitable, I have to move on to the next step, which is owning, training, and maybe in the future breeding my horses. Life is a progression, and for me, Lydia Anglin, the next progression is to become a trainer.