LESRA Thompson says he was driven into the racing industry due to poverty, and that now he has no regrets about his decision to become a race horse conditioner.

Thompson, who graduated among 39 trainers from the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) Trainers’ Training Programme on May 12, 2023, won his first race on Saturday, June 24 with seven-year-old bay gelding Schlesinger.

Schlesinger, ridden by Oshadane Robinson, easily defeated rivals by a length and a quarter in a five-year-old and upwards Claiming ($180,000-$150,000) call that also included native-bred six-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of two). Schlesinger came home ahead of Freedom For Eds and Matriarch in a time of 0:37.0 (23.2).

Thompson, a dual citizen of Jamaica and the United Kingdom, expressed his delight at winning his maiden race as a newly certified trainer.

“Brilliant, it is just brilliant. I mean, it is a wonderful feeling to win my first race; this is what I have been dreaming about all my life. I got held down early on and now I have gotten a break. I must thank all the doctors that helped us and my colleagues as it is such a brilliant feeling and I am so happy,” Thompson said.

Thompson, who migrated to the UK in 1992, shared his journey into the racing industry.

“I got into racing because of poverty. I used to attend Holmwood Technical High School, and my dad died when I was very young and my mom was unemployed, and [so] I just ran away,” Thompson explained.

“When I was going to school I used to wear my uniforms to go out on weekends because of my situation, and so one day I just had enough, and I ran away and came into racing.

“I have no regrets coming here as everything has worked out for me. Knowing that I won my first race, one can only hope for the best from me now,” Thompson said.