THE current impasse over purse increases between trainers and the promoting company has been a perennial problem. This writer, who understands the importance of a viable racing product and how it is achieved, predicted that the racing industry could not grow once there was a departure from a handicap system to mimic the North American claiming system. This was an easy prognostication given the vastly different economic circumstances of the two jurisdictions. Ironically, it is now failing in the USA. (US Jockey Club website)

Failure of the claiming system was guaranteed as it was established on three false premises.

Firstly, there was a baseless claim that the product lacked integrity due to the manipulation of the form of horses to facilitate successful gambling.

Secondly, the owning of racehorses could be profitable in, what was at best, a local semi-professional operation. Then thirdly, genuine mathematically generated weight allotment — the most important factor in determining the level of wagering — would not matter. Such was the lack of vision of the uninformed architects of the seriously flawed claiming system.

This is how a handicap system product that “lacked integrity” performed, as the bettors had no such perception. In 1960, the first full year of operation on the sand surface of the Caymanas Park racetrack, there were 28 race days conducted on Saturdays and public holidays. With the introduction of midweek programmes in 1970, this exceeded an annual average of more than 80 race cards over the next three decades. By 1992, the final year of operation of a 32-year-old handicap system and the third year of the digital totalisator, there were 84 race days yielding 863 races with starters averaging 115.3 per day at 11.23 per race, confirming 300 per cent growth in race cards. (1992 JRC Yearbook).

Thirty years later, in a larger Jamaican population operating within a significantly improved Jamaican economy, the claiming system is averaging less than 10 races and 10 starters per race. Going forward, I will be dealing with the excuses proffered for the 30-year claiming fiasco with the presentation of more irrefutable, data-based facts. The economic viability of the promoting company is most important, and with this racing product subsidized by owners and the Government, it struggles. Watch this space.

Now onto the race day itself.

Former three-time champion Anthony Thomas, currently fourth on 40 wins, enjoyed double-riding success. In typical fashion, the talented reinsman brought the 4-5 favourite Select Me from off the early pace to deliver victory for trainer Patrick Lynch in the 1400-metre first of the six races carded.

In contrast, Thomas had 3-1 shot Powerofherhighness in front early and paced her exceptionally well to last by three parts of a length over the 1600 metres of race four for owner/trainer Oral Hayden.

Not to be outdone, leading title-seeking Reyan “Jason” Lewis moved his season tally to 60 in riding the two winners saddled by champion and current leader Jason DaCosta.

The stable opener was the progressive, US-bred, three-year-old colt Is That A Fact — the even-money favourite who gave his supporters a six-length win margin at the end of the 1300-metre gallop for race five. Favourite at 3-5, Lure Of Lucy (USA) was just over two lengths clear in winning the 1,000-metre straight sixth and final event.

Veteran conditioner Richard Azan also made two visits to the hallowed space of the winners’ enclosure. Sent off at odds of 5-1 maiden colt Manoushe, with four-kilo claiming jockey Jawara Steadman executing the riding honours, won race two contested over 1100 metres; while in race four veteran reinsman Allen Maragh, who had only ridden four times before in 2023, opened his seasonal account with a well-timed effort aboard 2-1 chance Burlap. The race was contested over 1,000 metres round.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Oral Hayden for maiden Powerofherhighness delivering the Best Winning Gallop in the filly’s first attempt at the trip. The excellent judgment of pace, balance, and expert application of the whip earn Anthony Thomas the Jockeyship Award.