IN recognition of International Women’s Day, which acknowledges and honours women’s social, economic, cultural, and political contributions throughout history and in various fields, Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) will hold a trophy race on today’s 10-race card to commemorate the progress made by its six female stewards and the secretary in the Stewards’ Department.

The race, the International Women’s Day Trophy, is an overnight allowance contest for three-year-olds and older going one mile (1,600m), for a purse of $1.25 million. Fourteen runners have been entered, and the race will run off as the final race on the day with a post-race time of 5:20 p.m.

International Women’s Day serves to highlight the ongoing fight for gender equality. It also underlines the problems and discrimination that women continue to face in various areas such as equitable pay and, most crucially, leadership opportunities.

Furthermore, the day fosters a sense of unity and solidarity among women around the world. It brings women together to share their stories and support one another.

Elizabeth Fitz-Coy Wauchope, a consultant at the JRC, said she is pleased to see the male-dominated racing sector recognise the contributions that female stewards bring to the sport.

“I think that’s absolutely wonderful because racing has always been a male-dominated industry and it’s good to know that women can say, ‘Hey, you know what? I can do that too and I want to be like that,’ ” Fitz-Coy Wauchope told the
Jamaica Observer.

“The stewards look really fantastic on race days in their jackets, and they’re in official positions and everything and they look good. And, all our stewards are well-educated women who can apply the rules and the laws of racing in a fair and unbiased manner in the performance of their duties.”

The six female stewards are Nichola Green, Sharlene Simms-Bailey, Trisha Dixon, Lorna Bagwandeen, Annakay Barrett, and Alicia Lindo.

Three of these (Green, Simms-Bailey, and Dixon) are race day stewards, meaning that they work only on race days, while the remaining three are operations stewards employed full-time by the JRC, with Lindo gaining recognition as an internationally accredited steward.

Janet Peart-Morant is the long-standing secretary in the Steward’s Department.

Last year’s Jamaica Derby Classic winner Ability is without a doubt the horse to beat in today’s feature contest. Following his second-place finish in the Mouttet Mile behind American-bred Rough Entry,
Ability has made two appearances this season, winning over seven furlongs (1,400m) on January 27 and finishing second over five furlongs (1,000m) straight on March 2.

The Patrick Lynch trainee, who is the current top three-year-old champion from last season, was just one length and three quarters behind
Bootylicious on March 2 in a quick 58.4. Now stretched out at a mile, which is more to his liking,
Ability should use his class to get by these with the minimum of fuss. Note: Figure 8 is on. Jockey Linton Steadman will ride at 56.0 kg (123 lb).

Ability will not easily have his way, however, as runners such as Sonny T and Chippy, Provocativa, Money Monster, and Rhythm Buzz are all capable of landing telling blows here.

Sonny T and Chippy finished a good second behind Rhythm Buzz over seven and a half furlongs (1,500m) on January 21.
Sonny T and Chippy has worked fairly well coming into this race and, based on talent, could challenge for top honours here. The Spencer Chung trainee galloped five furlongs on Monday, March 4 in a nice 1:03.3, marking his readiness for today’s encounter.

Provocativa, trained by Rohan Crichton, earned her first win on local soil the second time of asking on February 10 over one mile. The five-year-old American-bred runner won the race by three lengths in a time of 1:42.1.
Provocativa has looked like an improved animal at exercise since her maiden win and could run well here. She worked five furlongs straight out of the starting gates in 1:02.0, with the first four furlongs (800m) done in 47.2 last Saturday.

The Fitzroy Glispie-bred, -owned, and -trained Money Monster finished down the track in eighth place on last when competing over seven furlongs on February 25. Prior to that, he was fifth by four lengths behind Green Gold Rush over six and a half furlongs (1300m) on February 14. With those two runs under his girth
Money Monster, who has also worked well coming into this race, could be the surprise package in the line-up.

Rhythm Buzz was a winner at this level on January 21 over seven and a half furlongs in a time of 1:34.3.
Rhythm Buzz, trained by Vincent Atkinson, has shown vast improvement in his runs, and based on his consistency he should play his part here.

Ones to watch

Race 1:
Secret Traveler/Show Girl/GT Boy

Race 2:
Comehometome/Riches to Rags/Matuso

Race 3:
Wilson/One Like It/XY Soul

Race 4:
She’s a Godgift/Money Market/Legit Boss

Race 5:
Muzzo/Jupiter Man/Power of Faith

Race 6:
Fearless Attack/Battle Angel/My Sunshine

Race 7:
Benson/Zayna’s Princess/Cosmic Force

Race 8:
Stein/Noble Attitude/Dream Worrior

Race 9:
Power From Above/Anonymous/Savvy Girl

Race 10:
Ability/Rhythm Buzz/Sonny T and Chippy