The commemoration of World Veterinarian Day as well as Rhythm Buzz’s outstanding performance in the Legal Light Trophy feature were overshadowed by stakeholder protests following the abandonment of the sixth event on Saturday’s 10-race calendar due to Jamaica Racing Commission’s (JRC’s) amendment of Rule 44 of Racing Rules 1977 concerning race start times.

The sixth event was abandoned at approximately 3:27 pm, 17 minutes after the scheduled time of 3:10 pm. That was the second race to be abandoned on the day. Race one was also abandoned.

The amendment to Rule 44 means that once a post time for a race is made official, for example, 12:40 pm, that race can be abandoned by the race day stewards if the starter does not press the start button within five minutes after the published post time.

There is, however, a caveat, as the race day stewards can, due to circumstances they deem fit, allow a race to start more than five minutes after the listed post time. The new rule, Rule 44 (iii) A, was implemented on April 1, 2024.

However, the commotion began when Edina Marsh broke out on the racetrack before the horses began to load for the start of the race. The bay mare eventually left the racetrack, and the horses were still parading at the starting gate.

Following a lengthy stoppage, the race was declared abandoned by the stewards in operation. Many stakeholders, mainly trainers, congregated outside the stewards’ room on the North Lounge Floor of the building, seeking an explanation for the race’s cancellation. The stakeholders believed that after the horse left the racetrack it should have been scratched and the race run.

Following a heated exchange between stakeholders and JRC members, the JRC Chairman Clovis Metcalfe announced that the races will not be abandoned again in these circumstances. That announcement was well received by stakeholders, and live horse racing resumed approximately 4:10 pm. That was 20 minutes after the scheduled time of 3:50 for the seventh race, the $1.4-million Legal Light Trophy, an Open Allowance contest for three-year-olds and upward over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820 meters).

Rhythm Buzz, trained by Vincent Atkinson and ridden by Reyan Lewis, won the race easily by 9 ¼ lengths ahead of Further and Beyond (Raddesh Roman) and Green Gold Rush (Shane Richardson) at the wire. The final time of the race was 1:57.3 (26.0 x 50.3 x 1:16.1 x 1:42.4).

Trainer Jason DaCosta saddled three winners on the card. The champion conditioner won with Funcaandun (Shamaree Muir) in the second race, California Crown (Robert Halledeen) in the eighth race, and Fred The Great (Tevin Foster) in the night cap.

Racing continues today.