Rohan Kabir (Oshane Nugent), winner of four of its last five races and bet as the 8-5 joint favourite, was never off the bridle for any length of time in the opening 1,400-metre event of 10 races on the Sunday card of April 28, 2024.

Saddled by Gary Griffiths and racing with an extremely advantageous weight allotment, the winning margin of 11½ lengths was hardly surprising.

The Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) 1977 racing rule number 33, in spirit and letter, speaks to the weights appended being based on “merit and performance”. Since 1993 the JRC has allowed the promoting companies to operate in contravention of this rule. This as the rule stipulates the appointment of three handicappers and only two employees, which is only a quorum deployed for decades.

With the availability of the technology to equalise form, it is now possible to ensure that the weights in each race accord with rule number 33 at the time of nomination, with the proviso it can be adjusted at declaration. This will ensure that inferior horses do not concede weight to superior horses in any race.

Classification for handicapping is undoubtedly a JRC regulatory function, and in the interest of fairness should never have been ceded to the promoting companies. More importantly, a weight allotment skewed in favour of any starter can have as high as a 25 per cent negative impact on sales. Note also, the division of the limited horse population into over 20 categories ensures small fields and overall unviability.

The racing product is estimated to have underperformed to the equivalent $3 billion in sales annually in the 32 years of claiming. The misguided sacrifice of a classification system in favour of the 32-year customer unfriendly, failed, complicated claiming system had rendered the investors in the sport thinking the ownership of racehorses can be a viable economic activity.

The industry grew 300 per cent cumulatively, with sports-minded ownership peaking at nearly 1,000 over the 32 years under a system of classification, but now stands at below 600 complaining daily about purses for the last three decades.

There has been no growth and collectively owners now expend $3 billion for a return of only $800 million. The thoroughbred owners and breeders body needs to come to the realisation that “it’s the racing product, stupid!” as Americans were messaged on the economy by the Democratic party electing Bill Clinton the 42nd United States president.

Hence, the industry, functioning with the change of profile from a sporting activity to a flawed racing product influenced by non-classification, has struggled for growth. This in an environment of increased population, including the now accessible Diaspora, and an expanded global gaming market over the period.

Race two, over 1,300 metres, turned out to be romp of over eight lengths by 7-2 bet
Last Dance ridden for trainer Michael Marlowe by Raddesh Roman for the first of five winning mounts on the card.

Roman’s second success came in race four, with three-year-old maiden Prince Amaan (6-5) prevailing by a short head over the 1,000-metre straight gallop.

Veteran reinsman Paul Francis, in winning race three had Gresford Smith’s No More Deal (4-5) in front for the entire 1,200 metres to score by nearly three lengths. Four-kilogramme claimer Jawani Forbes came home nearly two lengths clear aboard Baton Rouge (5-2) in race five over 1,000 metres straight.

In the 1,400-metre race six, leading rider Tevin Foster had a particular piece of good fortune aboard Ryan Darby’s Cosmic Force (3-1), elevated to first from a near two-length defeat into second by 4-1 bet Sparkles (Josue Osorio) for interference.

Robert Halledeen was aboard 1-9 wagered Fearless Attack for trainer Jason DaCosta in race seven, contested over 1,000 metres straight.

Halledeen was declared but not unavailable to ride Gary Subratie’s US-bred KD Strong (11-1) in race eight over 1,000 metres straight. However, Roman was and made his backers happy with the filly holding on to score by a short head to confirm his third.

Over the same course, Speedie Hare (9-2) had a slow beginning but came home five lengths clear for trainer Carlton Cunningham to give Roman his fourth.

Win number five for Roman came aboard Get A Pepsi (2-1) in race 10 over 1,300 metres. Roman has now tallied 37 to Foster’s 47 winners this season.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Errol Burke for the improvement of Get A Pepsi. The Best Winning Gallop came from the hooves of KD Strong for gameness. Roman’s victories aboard Prince Amaan and KD Strong by a short head and a nose, respectively, is an easy determination of the Jockeyship Award recipient.