The Jamaica Racing Commission Act of 1972 replaced the Jockey Club as the regulatory body of horseracing industry. By 1977, to transition from its amateur status, founding Chairman Sir John Mordecai oversaw the implementation of a comprehensive set of Racing Rules to ensure that from a legal and other perspectives there was a platform on which a fully professional racing industry could be established.

Since then, a number of changes to the original, many of which defies logic, have been deemed necessary, such as Rule 113 section 09 (c ii) which states in part, “where a horse fails to finish the race with any item of equipment in which it was declared, it shall be disqualified from the race”.

As it relates to the disqualification of “first past the post”, Affair (7-2), ridden by Reyan Lewis for Gary Subratie, in the 1,200-metre three-year-old maiden second race and awarded to 15-1 bet First Offence (Shamaree Muir), saddled by Steven Todd, the race day panel of Operation Stewards were correct.
Affair’s cheek pieces was undone 400 metres out. In addition, section ciii (e) imposes a maximum fine of $10,000 on the trainer.

Here is where the defiance of logic comes in. Section 09 (ciii) of the same Rule 113 makes an exception as it applies tongue tie/tongue strap and states in part, “if it becomes loose during the race this shall not disqualify the horse.” The presumption must be that declared equipment is intended to enhance performance legally.

Therefore, with this disqualification dichotomy there are three questions to be considered here.

Firstly, if any declared equipment is lost during the race, why is there no presumption the horse performed at a disadvantage? Secondly, in terms of declared equipment lost during the race, why is one loss of equipment allowable and another is not?

Thirdly, is there then a presumption in the rule, this was a corrupt practice by the trainer? Incidentally the regulatory British Horseracing Authority has no such disqualification stipulation in the UK Rules Of Racing.

The 1,100-metre opening event on the programme of nine races went to 4-1 bet Lion Charmer (Ramon Nepare) declared by Patrick Lynch. Whilst in race three Nina Dorada (2-1) was nearly nine lengths clear over the 1,000 metres of the round course for trainer Edward Walker and jockey Youville Pinnock. In-form crowd favourite Raddesh Roman had his only success, when Anthony Nunes’ Power From Above (1-2) outstayed five rivals by over two lengths in the gallop for the 1,800-metre test of stamina for victory in race four.

In race five, Phillip Parchment, since returning from an extended injury induced layoff five race days prior, had his 11th seasonal success in scoring with Rudolph Hardial’s Undecided (2-1) over the 1,000 metres straight course gallop of race five.

Then in race six over the same distance, leading trainer Jason DaCosta saddled 4-5 favourite Password (Robert Halledeen) for the four-year colt’s maiden success.

The featured event for the 1,600-metre Liu Chie Poo Trophy, run as race seven, was won by imported Easy As ABC (3-1) trained by Donovan Hutchinson and ridden by Roderick DaCosta for the four-year colt’s fourth career success, including two in the United States. Meanwhile, leading reinsman Tevin Foster won aboard She’s That Girl (5-2) in the 1,200 metre eight event for Steven Todd. Whilst champion Reyan Lewis rode Adrian Prince’s Another Wave to 44-1 upset win the nightcap contested over 1,200metres.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Adrian Prince for the unlikely success of Another Wave, racing in a higher category following her maiden success three weeks prior. In arriving in the final stride to score by a nose, the five-year-old mare also executed the Best Winning Gallop with Reyan Lewis, for his excellent judgement of pace, takes the Jockeyship Award.