Solomon Sharpe, executive chairman of Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), was overflowing with pride and joy as he witnessed Caymanas Park’s latest historic moment — the implementation of the GMax Digital Timing System

The timing system marks a significant milestone in the iconic track’s journey to becoming a world-class racing destination.

As the first and only racetrack in the Caribbean to adopt this cutting-edge technology, Caymanas Park has set a new standard for the region’s horse racing industry. The GMax Digital Timing System ensures accurate and reliable timing, eliminating human error and providing precise data for race results, statistics, and analysis.

The state-of-the-art technology was unveiled on June 1 during the prestigious 50th running of the Jamaica 1000 Guineas.

Sharpe is thrilled to be at the forefront of this revolution.

“Since assuming operations of the facilities, SVREL has made many moves to modernise Caymanas Park and to improve the product for all racing stakeholders,” Sharpe told the Jamaica Observer.

“The entire SVREL team is proud to deliver another best-in-class feature to local racing fans by being the first in the Caribbean to have a digital timing system. We have a vision to make Caymanas Park the ultimate hub for sports and entertainment in the region and this is another major step we’ve made to realise that vision,” the chairman further stated.

The GMax Digital Timing System utilises advanced electronics and sensors to precisely capture and record race times, split times, and other critical metrics. This ensures accurate data for determining winners, setting records, and analysing performance.

As the industry’s gold standard for thoroughbred race tracking, GMax provides real-time graphics and timing to spectators, valuable insights for racing professionals, and fans worldwide.

This innovative technology will revolutionise the racing experience, offering fans and punters better insights for informed wagering. Additionally, off-track betting (OTB) and TV broadcasts will benefit from enhanced graphics and real-time progress displays, further enriching the overall experience.

Sharpe explained that the decision to implement the digital timing system was driven by the need for transparency, accuracy, and reliability.

“Over the years, all our races, whether practice runs or race day activities, have been manually timed. We recognised that if we wanted our product to be transparent and reliable and if we want Caymanas Park to truly be on par with other major international tracks, a digital timing system would be a necessity. We’re very pleased to see it become a reality and thank our partners Gmax for the role they’ve played in implementing this system,” he said.

“We will continue to innovate, improve, and push the boundaries of excellence in horse racing. The feedback from stakeholders — trainers, jockeys, punters and even the casual fans — has been overwhelmingly positive,” Sharpe pointed out.

Clovis Metcalfe, chairman for the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC), noted that the Gmax digital timing system is a significant upgrade for the Jamaican horse racing industry on a whole.

He said that it demonstrates a commitment to modernisation and a desire to meet international standards. He added that the improved level of precision that the system allows will enhance the experience for punters, analysts, and commentators. He said that this will provide them with reliable data to make informed decisions and assessments, ultimately elevating the overall quality of the sport.

“I think that is a very positive step going forward,” Metcalfe told the Observer.

“We are now catching up with international standards and best practices. It is really good for the pundits and the audience well scorer in doing his race assessment and reviews. It is really an excellent improvement to the sport by the promoters,” he further stated.

Michael Suckoo, a seasoned punter with over 30 years of experience at Caymanas Park, has also hailed the introduction of the new technology.

“This innovation is a game-changer,” Suckoo enthused. “No longer will we punters be left wondering about the position of horses in a race. The clear display of numbers on the screen provides us with real-time updates, allowing us to track our chosen runners with ease. This enhancement brings our racing industry in line with international standards, and I’m excited to see its positive impact.”