EXCITEMENT is building at Caymanas Park as renowned jockey Arnaldo Bocachica, the leading reinsman from Charles Town, prepares to make his highly anticipated local debut over the weekend of September 7th and 8th.

The stage is set for a thrilling tribute to local legend Winston “Fanna” Griffiths OD, with the fourth running of the $3.75-million Winston “Fanna” Griffiths OD Classic — a premier, native-bred, three-year-old event for horses that have never won a Grade One race — taking centre stage. The nine-and-half-furlong (1,1900m) showdown is set to run on September 8.

Racing Secretary Denzil Miller made the announcement during a press briefing held at Sportsmax’s headquarters in downtown Kingston on Monday.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Arnaldo Bocachica who has achieved remarkable success at Charles Town in West Virginia, United States,” Miller said.

According to US-based Website Equibase, Bocachica boasts an impressive career record, with a staggering 2,755 wins; 2,079 second-place finishes; and 1,696 third-place finishes from 12,151 mounts. His remarkable talent and dedication have yielded lifetime earnings total of US$51,369,359.

“Bocachica started his riding career in 2006 at Charles Town, and won his first career there on July 16 of the same year. Since then he has become a perennial leading jockey, frequently teaming up with Charles Town’s leading trainer Jeff Runco. He won his 2000th career race on March 6, 2021, guiding Never Compromise to victory at Charles Town.

“Bocachica made history at Charles Town on October 9, 2021 when he won eight stakes races on the West Virginia Breeder’s Classic card, including the West Virginia Breeder’s Classic Stakes with Maud’dib,” Miller said.

But that’s not all — the weekend will also feature a jockeys’ championship title event wherein six teams, each consisting of two riders, will compete in six designated races, three on each day.

The teams will be led by captains Tevin Foster, Raddesh Roman, Robert Halledeen, Reyan Lewis, Paul Francis, and Arnaldo Bocachica, and will be named after Winston “Fanna” Griffiths’s favourite horses.

The teams will be vying for a combined incentive of US$6,000, with the first-place team taking home US$3,000, second place earning US$2,000, and third place securing US$1,000.

The full teams are Foster and Shane Richardson (The Viceroy), Roman and Omar Walker (Distinctly Irish), Halledeen and Phillip Parchment (Royal Dad), Lewis and Shavon Townsend (Legal Light), Francis and Oshane Nugent (A King Is Born), and Bocachica and Oneil Mullings (Eros).

Christopher Wills, vice-president of operations at Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), highlighted the significance of the Winston “Fanna” Griffiths OD Classic race day, which is part of Caymanas Park’s 65th anniversary celebrations.

“As we mark this milestone we honour the rich history and tradition that Caymanas Park represents. For six decades Caymanas Park has been the heartbeat of Jamaican horse racing, where dreams are made and champions are born. Winston “Fanna” Griffiths OD has played a pivotal role in shaping this legacy, making it fitting to dedicate a weekend of races in his honour,” Wills said.

Wills emphasised SVREL’s commitment to the sport’s sustainability and growth.

“We believe in investing in innovation and development to keep the industry thriving. We’ve taken significant steps to enhance the experience for all stakeholders. From infrastructure improvements like the installation of the electronic timing system, the tote board, the wagering platform, the production systems — these are all technological-driven solutions, like the introduction as well of the mobile betting platform
MBet,” He further explained.