Solomon Sharpe, the executive chairman of Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), says the recent influx of foreign jockeys to Caymanas Park is part of a global exchange initiative.

This programme, Sharpe said, seeks to foster connections between Jamaicans living abroad and their homeland, while also providing visiting jockeys with a unique cultural experience. The ultimate objective is to establish Caymanas Park as a premier destination for both horse racing and cultural enrichment.

“It’s a programme to expose Caymanas Park globally. We want to make Caymanas Park a destination and in order to have that you have to work with some kind of exchange programme,” Sharpe told the Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide.

“We have many Jamaicans overseas and they are great ambassadors. So, we just bring the other people here. They have a great relationship on the backstretch with the Jamaicans and they say they want to come here and experience our culture.

“When you bring them [jockeys] here is not just a ride but to expose them to our culture, and when they get exposed to our culture, they go and cheer on Jamaica globally. And that’s what we’re all about,” Sharpe said.

Sharpe said that the movement of jockeys to Jamaica is not just about bringing in riders, but a response to fan requests. He said that an ongoing survey seeks feedback on the programme, and there’s a strong focus on fan engagement.

“We want to do what the fans want. And based on what you have seen here today over the weekend, the fans have really relished having Arnaldo Bocachica here. It was just a great weekend. So that’s all we’re about,” Sharpe said.

“We’re listening to the fans. Right now, we have an ongoing survey to tell us definitely what we think is right or not right. But we’ve been listening to the fans. We have a very active simulcast programme.

“Bocachica, is the leading rider in Charlestown and we just brought the leading rider from Gulfstream Park, Edgard Zayas. This is a pattern. Who knows, we might be bringing the leader, the leading rider in the world next, Irad Ortiz,” he added.

Sharpe said that the programme also has positively impacted simulcast racing.

“What we’ve realised is that when these jockeys come and they go back, they get a great reception based on betting patterns on simulcast racing.

“It’s just a complete programme to work from end to end to make everybody happy,” Sharpe said.