In a heart-stopping finale to the 2024 jockeys’ championship at Caymanas Park on Saturday, Raddesh Roman edged out rival Tevin Foster by a single winner to claim the coveted title.

The stage was set for a thrilling conclusion, with Roman starting the day three winners ahead of Foster on 132-129. The tension was palpable as the two riders prepared to face off on the nine-race card, with the championship title hanging precariously in the balance.

Foster made a blistering start, reeling off three consecutive winners in the second, third, and fourth races aboard Honour Prince, Supremasi, and Shelly The Rocket. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as Foster drew level with Roman, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown.

However, Roman refused to back down, striking back immediately with a win aboard Oil Machine in the fifth race. The two riders then engaged in a nail-biting game of cat and mouse, with Foster finishing second in three of the remaining four races aboard Lady Abhimala, Stanislaus, and Medal Award.

Roman was second aboard Rideallday in the feature Dye Job Sprint Trophy as the firm favourite. Unspun, trained by Donovan Hutchinson and ridden by Christopher Mamdeen, won the race by a short head in the six furlongs (1,200m) event.

As the day drew to a close, the tension reached a fever pitch, with the crowd holding its collective breath as the two riders battled it out.

In the end, Roman’s lone winner on the day proved to be the decisive factor, as he clinched the championship title by the narrowest of margins. The crowd erupted in cheers as Roman celebrated his hard-fought victory, marking a thrilling conclusion to the racing season. Roman won with 133 winners to Foster’s 132.

Roman’s championship win cemented his status as one of the top jockeys in the sport, and marked a triumphant end to a season that had seen him consistently perform at the highest level. For Foster, meanwhile, there was the consolation of a remarkable season, and the knowledge that he had pushed Roman all the way to the wire.