Peter McConnell, managing director of Trade Winds Citrus, expressed his delight with the performance of the four jockeys sponsored by the company’s TruShake brand.

Raddesh Roman, Tevin Foster, Reyan Lewis, and Javaniel Patterson all finished in the top 10 of the 2024 jockeys’ championship, with Roman and Foster securing the top two spots.

“Sponsoring these four talented jockeys has been one of our best investments,” McConnell told the Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide.

“The horse racing community is a big fraternity in Jamaica. It’s an exciting place to be, and finding a way to provide incentives for the jockeys to perform has been rewarding. They have represented our products very well.

“I’m very happy to be a part of it, and I’m proud of how they all performed. We had four jockeys, all of whom finished in the top 10 at the end of the season. Having our number one and number two jockeys, Roman and Foster, battling it out until the very last race was thrilling — you couldn’t ask for anything better than that,” he further said.

McConnell highlighted the unique synergy between TruShake, a nutrition shake designed to provide a balanced meal, and the jockeys’ need for a healthy and calorie-controlled diet.

“You have the horses and the jockeys, and historically, the jockeys have seemed to be the forgotten part of the equation. I’m happy that TruShake has pioneered attention to them and recognised the importance of their role.

“Additionally, it’s a great match because TruShake is a nutrition shake. It’s a product that allows you to limit calorie intake while still consuming a nutritious, well-balanced meal. In fact, you could survive on TruShake alone, with just water as an accompaniment — you wouldn’t need anything else.

“This makes it a perfect match for jockeys, who need to maintain their weight while also ensuring they’re well-nourished and achieving the right balance of proteins and calories,” McConnell explained.

Trade Winds Citrus plans to renew its sponsorship deal with Roman, Foster, Lewis, and Patterson, and McConnell expressed his enthusiasm for deepening the company’s involvement with Caymanas Park.

“I believe there’s a reason why the top two jockeys are TruShake jockeys. As part of our sponsorship, we provide them with a generous supply of TruShake, which they can share with their families.

“This ensures that TruShake becomes a regular part of their diet and training regimen. The fact that our sponsored jockeys have secured the top two spots suggests that our product is delivering on its promises.

“We want to sign back these four jockeys. [Javaniel] Patterson might not be here but we will sign back the other three jockeys. Cayamanas Park is a great entertainment venue and so TruShake will try to get deeper involved in Caymanas race track,” McConnell ended.