Globally grooms are considered a special breed, as horses “speak” only to these practitioners.

In the United Kingdom, the bastion of equine welfare, there is a well-administrated British Grooms Association for which membership offers such benefits as insurance, medical and life as well as mentorship and saving plans and others.

Truth be told, in spite of certain strictures by the Jamaica Racing Commission, things have not always gone as well as can be expected, and there have been issues of untimely or delayed increases in the basic per-horse payment.

Still, there is a functioning Jamaica association that was well represented on this L P Azar-sponsored Grooms’ Race Day under the leadership of long-serving President Fabian White.

Ridden by 2011 champion Dick Cardenas and bet at 4-5, the Adrian Prince saddled Sonny T And Chippy controlled the pace of the seven-furlong opening event to score by two lengths.

Trainer Barrington Bernard’s Solace (6-5) was a fairly convincing winner of the second of nine races on the day. This, with a two-and-a-quarter-length scoreline over the six-and-a-half furlongs, with claimer Richard Henry at the reins of Solace.

The Gregory Park Sprint Trophy was staged as race three and the game, genuine and consistent US-bred four-year-old filly
Digital One (3-1) used this opportunity to underscore this fact. She was in front early and all the way over the exertions on the five furlongs round course.

Ridden by champion Raddesh Roman, for the first of two on the card, and tuned by Gary Subratie, Digital One(USA) had to be brave under pressure to hold an advantage of three parts of a length for the five round contest.

Thoroughly inconsistent Sweet Victory (13-1), well behind in her previous 10 appearances, was very strong in the driving finish of race four. The conditioning of trainer Matthew Williams and the consummate riding skills of Tevin Foster was perfectly combined for success by a neck over the seven furlongs.

Roman was denied a likely success in race five as 4-5 favourite Conundrum failed by a nose to get on terms with well-ridden front-runner King Air (5-1) as claimer Tyreese Anderson aboard the Howard Bogues stable entry displayed admirable jockeyship over the six-and-a-half furlongs.

However, Roman confirmed his double success with champion and leading trainer Jason DaCosta presenting maiden three-year-old Runaway Star (4-5) to impress by over eight lengths at the seven furlongs of race six.

Each race card continues to increase the annual number of odds-on favourites each day, including six today. Race seven went to Lawrence Freemantle’s Electrode(1-2), a three-and-a-half-length winner over the four-furlong course for Tevin Foster’s first of his riding double.

In race eight, Sonogram(4-5), declared by Robert Pearson, racing for only the third time, was seven-and-a-half lengths the best under Robert Halledeen.

Trainer Michael Cain Jr, who doubles as the promoting company Supreme Ventures Racing & Entertainment L race day preview analyst, posted 21-1 shot Restoration to win the nightcap over the five-furlong straight course.

Ridden by former six-time champion Omar Walker, the four-year grey colt won by a neck, with the first and second runners-up only a head and a neck behind, respectively.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Matthew Williams for the return to form of Sweet Victory, who executed the Best Winning Gallop, coming from well off the pace and then battling gamely to win. Roman (Digital One [USA]), Walker (
Restoration), and Anderson (King Air) were in the conversation, all criteria considered. Tevin Foster (Sweet Victory) is the Jockeyship Awardee.