The guide they provide, cheekily described by some as “straight from the horses’ mouth”, highlights the vital role of grooms, as the Betting, Gaming & Lotteries Commission (BGLC) marks the 21st Emancipation Race Day on Friday, August 1, during its 50th anniversary year.

Those largely making a difference to the very fortunes of the industry, from the quality care to horses, are long serving and unswerving with their commitment to the duties assigned reportedly over seven days a week. That’s critical to the performance chain of owners, breeders, trainers and jockey, and the wagers of the betting public.

As close as you can get to the horses’ mouth are interesting tales by these grooms on the conditioning of these championship contenders of the sport of kings – with several of them in the business for more than 50 years, all entering and being engaged at Caymanas Park from early teens.

Racing Hall of Famer Cecil Chambers, a groom for champion trainer Phillip Feanny for some 40 years, was living with his family just behind the Caymanas track compound when it was being constructed, though stables were already there. While in the country he would always be riding donkeys and mules so it is natural that he would be intrigued by horses, living next door to the track.

Racing Hall of Famer Cecil Chambers, a groom for champion trainer Phillip Feanny for some 40 years.

It all started for him when trainer Fitz Crawford approached his mother for his help to ‘water’ the horses, bathe them, work them, fix up the stables and just do everything for the horses. His very first horse was Gold Kind under Crawford and he also worked for trainers Oswald Lee and Laurie Silvera. Within a year he was working for Philip Feanny and there was a chemistry between them.

“We work well together,” he says in a BGLC news release.
These stalwarts over 50 years all speak glowingly of their love for horses and their work as grooms. They had all wanted to be jockeys though, finding the weight constraints quite challenging, pointing out, however, that long before exercise riders were introduced it was also part of their work requirement.

Milton McDonald, a groom for trainer Philip Feanny.

Richard Jones and Milton McDonald, who are also grooms for Feanny (who also attributes his phenomenal success in no small measure to good stable hands), say that racing is “simply our life”. They both have been working for trainer Feanny for some 45 years and have interesting tales of being the horses’ companions – knowing their mannerisms, talking to them and learning to understand their needs, while bearing marks of various injuries in testing relations at times.

Anthony, McLeod, groom for 55 years, with champion mount Miracle Man among his charges, and Samuel Carty, stable hand over the same period with Guineas and Oaks winner St Cecelia, insist that the work of a groom is not parttime.

“You’re on call almost all the time to get the results needed,” he says.

Anthony McLeod touts champion mount Miracle Man among his charges in his 55-year career as a groom.

Fabian White, present chairman of the Grooms Association (formed in the 70s by trainer Lloyd Constantine), and in the business for just about 50 years, readily points to the support of the BGLC for grooms, who operate, he says, in trying conditions.

“The BGLC,” he emphasises, “importantly assists with licensing and insurance. That’s critical support.

“Wages could not be described as spectacular – we do need more, and that’s from the horse’s mouth,” he chuckles.

“The cost of a groom’s licence is $25,000 – and there are about 500 grooms with just over 100 licensed. What would we do without the help?’ The BGLC Emancipation Race Day card, as they all agree, clearly gives back to the public. ‘It’s well received,” says White. “It has our respect.”