As the bizarre and unviable claiming system continues its existential threat to the local racing industry, with the decreasing horse population divided into nineteen categories, race two had five starters. Spencer Chung’s Raddesh Roman-ridden three-year-old colt Rocket Fire Seb (USA), bet at 2-5, cantered in nearly 12 lengths clear in the seven-furlong farce.

Incidentally, there was a quick and natural double for Roman as the third event went to Boss Man (1-2), conditioned by Peter-John Parsard, carving out a margin of a half a length for the one-mile exertion.

Race eight saw Ian Parsard, father of Peter-John, taking the event contested at six and a half furlongs with
Dreamer’s Corner, a maiden three-year-old filly. She scored by six and a half lengths with former six-time champion Omar Walker executing the riding honours.

Ironically, the second race, a trophy event marked the 66th anniversary of Caymanas horse racing, where, for the first 33 years under a system of classification to determine handicapping, there was 300 per cent cumulative growth. This was followed by 33 years of decline under the aforementioned claiming system. Under handicapping, the ownership of horses was nearer 1,000 than the existing under 600, and 25 breeding sheds, delivering up to 350 foals annually; a far cry from the 130 reported in 2024.

Over the first 25 years of claiming, survival of the industry required a US$40-million government subsidy, which was subsequently frowned upon by the IMF with a demand that a divestment option be pursued with certainty.

The successful bidder, Supreme Ventures Limited, with its subsidiary, promoting company Supreme Ventures Limited Racing & Entertainment Limited (SVREL) took over in 2017.

Despite available incontrovertible data-based evidence of a flawed racing product, SVREL is being forced by the owners and trainers to offer a claiming racing product that has zero chance of growth.

The pending purse increase proposal talks will be revealing, as profitability has to be guaranteed as a first step which is not possible under the claiming system.

I find it difficult to understand how these stakeholders believe SVREL owns the racing product when it does not. The owners and trainers are failing to realise that claiming and the economic viability of the promoting company are mutually exclusive and cannot coexist. Therefore, SVREL is being held hostage as it is hamstrung by the misguided unwillingness to accede to the fact that nothing is more important than the economic viability of the promoting company.

In the opener of the nine-race programme,there was a convincing frontrunning performance, with 2011 Champion Dick Cardenas aboard the 21-1 shot Hail The Queen, declared by owner/trainer Ian Roberts. She immediately took the lead as soon as the gates opened. The four-year-old chestnut filly, a progeny of Hedge Fund, soon established an early advantage of two lengths, which she never looked likely to relinquish, and eventually won the eight-furlong gallop by just over four lengths.

There was a clear four-and-a-half-length 8-5 bet winner of the five-furlong straight course fourth event. However,
Ridge Liner (Emelio McLean), saddled by Winston Morris, had to survive a stewards’ inquiry and additionally a jockey’s objection based on “taking my ground” lodged by Tyrese Anderson, who rode runner-up Emperorofthecats (1-2).

President of the Jockeys’ Guild Phillip Parchment emulated the feat of Roman as he helped himself to a natural double as well.

Parchment, who, earlier this week, was handed a 25-day ban by the operation stewards, won race five with Dale Murphy’s Bella Bella (5-2), seven lengths clear at the end of the five-furlong straight trip of race five. The double came in contrasting fashion as Millennium Star, 9-1, trained by owner Courtney Williams, won race six by a head over the similar distance.

The first of double for the stable of champion and current leader Jason DaCosta, in tandem with Robert Halledeen, came in the form of a seven-length runaway by three-year-old maiden filly Mineola (3-1) over seven and a half furlongs.

The dual DaCosta/Halledeen success was confirmed by 4-5 favourite Mamma Mia in winning the featured six-furlong Arthur Jones Memorial Cup by three parts of a length.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Ian Roberts for turning out Hail The Queen in the condition to win over a distance of which she is completely unfamiliar, having been competing exclusively at distances short of seven and a half furlongs. Hail The Queen delivered the Best Winning Gallop whilst Cardenas took the Jockeyship Award.

Mamma Mia (#1-Robert Halledeen) gets the better of Fearless Force (Tyrese Anderson) in the $1.25-million Arthur Jones Memorial Cup. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)