DESPITE Jamaica bracing for days of tropical storm conditions starting this weekend, Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) is pressing on with Saturday’s scheduled racing event.

Solomon Sharpe, executive chairman of SVREL, confirmed that the race card is scheduled to go ahead, with his team working tirelessly to prepare the track.

“At the moment racing is still on, we are watching the weather. Based on the weather pattern, the later it comes it means that we will get the race card in for Saturday and then it means that we might have a problem next week,” Sharpe told the
Jamaica Observer.

“We have a race card set, the race card is still on, but if the weather doesn’t allow us, we won’t go ahead,” he added.

Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to rapidly intensify in the Caribbean, bringing extreme rainfall and damaging winds to Jamaica. Up to press time on Friday the island was under a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch.

Undeterred by the ominous weather forecast, Sharpe said his team is working around the clock to ensure the racetrack is in top condition.

“We’re currently on an extensive programme, [it’s] all hands on deck going through the drains. It is not just the drainage system here at the racetrack; the water that comes in here [goes] through all of Portmore so we’re part of the drainage system for the entire Portmore area.

“The more water that comes from outside is the more debris, [and] more of a problem, so we are cleaning all drains and debris — it’s all hands on deck,” he reiterated.

Sharpe praised his team’s dedication.

“I’ve been at the racetrack since morning (on Friday) but the team has been working non-stop since Tuesday. We’re doing everything we can to prepare for the event,” the SVREL boss noted.

Meanwhile, Main Mistress and Zulu Warrior are favoured to win both sections of the $1.25-million Front Runner-sponsored Caymanas Park Announcers’ Trophy feature. The contest is a Restricted Overnight Allowance event for three-year-olds and upward over 6½ furlongs (1,300m).

Main Mistress, a four-year-old, American-bred, dark bay/brown filly trained by Peter-John Parsard, will contest Division One while Zulu Warrior, a four-year-old chestnut colt trained by Adrian Prince, will compete in Division Two.

Both horses have been training well coming into the races and both have been in form as well.

Main Mistress has raced six times this season, winning two times, finishing second and third once. Zulu Warrior on the other hand has raced nine times, winning twice, finishing second two times, and third once.

Ones to watch:

Race 1: Alchemy of Souls/Khaleesi/I’m Outstanding

Race 2: Earmark Blitz/Secret Sensation/Atila

Race 3: Noble Sovereign/Noble Monarch/Chesney

Race 4: Maybelle/Fidelity/Uncle Nally

Race 5: Irish Wish/Bugatti/Prince Marshall

Race 6: Rum With Me/Muzzo/Funometer

Race 7: Mighty Gully/RicoRicoRico/Don Kwesi

Race 8: Main Mistress/Comehometome/Cookie Day N Night

Race 9: Zulu Warrior/Super Alex/Final Load

Race 10: Indestructible/Tiffany Blu/Alkebulan

Main Mistress

A section of the Caymanas Park racetrack. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)