THE very threat of Hurricane Melissa — a system that was only a Category 1 at 11:00 am and a Category 2 and strengthening by 6:00 pm, with worse forecast — naturally had a chilling effect on the staging of all sporting events. Horse racing is especially sensitive, and any interruption will prove to be an extreme financial hurdle for its stakeholders to overcome.

However, truth be told, the Caymanas racetrack has been a resilient facility. On September 12, 1988, the winds and rains of Hurricane Gilbert rendered the Sport of Kings inactive until the final weekend of December. One hopes, if put to the test, the 1959 Caymanas infrastructure, including the stable area, will withstand the ravages of Hurricane Melissa in continued defiance of the many similar challenges posed by the awesome force of nature over the 66 years.

The opening event of the scheduled 10, run over seven and a half furlongs in front of a reduced audience, was won by hard-knocking three-year-old Alchemy of Souls (9-5). Ridden by Phillip Parchment, in the absence of 2023 champion Reyan Lewis, the colt scored by a half a length from off the pace to give the stable of champion Jason DaCosta the first of three on the day.

Contested over a distance similar to that of race one, Earmark Blitz (1-1), from the barn of Alford Brown, dominated by over seven lengths for champion reinsman Raddesh Roman’s first of a three-timer.

It was a two-length margin of advantage for winning owner/trainer Donovan Clarke, who saddled Noble Sovereign (6-5) to lift the seven-furlong race three with claimer Tajay Suckoo’s feet in the stirrup irons.

Race four, a Maiden Special Weight dash over four and a half furlongs and restricted to foals of 2024, was won by
Fidelity (5-2), ridden by claimer Anthony Allen to score by two and a half lengths for DaCosta’s second of the stable’s three-timer.

Race five, run at five furlongs straight, went to the 1-2 favourite Irish Wish with claimer Nicardo Carr aboard for a near six-length romp.

As the overmatching of horses in the failed money-losing claiming system continues, with inferior horses conceding weight to superior ones.

Starting for its lowest tag ever, Rum With Me (3-5) won race six over the straight course by just under four lengths to confirm Roman’s second of three wins and conditioner Peter-John Parsard’s opener of a stable double.

By way of explanation, although Rum With Me was top weight at 126lbs, all 13 of the others should have been at a minimum of six pounds less to encourage competitive betting. Inevitably, even the handicap system there will be the odd race where a horse, when the form is equalised, can be considered to be “ahead of the handicapper, or effectively a winner without a penalty”. However, there is no possibility of 389 odds-on favourites in 755 races as was the case in 2024.

In race seven, there was a very good display of sprinting by Robert Pearson’s improving three-year-old filly
Mighty Gully (5-2). Dick Cardenas, the 2011 champion jockey, induced her to take the advantage early. She never looked likely to relinquish the lead and nearly blinded five pursuing colts with speed in registering a convincing four-length victory margin.

Featured on the programme was the divided Caymanas Park Announcers’ Trophy, both had fields of nine Overnight Allowance campaigners declared for the six and a half furlongs gallop.

The first Division, run as race eight, went by a length and a half to 4-5 favourite Main Mistress (USA). This closed the Parsard’s stable double with Omar Walker, the former six-time champion, the winning rider bringing back memories of his exploits when much younger in the early 2000s.

Division II, staged as race nine, was won by Mr Senator (4-1), with claimer Eric Haughton taking a lot of credit for a good tactical display in the saddle. Conditioned by DaCosta to secure the stable’s three-timer, Mr Senator, whose style is to come from off the pace, was driven to secure a run on the far rails and turned for home with the advantage.

Mr Senator, now a five-year-old grey horse, ran very well inside the last furlong to deny, by a diminishing half a length, the strong challenge of 2-5 favourite Zulu Warrior and Roman’s possible four-timer.

However, the 2024 champion rider and 2025 designate, with an impressive 112 winners so far this season, won the closing five-furlong straight event by nearly four lengths astride Indestructible (7-5), declared by jockey-turn-trainer Phillip Elliott.

The Training Feat Award is presented to DaCosta for performances of Alchemy of Souls and Mr Senator, two horses devoid of early pace, with the latter displaying the Best Winning Gallop.

On a day when three champions, Roman, Walker and Cardenas, rode five winners between them, four of 2024 graduates of the Jamaica Racing Commission Riding School made it to the winners’ enclosure. Nonetheless, the Jockeyship Award was an easy call with Eric Haughton’s display aboard Mr Senator the best.

Trainer Peter-John Parsard (right) and jockey Raddesh Roman after the win by Rum With Me. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)