As Hurricane Melissa’s winds subsided, veteran conditioner Linton Calder breathed a sigh of relief that his stable had weathered the tempest with minimal damage. But while his horses escaped the brunt of the storm, Calder’s office was a different story — a lingering issue that predated the hurricane now awaits urgent repairs.

Calder’s office had been in disrepair for some time, with a ceiling that was slowly caving in and a bathroom that was in bad condition.

“I’m waiting on Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited to come and fix up my office,” Calder told the Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide when this publication visited his stables on Monday, November 3, 2025.

“We had to prepare ourselves to meet Hurricane Melissa but in the office, we needed to correct a few things and unfortunately, those things were never corrected. We had to go through the hurricane the same way. The ceiling was falling down and also my bathroom is not in the best of conditions. Whenever my owners come by the stable and want to use the bathroom, I am so embarrassed because I don’t have a proper bathroom and I can’t make them use it in the condition that it is in now,” Calder shared.

During the hurricane, Calder’s groom bravely stayed on at the stables, looking out for the horses and ensuring their safety. The only incident Calder reported was a flooded stall, which didn’t result in any major issues.

“One of the stalls was flooded out with a two-year-old in it, but thankfully, all my horses are okay and have been exercising at the track in the mornings,” he said.

As the racing community prepares for its return to Caymanas Park on November 15, Calder is eager to get back to normal. With his horses safe and sound, he’s focused on getting his office and facilities back in shape.

Veteran trainer Linton Calder points to his damaged ceiling on Monday, November 3, 2025. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)