Live racing is set to resume at Caymanas Park this Saturday, November 15, after a three-week hiatus due to Hurricane Melissa, which hit western Jamaica hard. The race meet is highly anticipated, and Executive Chairman Solomon Sharpe of Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) is thrilled to bring back the excitement.

This marks the first race meeting since Saturday, October 25.

Sharpe emphasised the significance of horse racing to the local community, supporting not just the professionals like trainers and jockeys, but also thousands of others who rely on the sport for their livelihood. The return of live racing will undoubtedly fill a big void and provide a much-needed boost to the local economy

“We sustained some structural damage, primarily to five stables, which we are currently repairing. Damaged rails have already been replaced, and debris cleared. If you observe morning exercise over the past week and a half, you’ll see over 300 horses consistently completing their scheduled workouts. So, while the structural damage was relatively limited, the financial impact has been significant, particularly from the suspension of our live racing product and the simulcast of overseas races,” Sharpe explained.

According to Sharpe, the financial strain is substantial, with estimated losses of $100 million.

“We operate more than 100 Offtrack Betting Parlours (OTBs) across Jamaica. Due to the widespread disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa, we lost approximately 40 per cent of our OTBs. Although simulcast services resumed quickly at unaffected locations, the loss of nearly half our network has severely impacted our cash flow,” Sharpe said.

“For three consecutive days, our operations were brought to a standstill due to a loss of electricity. This disruption was not a minor inconvenience, it was a significant event that reverberated across every aspect of our business and the wider commercial community. The clean-up operations, reconstruction efforts, and emergency measures demanded immediate and substantial investment. Beyond the physical damage, the downtime itself translated into a direct loss of income.

“With operations halted, productivity ceased, and opportunities were forfeited. The cumulative impact of these factors has forced us to absorb costs amounting to approximately $100 million with assessment not yet complete. This figure represents real financial strain, diverted resources, and the erosion of stability for both our enterprise and the broader commercial system. With the return of live racing, SVREL is committed to aiding the national recovery effort, not only by revitalising activity at Caymanas Park but also by stimulating business across the island through our operational OTBs. We are also focused on regaining lost financial ground,” he further said.

Sharpe said that the racing community has responded well to the return of live racing at Caymanas Park.

“Absolutely. We are very pleased. On Saturday, we have 103 horses nominated across nine races, and on Sunday, over 100 horses are entered in 10 races. Sunday is a marquee day on our calendar, featuring the Grade One Jamaica Cup, the Grade One Port Royal Sprint, and the St Elizabeth Distaff for fillies and mares at the Overnight Allowance level.

“Importantly, the winners of the Jamaica Cup and the Port Royal Sprint will earn automatic qualification for the Mouttet Mile in December,” Sharpe stated.

Horses make their way around the clubhouse turn at Caymanas Park in St Catherine.