SOLOMON Sharpe, executive chairman of Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), a local promoter of horse racing, promises a more glamorous and exciting Mouttet Mile (invitational) race day this season.

The Mouttet Mile, a Grade One race for three-year-olds and up over one mile (1,600m), has become Caymanas Park’s marquee event. The purse for the 2023 edition was US$150,000, which was the largest purse for a single racing event in the English-speaking Caribbean at the time.

Riding high on the spectacular success of the Mouttet Mile’s second running last December, organisers have revealed a staggering and historic US$250,000 purse for this year’s third staging — the largest ever yet again.

This year’s staging of the Mouttet Mile will take place on December 7.

“Our long-term vision is to create a race day experience right here in Jamaica that will be ranked alongside any other global race day, and to establish Caymanas Park as the top destination for racing in the Caribbean,” Sharpe said.

“With the early announcement of a much bigger purse we have already set our bar even higher and have begun to put plans in place to create an experience at the park to surpass the 2023 event. Over the next few months punters can look forward to hearing more about the exciting additions that will be on offer at the third running of the Mouttet Mile,” the chairman continued.

Highlighting the success achieved in just two years, Sharpe emphasised the increased support from corporate Jamaica, a growing number of overseas entrants and jockeys, and the pivotal partnership with New York Racing Association (NYRA) to broadcast the Mouttet Mile live on FOX Sports.

Sharpe stated that in addition to the spectacular race card, this year’s Mouttet Mile offers a glamorous and enjoyable experience — both on the infield and in the stands

“A major part of the Mouttet Mile experience is the theme of the event. This year our theme is ‘Wild West Wear’, and we are inviting our punters to get into the fun of the country and western theme and don their best interpretation of the wild, wild west, and come prepared for an unforgettable day of horse racing action,” Sharpe said.

The second staging of the Mouttet Mile was won by American-bred Rough Entry, conditioned by Rohan Crichton who is part-owner along with Daniel Walters and Dennis Smith. Rough Entry was ridden by French-born jockey Julien Leparoux and groomed by Raymond Irwin.