ANOTHER epic day at the races is expected to serve as a catalyst for future Sunday raceday entertainment at Caymanas Park as CTL brings the curtains down on an experimental two days of Sunday racing with a lively and competitive eight-race card at the Caymanas Park race track in St Catherine today. First post is 1:00 pm.

Despite the grumblings and restrictions placed on thoroughbred racing on a Sunday in religious-oriented Jamaica, the advent of the historical dress rehearsal on November 29 drew a record crowd which generated an encouraging and profitable handle of $17.9 million from only eight races and no out revenues.

While it was reported that the promoting company, CTL, experienced losses in the region of some $3,000,000 in the seminal event, it is quite clear Sunday racing has the appeal to generate the type of returns that could make the day a staple in local racing.

Those of us who were present at the seminal event observed the frenzy which developed at the pari-mutuel windows, so much so, that hundreds of would be punters were turned away without placing a bet as adequate arrangements were not put in place by the promoting company to meet the expectations of the massive crowd that turned up for the historical event.

Based on the response at the November invocation the inoculation of thoroughbred racing in Jamaica on a Sunday seemed to galvanized the interest of the hitherto disinterested as the level of entertainment presented had them milling around after the meet was over a sure sign that they wanted more as there was no immediate pressure to get from point “A” to point “B”. It was Sunday a day of relaxation for many. The interest generated has spread far and wide and an even bigger turn out is anticipated for today’s final Sunday race day on the 2009 calendar.

Today’s programme will be headlined by the extremely competitive $715,000 Joseph Armond Memorial Cup for Restricted Allowance 11 native-bred three-year-olds (NW2) over 1,820 metres and the $715,000 Richard Ashenhiem Memorial Cup a maiden condition race for native-bred two-year-olds over 1,500 metres.

In the Joseph Armond principal feature nine will run with the winner most likely to come from Cougway, Running Loose, Ghost Rapper and Allora with Cougway looking to have a better than even chance of winning the event.

Trained by Noel Ennevor for owner/breeder Donald Williams has already won over the distance but his last run over same was however disappointing. Nonetheless he has been working well since and having been weighted to have a say in this type of field could play the waiting game before coming away for his second career win. Jockey Andre Martin who was aboard Cougway when opening his account in February will return to the saddle in place of Dalton Brown.

Another who should have a say in the outcome is fifth place finisher in the Jamaica Derby Ghost Rapper. A big disappointment as a three-year-old who is yet to taste victory from 11 starts Ghost Rapper will now take orders from Anthony Subratie and has been working well in his preparations. If that is anything to go by and factor in his last three useful runs then a big effort is in store with the capable Devon A Thomas called to the saddle. On the fillies side Running Loose with her favourite jockey Kerry-Gayl Robinson in the saddle and trained by Morris Powell also has a glorious chance of going one better after two near misses in October.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Hailstorm (Gary Santos)

Race 2 She’s Magic (Shane Ellis)

Race 3 Ministerofjustice (Doushane Gordon)

Race 4 Jeopardy (Omelio Bennett)

Race 5 Cassanova Boy (Shane Ellis)

Race 6 Golden Harvest (Hubert Bartley)

Race 7 Cougway (Andre Martin)

Race 8 Baby Jazz (Brian Harding)