By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTHE NEW racing season progressed on a sad note at Caymanas Park yesterday when a punter died in the stands after the running of the second race.
According to reports, the unidentified man who is believed to be in his early 60s, died of a suspected heart attack. He was seen sprawled out in his chair in the reserved area of the Clubstand located on the second floor after the excitement of the race won by 2-1 chance TRYUBESS. Those close to him observed that he was frothing from the mouth.
Efforts to revive him proved futile and he was later pronounced dead by the track physician, Dr. Courtney Vaughn who was summoned shortly after. The body was removed to the First Aid Post and later to the Spanish Town Hospital.
Details about the dead man were sketchy but he is said to be a friend of an owner who trains for a top ten trainer, Patrick Fong.
Later in the afternoon, a friend of apprentice jockey Dalton Brown fainted in the vicinity of the Jockeys' Room after the running of the last race. Significantly, Brown's mount, the 86-1 outsider WOLF GANG, was beaten by a nose in a driving finish by the 5-1 chance JUST FRIENDS and this apparently triggered his collapse.
Frantic efforts were made to revive him but after three or four minutes, the young man (in his late teens) regained consciousness but was still dazed. He was carried off to the First Aid Post for medical attention.
Meanwhile, THE ADMIRAL as expected won the New Year's Day Trophy co-feature over 1300 metres in post to post fashion, but the unbeaten four-year-old gelding had to be driven out in the last furlong to stave off pesky ZAHBO (6-1) by three-quarter length in a field of nine.
Installed a 2-5 favourite with Panamanian jockey Ameth Robles aboard, THE ADMIRAL is unbeaten in four starts. The chestnut gelding by Law Of The Sea out of Radiance is owned by Father and Son and trained by Owen Sharpe.
The vastly improved 6-y-o gelding YOUNG FOR ALL, who was third in the November 8 Red Stripe Superstakes, chalked up his third consecutive win since, this time in the CTL Fan Appreciation Day Trophy (open allowance) over 2200 metres.
Well ridden by the young apprentice Howard Newell for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, YOUNG FOR ALL (2-1) made virtually all. He was closely tracked by JOHNNY'S KING (7-2) for most of the way, followed by the 4-5 favourite PEACE & LOVE under former champion jockey Charles Hussey. But he put paid to the chances of JOHNNY'S KING from the final bend, sprinting clear from early in the straight to win by 4 1/2 lengths from 18-1 outsider WARREN B, who was never far off the pace in the field of six. PEACE & LOVE faded from some way out to finish a remote fourth.
The third trophy race on the card, the inaugural running of the Mackay Security 'Unity' Trophy (claiming $170,000 - $145,000) over the circular nine course, was won in fine style by 9-1 chance SIR ABBAS MANGAL, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of 7-1 chance BLITZKREIG and 5-2 shot RAJMIR with champion jockey Trevor Simpson aboard.
SIR ABBAS MANGAL (always prominent) was ridden by smart apprentice Dane Nelson for owners Brazilonia and trainer Leroy Tomlinson. Owner and trainer completed a notable double, having won the previous race with 6-1 chance CHICO (made most impressively) with Simpson astride.
Simpson, who chalked up his second consecutive jockeys' title with 112 winners last Saturday, said he will continue to ride full time in Jamaica this year in a bid to achieve a third straight title. "I like the vibes at Caymanas Park and so long as I continue to have the backing of trainer Wayne DaCosta, I see no reason to leave certainty for uncertainty", he explained.
