By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTHE RACING industry experienced mixed fortunes in 2003. Industry players would say there was little to cheer about, but the fact that stability was maintained at Caymanas Park, even with the threat of a shutdown looming in mid-year, was a big plus.
The most important development and the thing that really had a sobering effect on the industry was the $100 million allocation to purses by the Government effective July 1, the first such increase in five years.
This was due largely to successful lobbying by the various interest groups (headed by the Owners Association) who for once came together as a united front to achieve their objective.
While there was no disruption of racing, sales continued to decline during the course of the year, this in the face of stiff competition from Cash Pot in particular.
The horse population continued to be a source of concern and this affected the quantity and quality of programmes to the extent that Friday racing was discontinued by CTL in July because of dwindling sales.
INCREASINGLY UNPROFITABLE
Then towards the end of the season, it was revealed that the number of racedays in 2004 would be decreased from 92 to 84 as Wednesday racing had become increasingly unprofitable.
On the positive side, the quality of the top three-year-olds was the best in years, what with Guineas and Derby winner A KING IS BORN, St. Leger and UBA Gold Cup winner HERECOMESFUDGIE and Red Stripe Superstakes winner PITTACUS standing out against the best of the older horses.
Even the second tier three-year-olds like JACK DE PRINCE, REAR ADMIRAL, JOHNNY'S KING, THE MINISTER and unbeaten THE ADMIRAL managed to make an impression.
Another plus was the prowess of the apprentice riders. As many as three - Paul Francis (64 wins), Oneil Mullings (51) and Dane Nelson (47) finished among the top five riders in the standings, with Phillip Clunis not far behind in the top 10.
The Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) implemented its belated salix (lasix) programme as a raceday medication on April 5 and this for the most part proved successful in attempting to address the question of bleeding in horses.
SALIX CENTRE
The $21 million programme, which included the building of a salix centre at Caymanas Park, was spearheaded by the JRC's chief veterinarian, Dr. St. Aubyn Bartlett.
Returning champion Trevor Simpson, along with Shane Ellis and Clive Lynch and to a lesser extent leading all-time rider Winston Griffiths, were the senior jockeys who distinguished themselves, Griffiths riding three classic winners.
Griffiths won the Track Price 2000 Guineas and Red Stripe Derby aboard Howard Hamilton's fleet-footed colt and leading 'Horse of the Year' contender A KING IS BORN for trainer Philip Feanny, as well as the Courts Jamaica Oaks aboard Paul Fung's filly NAUGHTY BY NATURE.
Indeed Griffiths, while missing out on a place in the top 10, was third on the money winning list for the season with $15.9 million in stakes.
Additionally, he rode 35 winners from only 95 rides to finish with by far the best strike rate, 36.8 per cent as against Simpson's 31. He finished the season needing only 10 winners to achieve 1,500 career wins.
For the second consecutive year, Wayne DaCosta emerged champion trainer with a record $31.1 million and 97 winners. He finished ahead of arch rival Feanny ($26.8 million and 64 wins) and the 'Claiming King' Richie Todd who did extremely well in finishing third with $16 million and 78 winners to his credit.
Talk of divestment of Caymanas Park dominated the second half of the year, but in the end little was achieved as despite the good intentions of State Minister for Finance, Fitz Jackson, the process was slow and painstaking.
Jackson, however, piloted amendments to the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act in Parliament which provides for much stiffer penalties for illegal betting. This was approved by both Houses of Parliament in the closing weeks.
The 15 per cent GCT on bets proposed by Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies in Parliament caused ripples in the bookmaking industry earlier in the year. However, the Minister was convinced that it was counter-productive to racing and the tax was switched to the lotteries with devastating effect.
Another noteworthy development early in the year was the resignation of CTL's first female CEO and president, Rose Campbell, who did not renew her contract.
Campbell was replaced by long serving insider Walford Brown in the capacity of acting CEO.
And two yearlings fetched record prices of $1.3 million and $1.2 million in the November 9 sale at Caymanas Park, surpassing the previous record of $1 million held jointly by Don Perignon (1997) and Perfect Storm (2001).
The sales topper was a bay colt by Outrigger out of Secret Plesaure, bred by HAM Stables Limited. He will be trained by 13-time champion Feanny.
