By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterBALLOTING FOR 'Horse of the Year' and other awards not determined by statistics takes place in the Director's Room at Caymanas Park today, when CTL hosts the annual None Such/Horse of the Year luncheon starting at noon.
The 18-member Horse of the Year committee, comprising representatives of the press and select racing officials, will also vote for first runner-up Horse of the Year, second runner-up as well as Champion Sprinter, Champion Middle Distance Performer, Champion Stayer, Champion 2-Y-O, Champion 3-Y-O, Champion Older Horse, Claimer of the Year, Outstanding Trainer and Out-standing Jockey, among others.
Top contender for Horse of the Year is the Track Price Plus 2000 Guineas winner and Red Stripe Derby hero A KING IS BORN, who is owned by Hamark Farms (Howard Hamilton), trained by Philip Feanny and bred by Ken Gooden.
The chestnut colt by Royal Minister out of the 1990 Derby winner Distinctly Native won five of his six races for total stakes of $3.9 million, his only defeat coming on July 5 in the Cable & Wireless Mobile St Leger when caught and beaten by lesser fancied stable-companion HERECOMESFUDGIE close to home.
CLASS RECORD TIME
A KING IS BORN also won the 1300-metre Digicel Trophy race for top class horses in class record time of 1:16.1 on September 6 in what was to be his final race of the year. He subsequently went lame, missing the rich and prestigious Red Stripe Superstakes in the process.
A KING IS BORN should also capture the Champion 3-Y-O award. His illustrious stable-companion I'MSATISFIED is almost sure to retain the Champion Sprinter title, while unbeaten DISTINCTLY IRISH, a half brother to A KING IS BORN, looks a shoe-in for Champion 2-Y-O (native bred).
Winners of the abovementioned awards, along with those based on statistics, will be announced at the annual None Such/Horse of the Year Awards Dinner on the evening of Thursday, February 5 at the Jamaica Pegasus, New Kingston.
Those already determined by statistics are Trevor Simpson (champion jockey), Wayne DaCosta (champion trainer), Richard Azan (champion owner), Henry W. Jaghai (champion breeder), Royal Minister (champion sire), champion groom to be announced.
Simpson, DaCosta, Azan and Jaghai are returning champions.
Virtual racing growing in popularity
VIRTUAL RACING, almost real-life computer-generated images of horseracing, has grown increasingly popular since its introduction locally in the last quarter of 2003.
The new product, offering fixed odds as displayed on the racing programmes, has been a tremendous supplement to English racing.
There are no deductions from the dividends paid, allowing virtual racing to take off big time, now accounting for 15 to 20 per cent of daily overseas betting locally. Bets available are win, place, exacta, quinella, tricast and trifecta.
On most days, there are 10 virtual races on offer at Track Price Plus branches between 10:00 am. and 12:20 p.m. The virtual racing programme commences immediately after the traditional English racing.
As of tomorrow, virtual racing will be offered as a regular part of the English betting. Commencing from 8:00 a.m., it will be available in between the regular English, Irish and South Africa racing.
Virtual racing is steadily having the same impact as the Quarter Horse racing machines which took Jamaica by storm in 1987. These machines, some of which are still in use today in bars and clubs, gradually lost their appeal in the wake of Hurricane Gilbert in September, 1988.
Many 'quarter horse' addicts were unable to indulge in their favourite pastime owing to the dislocation in the power supply caused by Gilbert. And when things returned to normal weeks later, it was the beginning of the end for this type of racing.
-O.C.
JRC slaps six with suspension
IN-FORM apprentice rider, Oneil Mullings, was last Tuesday slapped with a five-day suspension by the Stewards of the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) for careless riding aboard JACK'S CHILD in the eighth race at Caymanas Park on Saturday, December 27.
He was penalised for causing interference to MAMA'S BOY approaching the 200-metre point, resulting in the fall of horse and rider Kerry-Gayl Robinson. Mullings' suspension takes effect on January 24. He will resume riding on Saturday, February 14.
Bustling lightweight jockey Leo 'Twitch' Miller also picked up five race days for careless riding aboard TIGERINTHEWOODS in the fourth race on Saturday, December 13, causing interference not only to the eventual winner JACK DE PRINCE, but TOUCMEN, THEIA and COURT CASE in the first 400 metres of the race as well. Miller's suspension also takes effect on January 24.
The heaviest suspension was imposed on apprentice Marlee Buchanan, who picked up eight days for two separate offences.
In the first instance Buchanan, who rode GALTIN in the first race on Boxing Day, was suspended for three race days for causing interference to JIG YOUNG in mid-stretch. Additionally, he was banned for five race days and fined $3,000 for intimidatory riding aboard UNTOUCHABLE in the sixth race on January 3, causing repeated interference to TO SIR WITH LOVE inside the final 300 metres. His suspensions take effect on January 17.
Another apprentice, Philip Clunis, was suspended for one race day for careless riding aboard FIASCO in the eighth race on January 1, causing interference to CLEVER STAR approaching the half mile. His suspension embraces Saturday, January 24.
Jockey Kevin Young was banned for four race days for two separate cases of improper riding. And as reported on Friday, champion jockey Trevor Simpson has been suspended for seven race days and fined $5,000 for careless and intimidatory riding aboard disqualified winner GOINGTOKANSASCITY in the seventh race on Wednesday, November 19, causing interference to AWESOME MINISTER and ABUELO throughout the final 600 metres of the race.
Simpson's suspension takes effect this Saturday, January 17. He will be out of action until Saturday, February 21.
Big carryovers in exotic bets
WITH FORM players biting the bullet at Caymamas Park on Saturday, both the Super-6 and Pick-9 proved elusive.
As a result, both offer attractive carryovers. So difficult was the Pick-9 that only four punters with six of nine winners received $23,888.50. The carryover to Saturday's meet is $500,000.
Meanwhile, the Super-6 saw 140 punters with four of six winners receiving $1,084.00. The carryover stands at a whopping $455,243.85 and with heavy betting anticipated on Saturday, a Super-6 payout in excess of $1 million looks a real possibility.
Finally, the Hi-Five also eluded punters in the closing race won by 7-1 shot NAGANO RELIC, resulting in a carryover of $213,955.30.
