Newell
Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer
TO SAY that Howard Newell is the most improved apprentice at Caymanas Park since the start of the season would be an understatement.
Newell, 33, graduated from the Jockeys' School in November, 2002, but unlike batchmates Paul Francis, Oneil Mullings and Dane Nelson who wasted no time in riding winners, he was a slow starter.
As a result, he was overlooked by most trainers for the first year and experienced a frustrating time while trying to break in as a new apprentice. But all that would change.
He explains: "Time does everything and my situation improved after many months. SUMO, a chance ride, was my first winner and I give thanks to trainer Patrick Fong for putting me on that horse at the last minute.
"If I make the grade, I will always look back and say SUMO was my most important winner. I was relieved the day I won with him."
Newell also singled out his apprentice master, Richard Azan, who was instrumental in getting him into the Jockeys' School and champion trainer Wayne DaCosta for helping him to establish himself by giving him winning rides.
In recent weeks Newell has won aboard LOGIS for trainer Richie Todd, THE SEVENTH WAVE for Robert Darby Snr., KAZ HO ME for trainer Percy Hussey and ROYAL MALICE for DaCosta. He currently holds down seventh position in the jockey's standings with 16 winners.
FAILED BY A NECK
Although finishing empty handed from four rides on Saturday, Newell looked good while placing second aboard the DaCosta-trained CRUCIAL POINT (11-1) in the third race won by U.S. ONE and again on 7-2 chance BLOW WIND BLOW who failed by a neck to catch the favourite GALAXY GIRL in the day's feature, the Gerald Farquharson Memorial Cup over 1400 metres. Despite failing to win, he was not perturbed.
"Not even Trevor Simpson wins every day," he was quick to point out. "But if you have to lose, the key is to be competitive and remain focused. That way I will be able to convince trainers that I am always trying to win."
In light of this, Newell said he was thrilled to ride in the Red Stripe Jamaica Derby for the first time on June 12, even though his mount, the DaCosta-trained filly FLYWITHME, faded badly from the half mile to finish last but one.
"One of my goals is to win the Derby," he said.
He also dreams of becoming champion jockey one day, but concedes that it will depend largely on the impact he makes in the saddle for the rest of his apprenticeship.
"At the end of that period I will be in a good position to know if I have the stuff of which champions are made," said the father of three.
BATTERING AROUND THE TRACK
Although having less than two years riding experience Newell, who hails from Kentish in St. Catherine, has been battering around the track for many years.
He recalls that he was introduced to racing at Caymanas Park in 1988 by a cousin, who was assistant-trainer to Willoughby Simpson. He stayed with trainer Everald Peart for a while before moving to trainer Wayne DaCosta as a stable lad.
In 1990 his burning ambition was to enter the Jockeys' School with the batch that included Clive Lynch, Paul Ramsay and Azel Cowie. But when that fell through, he left racing and took up a regular job as a machine operator at West Indies Synthetics in Twickenham Park.
TRUE CALLING
Horse racing though was his true calling and by 1997 he quit his job and hooked up with trainer Richard Azan, who got him enrolled in the Jockeys' School.
His first winner, SUMO came on October 8 last year in the Monica Todd Memorial Cup over 2000 metres for $140,000 claimers. That was followed by ALILITY GIRL for trainer Deon Facey and LADY KAYLA for DaCosta.
Today, Newell is riding with much confidence and according to his agent, Noel "Cruiser" Brown, he will make the grade if he stays focused and avoids bad company.
Newell lists his favourite jockey as newly 'Hall of Fame' inductee Emilio 'Bimbo' Rodriques. However, not far behind is Andrew Ramgeet, while on the international scene, American jockey Jerry Bailey is tops.
