Cliff WilliamsWITH ANOTHER edition of the Jamaica Derby set to be staged today it has set me to thinking about the local racing calendar particularly as it relates to the programming of the Classics and it is abundantly clear to me that our Triple Crown series has too much of a tight schedule commencing May and ending with the Derby in the first week of June.
Prior to 1991 the local format generally in terms of distance and dates followed the programming in the United Kingdom. There the Triple Crown series was arranged so that the Guineas (1600 metres), Derby (2400 metres) and St. Leger (2900 metres) was run off in the spring, summer and autumn respectively.
In Jamaica, the months of (April 1600-metre 2000 Guineas), June (2400-metre Derby) and September (2000-metre St. Leger) were the established times for the staging of these races give or take a week or two.
The programmes committee decided in 1992 to adopt the gruelling and bizarre American format to have our local Triple Crown series completed in less than two months.
AMERICAN VERSION
Luckily though, this decision did not mimic exactly the American version, where the Kentucky Derby over 2000 metres is first, followed by the 1900-metre Preakness Stakes and then the 2400-metre Belmont Stakes, it is almost as if this was unwittingly designed to render the participating horses useless after this ordeal and as time goes by fewer and fewer are deemed capable by the trainers of competing in all the races of the series.
Clearly on the empirical evidence, where horses very rarely win the series (last won in 1978) and those competing take a very long time to recover, most never improve after and participation is driven more by a wonderful sporting spirit in most instances rather than realistic expectation.
I do not suppose that the Americans are likely to change this ridiculously debilitating schedule although it is not in the best interest of their most talented three-year-olds.
On the other hand, in circumstances such as these the British Jockey Club can be relied upon to make the requisite changes to preserve the horses.
For example, in the case of the great Grand National Steeplechase, when for many years the enormous height and size of the fences at the Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool resulted in too few horses completing the course, the obstacles were appropriately modified.
This allowed many more to finish thus enhancing the race's competitiveness, which of course has driven betting to unprecedented levels since the changes were made. The British authorities have even gone so far as to dictate in specific terms how many times a jockey may strike a horse in a race.
PRUDENT BRITISH
Speaking of preservation, one has to concede that the British are prudent in this regard. The very design of the racecourses takes, into account the fact horses possess very strong, but delicate legs intricate in natural design.
In Britain the sprint races, with a few exceptions are mostly on straight courses and there are tracks where races are run in a clockwise direction in contrast to North America where all races are run in an anti-clockwise direction.
Tight turning tracks with short run-ins of 400 metres or less ensure that at least 50 per cent of horses there suffer leg problems with the speed at with which they are required to perform.
Next week I will be looking at the local calendar and suggesting areas where it can be made accommodating to needs of the horses.
Today's renewal of the Jamaica Derby is a fascinating event with five genuine contenders for immortality in 2000 Guineas winner Rampage, Lotto Classic hero Alliedforce as well as promising stayers Ransom Man and Hidalgo with Classy Boy Pete improving fastest.
Although Alliedforce seems to have more depths of stamina and class than most if not all of the others, I still think he may have a problem beating Rampage at level weights despite the apparent lack of this Guineas hero's staying ability when beaten five lengths conceding upwards of four kilos to all in the Lotto Classic. My conclusion, therefore, is that Rampage is the horse to beat.
