Howard Hamilton

Thoroughbred Racing is by far the most popular sport in Jamaica. It is not seasonal. Every Saturday of every week, every Public Holiday, some 5000 people and more are at Caymanas Park, eating, drinking and enjoying the wonderful spectacle that is horse racing.

In addition to this, 20,000 and more are scattered throughout the island at sport lounges and betting parlours partaking in events of the day.

Some people see racing as nothing more than another form of sinful gambling, but I keep reminding them and emphasising that there is so much more to racing - the beauty of motion, the athletic ability of horse and jockey, the craftsmanship and professionalism of trainer and groom, the opportunities for merchandising and trade - the list will go on and on.

I keep telling the story of being at races on Wednesdays many years ago and seeing the late Carlton Alexander there quite frequently. One afternoon, I sat with him and asked what it was that attracted him so often to the track and especially on a Wednesday. He reminded me that commercial activity closed for half a day on Wednesdays and he found being at the track a great way for getting away from the stress and bother of meetings and office boredom. This was for him the best "medicine" for relieving stress.

It is against this background that commerce and industry have been attracted to racing. They have, over the years, seen racing as a major marketing initiative. Millions of dollars have poured into racing through corporate sponsorship. Between the year 2000 and 2004 almost J$50 million have been contributed as additional purse money.

Most important race

Over the years, the major and most supportive sponsor has been Desnoes and Geddes. Their Red Stripe Superstakes for native bred three-year-olds and up was promoted to become our most important race of the year. In fact, what evolved was a weekend of thoroughbred activity - 'The Red Stripe Superstakes' weekend. visitors arrived from abroad not only for the race, but also the annual yearling sale.

Foreign jockeys came to ride that weekend. The race was beamed live to Aqueduct Race track, in New York, where they had a special Red Stripe Super Day. The annual yearling sale of the thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association was held on the Sunday. This was the event of the year to which racing enthusiasts looked forward and it was promoted as such. Not only did Red Stripe provide added purses for the Superstakes, but a number of other races benefited - this was indeed a Super Red Stripe day of racing. This weekend promises to be no less a spectacle for fun and excitement.

I have egg all over my face following the Breeders' Cup last week end. At least my readers had the exactas in the first and last race. This weekend at Caymanas Park may present similar surprises, so be prepared. I will give no selections for reasons that should be well known. I will be under the tent enjoying the hospitality of Red Stripe and hopefully making several trips to the winning enclosure.

Yearling sale

The annual yearling sale on Sunday promises to be bigger and better than ever before. The Trinidad and Tobago Betting Levy board have provided incentives for buyers to purchase yearlings in Jamaica and quite a large contingent have already arrived. We also have buyers from Barbados. The performance of Jamaican bred horses have been most encouraging.

This is no doubt what has prompted the Levy Board in Trinidad to provide the incentives for buyers to come here and benefit from the attractive exchange rate and good quality horses which we are now breeding. When will we have the same sort of inducements here?

On that subject, a little bird whispered to me that divestment, as proposed by National Investment Bank of Jamaica, is definitely off. It took almost three years to arrive at what I was saying from the very beginning. Where do we go from here? People keeping insisting that I revisit my original proposal. I keep replying - to what end. I will not give up hope, however. I had hoped some political changes may have brought new thinking to the table. Unfortunately, this has not been the case, but I remain focused and guided by influential thinkers.

'To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe."

"Follow the trail to your dreams not the path of others expectations."

"The great essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."

Howard L. Hamilton, CD, JP, is a former chairman of Caymanas Track Limited, and is the current president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. He can be contacted at howham@cwjamaica.com.