One hundred Derbies (no Dalmations)
Tomorrow is a big deal in local horse racing as Caymanas Park hosts Jamaica Derby’s 100th running. One more and we could make a movie. The first Derby, run at Knutsford …
Jamaica Election Day 2025 in Retrospect
Jamaica’s general election for 2025 has come and it has gone. When I look back to the elections of the 1970s, of the 1980s and of the 1990s, I have to …
Trainers Are The Real Superstars
Exciting contests for the last two trainers’ championships have brought the work of race horse conditioning into focus. Jockeys are the super-stars of racing (undeservedly in my opinion) because they’re the …
Rooting Out Corruption
Recently a jockey was found with a battery (allegedly) and another fined and suspended for betting on a race in contravention of a rule that restricts jockeys to betting on (and …
Batteries? What About Raceday Medication?
The track is agog regarding an alleged battery finding last Saturday. The horse was withdrawn and Allen, the jockey, sidelined pending investigation. But, on Monday, before any “investigation” could commence, Racing …
Grading Of Horses And Tracks
Everybody knows I’m no fan of Sunday racing. I’m concerned about interference with family time; with occupational license holders’ day of rest; and encouragement of punter fatigue which could come with …
Owners Needed and a Guineas Preview
Clear, uncomplicated reality is that the racing industry is dying a slow, tortured, demise as racehorse owners desert the ship faster than Jerry ever ran from Tom. As usual the promoter’s …
Bluff, Double Bluff And Bluster
So local horse racing returned on June 13 after much behind-the-scenes activity and in front of the camera contention. At time of publication four race days have been run; the cards …
What Can You Do For Horse Racing?
So, local horse racing is not only on furlough but finds itself smack dab in the middle of a parish lockdown. Men are getting antsy. This seems to have severely damaged …
Plus Ça Change….
COVID-19’s closure of racing has resulted in plenty retrospection by ye olde Touty which revealed a column I wrote (published 2003) that, ironically, could’ve been published today. So here’s an edited …
If You Can’t Hear…..
So, local horse racing has finally been sent on furlough. This after weeks of stubborn resistance during which countless Jamaicans of modest means and most vulnerable to the current pestilence were …