Lucrative Mouttet Mile to be shown live in NY
Published:Friday | October 6, 2023 | 12:11 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
The second running of the richest race in the English-speaking Caribbean, the Mouttet Mile, set for December 2, 2023 at Caymanas Park, will be broadcast live on the FOX 5 network in New York.
Solomon Sharpe, chairman of Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited, in announcing the live broadcast of the race in New York yesterday, said he believes the move will show horse racing lovers worldwide the quality of Jamaica’s racing product.
“It gives exposure to the Jamaican product and shows the diversity of Jamaica and all our offerings. We’ve run a quality horse racing product for years and this is Jamaica finally getting its recognition. It also shows that the product we have on a whole is recognised globally and is something that is accepted,” Sharpe said.
Christopher Willis, vice-president of operations at Caymanas Park, said the move has come at the perfect time.
“I would say that we’re over the moon and very excited about this achievement and it’s a monumental moment,” he added.
Willis said that he hopes that this will be the start of something special, and they are focused on building the relationship that both Caymanas Park and the New York Racing Association (NYRA) has already established.
“We have a long-term relationship with NYRA, so we’re leveraging that relationship to have this transmitted on Fox5 New York,” Willis added.
The lucrative Mouttet Mile, which will be contested by three year-olds and upwards over 1600 metres, will carry an increased purse of US$150,000 (Approx. Ja$23m). Sharpe added that this goes to show that the history of racing in Jamaica is strong, and having inked the latest broadcast rights with FOX 5 New York, it is a win not only for Caymanas Park, but by extension, Jamaica.
“The Mouttet Mile is recognised globally, and a lot of Jamaicans who have learnt racing here would have gone further afield in different areas whether it be jockey, trainer, or groom. Our professionals are rated worldwide, and it just shows that a product that is over a 100 years old in Jamaica and 64 years old at Caymanas Park is finally getting due recognition. This is not just a win for Caymanas Park, but for Jamaica,” Sharpe said.
At a press conference held at Caymanas Park yesterday, Sharpe also announced that the popular Gold Cup to be run on October 16 will be officially renamed the Philip Feanny Gold Cup.
“Philip Feanny, as you know, is a true legend of the sport. He is known affectionately as ‘the maestro’ and is the winningest Gold Cup trainer. He is not only in the local horse-racing Hall Of Fame, but is a record holder for the most classics won at Caymanas Park,” Sharpe said while adding that Feanny has also conditioned the most Triple Crown winners at the Park.