Overwhelming support for Sunday racing at track

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Following an absence of 13 months, Sunday racing received overwhelming support at Caymanas Park yesterday, the eight-race programme producing strong sales even in the absence of off-track betting.

Yesterday marked the third Sunday meet since that historic introduction on Sunday, November 29, 2009, which was followed by another meet a fortnight later.

Despite attracting large crowds, Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) failed to make a profit on those meets after the government pulled the plug on off-track betting to appease the church.

But punters were hungry for this activity and the large crowd included many persons not seen at the track in a long time.

Carnival-like vibe

CTL promoted it as a family race day with emphasis on the Kiddies' Village on the infield. The vibe for the most part was carnival-like, the car parks at the track were overflowing and from all indications, there is a future for Sunday racing after all.

In this regard, CTL chairman Tony Hart who was present at the track, along with State Minister of Finance Senator Arthur Williams and Mayor of Spanish Town Dr Andrew Wheatley, had this to say:

"Look at the response today! The government will now have to open up off-track betting ... it's the only way it will work," said Hart.

Chris Armond, outgoing acting CEO at CTL, put it simply:

"Once again, the attendance at the track confirmed that people will come out to support Sunday racing ... . The turnover was excellent. Sales totalled $16.6 million on local racing, while the simulcast programme from Aqueduct did just over $1 million," Armond said.

Carried topweight

Meanwhile, BRASH & SASSY, running at odds of 5-2 with apprentice Richard Mairs riding for trainer Peter-John Scully, held on by a neck from the fast-finishing MINISTEROFJUSTICE (4-1), who carried topweight, to win the open-allowance feature for the St Catherine Cup over 1100 metres.

She overcame a slow start to dispute the lead on the inside with highly fancied COMMANDER ZERO (9-5) and took command approaching the distance, but just lasted at the wire.

Former champion Trevor Simpson emerged the top rider with two winners in CARZENYATTA (9-5) and SHARRUKIN (6-1) in the fifth and eighth races, respectively. But it was female jockey Georgina Sergeon who provided the biggest treat for the crowd when winning the sixth race aboard highly fancied CASHMERE GOLD (8-5) in a driving finish.

Veteran campaigner NASATOL (6-1) recorded his 32nd career win in the opening race to be two wins away from equalling MASTER BLASTER's all-time record for most wins.