Grooms' day at the track

Tomorrow is Grooms' Association Day at Caymanas Park and, in keeping with this annual affair, Caymanas Track Limited will honour nine grooms who have distinguished themselves over the years with races in their honour.

The 10-race programme will feature the annual renewal of the Grooms' Association of Jamaica (claiming $350,000-$300,000) to be contested by 10 starters over the straight-five course.

The remaining races will be named for Hall of Fame grooms Gerald 'Gardie' Harrison, Cecil 'Bengo D' Chambers, Vincent Blackwood and George 'Geego' Thomas, former champion grooms Dyrus Ellis, Kimalee Wells, Keith Cornwall, Pasecal Pennant and Linval 'Pickens' McFarlane, a 1999 recipient of the coveted None Such award for lifetime achievement. Thomas was one of six new inductees to the Hall of Fame a month ago.

Since the opening of Caymanas Park on August 22, 1959, many grooms have distinguished themselves in their chosen field, several going on to make their mark in the training profession.

The ones that come readily to mind are Charles Morrissey, Willoughby Simpson, Isaac 'Jarman' Johnson, Barry Dawes, Phillip Thompson, Lawrence Freemantle, Andrew McDonald, Rudolph Hardial, Ray Phillips, Fitznahum Williams along with past presidents of the Grooms Association, Patrick Fong and George Villiers.

Of all the above, Fitznahum 'Features' Williams has made the biggest impact as a trainer, having saddled the impressive filly ALSAFRA to win the Triple Crown in 2009 and GABIWITZO to capture the Bigga Oaks in 2010. It would be an understatement to say that grooms are the unsung heroes of racing. But in the past 20 years or so much has changed to improve their lot.

Current president Errol Thomas conceded that grooms have gained greater recognition in recent years.

"This has come about because of hard work and dedication. among other things," said Thomas.

"Grooms have always being hard workers, but owing to their humble background, there was a general lack of respect towards them by wealthy owners in the old days and their contributions were overlooked.

"Now, however, grooms are getting the recognition they deserve through the Hall of Fame and None Such awards.

"Their working conditions are better, even though there is still room for improvement, and the relationship with other stakeholders in racing have improved considerably.

"However, more could be done to raise the level of salary at this time. Grooms currently receive $2,750 per horse per week.

"We have written to the president of the Owners' Association putting forward proposals for a new pay package," disclosed Thomas, who is the groom of this year's 1000 Guineas winner NIPHAL from the Gary Subratie stables.

Hall of Fame

Tomorrow being the day set aside for grooms, it would be fitting to recall the nine grooms who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame of Thoroughbred Racing since its inception in 1980.

They are, of course, the most recent George 'Geego' Thomas, Raphael 'Pinto' Smith in 2009, as well as Cecil 'Bengo D' Chambers, Gerald 'Gardie' Harrison, Eric 'Brownie' Haughton, Silbert Jones, 83-year-old Vincent Blackwood, Herman Neish and Toyannel 'Bungo' Wynter.

Wynter, who was inducted in 2001, could be credited as the first celebrity groom by virtue of looking after two legendary horses at the same time - LEGAL LIGHT and ROYAL DAD - while attached to the stables of seven-time champion trainer Kenneth Mattis in the early '80s.

- O.C.