Horse-racing season starts with record-breaking day
New records were set on the opening day of the new horse racing season by the promoting team of Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee (JJTRC) without a horse going on to the track.
After an uncertain start to the 2023 opening season, which was due to get underway since February, the inclement weather ceased, and the sport ‘broke’ out the gates, running at the Rising Sun Turf Club at Plantation Rising Sun, West Coast Berbice on Sunday 12th March.
It was the first time in the history of the sport that jockeys whose horses finished first to fourth were weighed in(weight taken again) after the finish of each race in full view of the public in the winners’ enclosure. This measure was taken as horsemen had protested that jockeys are not weighing in after the race because they were not going out with the correct weight.
This perception, false or real, was put to rest on Sunday as Atif Baksh was appointed Parade Ring Clerk with duties to ensure that riders weigh in after each race. His duty was also to ensure that jockeys mount up on their booked horse on time, and head down to the starting gates.
It was also the first time that two weigh scales for riders was used, and JJTRC’s Nasrudeen ‘Junior’ Mohamed was the brain behind this innovation.
Jockeys were weighed in the view of the public in a newly constructed stand next to the Grandstand… Then their trainers took the saddle, weight bag, and cloth or blanket to saddle their horses.
‘Junior’ commented afterwards, “It was the smoothest race day ever we ever staged. I thanked my staff involved at the end of the day’s proceedings. I am still shocked how it was done. The staff did a magnificent job. All races were run off on time. There were a very few minor issues that were not dealt with immediately.”
Junior pointed out, “Those issues were in our Post Mortem report. Horsemen such as Uncle Fazal also commented on the precision of the work done. He was assured this will be maintained moving forward. I would also like to thank patrons for their continued patronage.”
Junior added, “We were posting results after each race. This will continue, but will be more detailed moving forward.”