Jetsam awards set for February 29

The 2011 Jetsam Aawrds will be held on February 29, at the Casablanca Ballroom in MovieTowne. This was announced at a media conference by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Arima Race Club (ARC) Kenwyn Ogeer at the Hospitality Suite of First Citizens Bank, Queen’s Park Oval, yesterday. Ogeer assumed the role of master of ceremonies and told the gathering: “There are two categories of which I have great interest and those are the champion sires and champion trainers.  “In the 28 years of the Jetsam Awards, two sires have dominated and they are Bandsman and Freshly Squeezed. “It would be good for racing if many of the new stallions can become as potent as the top two, so we could have a great degree of competiveness in this sphere. “In the trainers catergory, the legendarry Eric “Colt” Durant has won this award on ten occasions. However, champion trainer, John O’Brien is quickly approaching that figure and should he win, he could join Durant. At this point it looks fairly certain that O’ Brien will break Durant’s record.”

 

Roger Hadeed, chairman of the Jetsam Committee said the awards will be very good. He noted that there was a great degree of transperency in the process before the final selection will be made public by Parnell Kerr Foster on the February 29. He went on the state that there will be representatives from all the stakeholders and that three racing journalists will sit among the representatives of the Race Horse Owners Association to select the winners, which will be done by secret ballot. Hadeed then revealed that the feature speaker will be top US trainer, Dale Romans. Christopher Armond, advisor to the Arima Race Club and Jetsam committee member said: “This is like the Eclipse Awards of the US or the Sovereign Awards of Canada. This is our Grammy or Oscar award.” Armond reminded the media of the first award which was won by Ackstatic in 1983 for the legendary duo of Naz Ahamad and Eric Durant. In ending Armond thanked the sponsors First Citizen Bank, Carib Brewery Limited, Bobs Racing Service and Fair Chance Racing Service for their continued support. The three horses in line for the honour of Horse of The Year 2011 are Boogie Blues, Bruceontheloose and Signal Alert.