The 2011 racing season is drawing to a close and this is probably a good time for us to review the last nine months. Perhaps, the most notable event off the track was the introduction of the rating system which was introduced to replace the old claiming system. This was intended to improve the competitiveness and quality of the local racing. While it is difficult to conclude that either objective was achieved, it is equally impossible to say that the new system has not been an improvement over the previous approach. The framers of the races do, however, need to review the rating bands to provide more races for intermediate horses because there is a tendency for some horses to end up in the horse's equivalent of "no man's land." And this is where the training of the individuals is critical and for which it requires someone with a perceptive mind filled with intelligence and wise counseling to sell this. Far too often it appears that horses between 90 plus to 115 are left scratching around for races, given their individual horse preferences to various distances. However if you are an all-round horse, then your chances of earning money for your owners are better. Unfortunately such equine talent is not easily applicable in this country. Ultimately, the punters will indicate whether the new rating system is working by their continued/increased participation in the local scene.
As it stands now, the crowds have remained generally the same, although there are increased attendances on holidays. Hopefully, we will be provided with numbers to indicate whether betting turnover has increased post the introduction of the system, although if the Arima Race Club wanted to prove a point, they would have done this already, unless of course they are either ignorant of this detail or couldn't care less about proving anything to anyone. The other significant off the track event was the fallout from the defeat of 2011 Trinidad Derby favourite Touch d'Road. There were a number of unsubstantiated allegations with respect to the riding of Venezuelan jockey Santiago Gonzales. In the final analysis, the sport lost one of its important owners in Junior Sammy, a man who in a relatively short space of time had made a significant contribution to its development. During the year, he provided generous assistance in the upgrade of the walking track in the parade ring plus other undocumented assistance. Hopefully, the fact that his sons have retained some involvement will translate to his return. Horseracing can ill afford to losé men with so much love for the sport. On the track, there has been one stand-out horse in the Glenn Mendez-trained Readbetweendlines. This three-year-old colt has won four of his five starts with his only loss coming when he was victim of an injudicious ride. The son of Consolidator has shown versatility with victories over distances ranging from 1200 metres to 1750 metres.
Among the imported, his stable companion Signal Alert would have to be rated as the next best. This son of Omega Code is also trained by Mendez and has two wins, two seconds and a third in his five starts. He has been second to Readbetweendlines in their last two races and was third when Readbetweendlines was second after both cut each other's throat in a speed duel. This colt's campaign has been restricted to sprints and he is currently the 1300 metres record holder. The winner of the event when both Readbetweendlines and Signal Alert were second and third was the indefatigable Bruceontheloose. Although he was fortunate, Bruceontheloose did return to win the ARC Cup before disappointing in the Independence Cup on turf. Bruce has not looked the same horse that he was over the last two seasons but it will still take a very good horse to defeat him on the sand. In the ARC Cup, it is arguable whether Boogie Blues, with a better ride, would not have defeated him while Read and Signal disputed a suicidal pace in the sprint. It will be interesting to see how Bruce's career unfolds from here though he remains a cut above the locally bred horses, albeit age and tactics may be crucial in his remaining events in 2011, which should include both the Stewards Cup in November and the Gold Cup in December. He has not yet been able to complete this rare double and that no doubt will be his main goal for the rest of 2011.
Other imported horses to have impressed this year are Treasure Each Day, Sacred Trust, Boogie Blues and more recently, Strikes Not Spares. Each of these promises to make the races for the higher class animals more competitive, though Treasure Each Day is still to prove that she can translate her smart turf form to the dirt, but there is a strong belief that she will need to have different training drills if she wants to be competitive against the top horses. Among the locally bred three-year-olds, prior to the Derby, there was an undisputed leader, Touch d'Road. This locally bred colt only made his debut in 2011 but quickly established his position as the leader of his generation with impressive victories in the Guineas and Midsummer Classic and in the process temporarily re-established belief in the local breeding industry. The Derby appeared his for the taking but in one of the shocks of the last few seasons, the colt was completely eclipsed by 87/1 outsider Bears and Bulls. There were rumours prior to the race that all was not well. It is hoped that new owner/trainer Maniram Maharaj can bring this colt back to his best and his future performances viz a viz the Derby winner will answer many questions. Other three-year-olds to impress were the fillies B's Passion and Chloe's Gold and the colt Galveston.
With the exception of a fit Touch d'Road however, the locally bred (and their Jamaican counterparts racing in Trinidad) three-year olds appear a moderate bunch. Among the older creoles, and with the exception of Bruceontheloose, the other older creoles have not excited the fans. Last year's Derby winner, Back on Top, has only been seen on a couple of occasions and he has been well beaten. Clearly the exertions of the 2010 Derby have left too much of a dent on his mind and well being. History has shown that all outsiders that have won the Derby have failed to deliver in their future careers. The game filly Grand Riviere has also been lightly campaigned, but she has not been able to make any impression. None of the other leaders of the 2010 generation have seized the mantle and so the racing public will have to rely on the imported horses. Among the jockeys, Nobel Abrego leads the way and seems intent on winning the title. Kiran Razack, Brian Boodramsingh and Ricky Jadoo are the other riders who continue to perform with some distinction. John O'Brien and Mendez remain the perennial leaders among the trainers in the two different categories.
Overall, there is a much of a muchness about the season to date and it is hoped that the imported three year olds such as Readbetweendlines, Signal Alert, Sacred Trust and Treasure Each Day can provide the sport with the boost it needs to hit the headlines. At the moment, there is an uncomfortable lull in horseracing after the Trinidad Derby and unless something can happen soon, there will be the continual question that the Derby came too soon. With three months to go, who will rise, who will fall and who will set the standards for the future? Indeed will we witness a change in the next few months to what appears to be a certain trend in the results in the major races, or a repeat of the Derby upset in the Stewards and Gold Cup? Horseracing has survived many events and also many personalities, but as we look to the future, let us all hope that we can one day look back at this very testing period and acknowledge that it was the watershed that led to the recovery of the inustry in this country. The road ahead is not easy, but if enough persons have the necessary will and desire, there is a strong possibility that there can at last be success, which will be great news for all in and out of horseracing.
