Bigman In Town was unstoppable at Friday's 2014 Jetsam Awards ceremony, held in the Century Ballroom of the Queen's Park Oval. The Jamaica-bred colt claimed three awards, three shy of the six he captured at last year's function.
Bigman In Town was given his coronation just after 10 pm when master of ceremonies, Anthony Harford announced the results behind loud applause.
The chestnut son of Cowtown Cat out of My Morning Prayer won every category he was nominated for, including the prestigious Horse of the Year title.
Owned by Baskaran Bassawh, Bigman In Town did what he did last year by running his rivals ragged. On Friday night Lanfarnaco Dettori was not aboard and could not give his trademark flying dismount.
As the gala affair went into the second session that honours equine and human achievements in the local racing industry. Bigman In Town starting with the award for Champion West Indian-bred three-year-old Sprinter.
His main rival was Headline News, who proved no more than a good rival.
The colt's next award came in the West Indian-bred three-year-old Stayer division, in which he beat out Triple Crown winner Momentum and Headline News.
Bigman In Town was then acclaimed Horse Of The Year 2014, making it two in a row.
The top West Indian-bred three-year-old colt/gelding, which turned out a formality as Momentum who had no peers in the three�year-old department. Momentum was acclaimed as Champion West Indian-bred three-year-old colt/gelding and champion three�year-old of 2014.
The new category of Champion West Indian Bred three-year-old sired and foaled in T&T was won by Dark Treasure. The award for the Champion imported 2 year-old went to Contro Unit from the Glenn Mendez barn.
The 2014 Derby runner-up Princess Popstar ran away with the honour of being Champion West Indian�bred three-year-old filly.
There were three special awards for contributions to the sport. The two awards went to the Union Park Turf Club and Tom Durkin the feature speaker at the Jetsam Awards.
Champion trainer was John O'Brien, who topped that category for the fourth straight year, while owner Dave Chadee stopped the run of Shivam Maharaj. The latter failed in his quest to equal Maniram "Boboy" Maharaj's record of five consecutive successes in that category.
The Champion Jockey was 'Triple Crown' winning jockey Brian Boodramsing while Kerron Khelawan was the Champion Apprentice jockey.
Before the feature speaker was introduced, the audience was shown a clip of one of his most respected commentaries in racing where he sang through his broadcast.
The horse was called Do Ra Me Fa So La T1 Do.
Watching the race and hearing the call was enough to let everyone know the greatness of the speaker.
Durkin in his address stated that he would rather be in Port of Spain in January than in the US with two feet of snow. He said: "In my early days no one ever told me that I was a good race caller but that did not stop me from accomplishing what I dreamt to be. In the early part of my career at one of the small tracks in Chicago, Balmorial Race track, the race caller did five jobs. But I like the last one which was being the bartender after racing."
He reminded the audience of his of his first call in the Breeder's Cup in 1984, the first of his 23 Breeder's Cup experiences. In his words it was absolutely thrilling.
He said: "That first day at the Hollywood Park racecourse I will never forget. I received my credentials and began to walk around and found myself in the big room and I saw this guy looking like security with this thing in his ears, so I asked him if he could look at something for me. But he stated that he could not because any where his man went he had to go. The man he was speaking of was the President of the United States of America.
"I also saw Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra, that just shows what the Breeder Cup was expected to be."
He continued saying: "All me achievement was fuelled by my dream of being a great race caller. I have received an Eclipse Award for my contribution to racing. You must be aware that I have never ridden a horse, never trained or groomed one. I thank you all for your hospitality, I am delighted and I will be back for Carnival in 2016."
2014 HONOUR ROLL
Champion Trainer (Wins & Earnings–John O'brien
Champion Jockey (Brian Boodramsingh
Champion Apprentice– Kerron Khelawan
Champion Owner– Dave Chadee
Champion Breeder–H.A.M Stables
Champion Groom–Frederick Mullings (Wins)
Eric Haughton (Earnings)
Champion Sire– Gold Market
Champion Two-Year-Old Filly–Blue Tequilla
Champion Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding– War Maker
Champion Two-Year–Blue Tequilla
Champion Imported Two-Year-Old–Control Unit
West Indian Three-Year-Old Filly–Princess Popstar
West Indian-Bred Three-Year-Old Stayer–Bigman In Town
West Indian Bred Three-Year-Old Filly–Indian Medicine
Champion 3 Year-Old–Momentum
Champion West Indian-Bred 3 Year-Old–Momentum
Champion West Indian-Bred 3 Year-Old Sired & Foaled In T&T –Dark Treasure
Champion West Indian-Bred 4 Year-Old–Chase The Dragon
Champion West Indian-Bred Sprinter–Bigman In Town
Champion West Indian-Bred Stayer–Bigman In Town
Champion Imported Sprinter–Crime Of Passion
Champion Imported Stayer–Nominee
Champion Turf Performer–Nominee
Horse Of The Year–Bigman In Town