The Harriram Gobin trained six-year-old chestnut horse Affirmative who won handily on Day 8 of the Arima Race Club 2021 season on April 24th could be disqualified from his position and his trainer could face the Board of the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority (TTRA).
In the third event on the seven race card, Affirmative was made the 1-2 favourite to win the the third event, The Modified Benchmark Handicap for three-year-olds and over horses racing over a distance of 1,750 metres on the main track. Affirmative with Dillon Khelawan astride won easily by 2 1/2 lengths from Desert Dancer with the 2020 'Triple Crown ' Champion Wise Guy back in third in the fivehorse field.
In a Press Release from the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority (TTRA) which was signed by Secretary Josette Mc David, it states, Owners and Trainers are advised that the sample of Equine Urine/Blood Samples taken from Affirmative - Winner of Race 3? Day 8 of the 2021 Racing Season held on Saturday 24th April contains "Diclofenac" at a Concentration Greater than the established Threshold of 5NG Per ML of Serum for this substance.
All other samples of Equine Urine/Blood Tested on Saturday April 24th have been reported Negative.
Should Affirmative be disqualified, then the results will read as Follows:
1st: Desert Dancer: 2nd; Wise Guy : 3rd. Regal Intension 4th: Commanding Fashion
Day 8 (April 24) WINNERS
Con Te Partiro
Just Exhale
Lady Hamiltin
Rio Ponti
Star of Wonder
Soca Symphpny
<Harriram 'Pepsi" Gobin passes>
Top trainer, Harriram "Pepsi" Gobin died on Thursday night. This is another blow for racing in T&T. Over the past 18 months, more than ten top racing enthusiasts have passed away.
Gobin complained of feeling unwell before being taken to the hospital and after a few days he died but it was not from Covid-19.
The likeable and usually quiet Gobin has been very successful in his career and won the Gold Cup in 2019 and 2020 with the Shivam Maharaj owned Nuclear Power and Master of War.
Gobin, 60, showed his undoubted skill on April 24th last Saturday, when he brought the five-year-old bay mare Rio Ponti back from a 14-month break, to win the fifth event on the Arima Race Club (ARC) seven-race card at Santa Rosa Park in Arima.
The race for horses rated 70-55 over 1,100 metres on the turf course was expected to be very competitive but the punters had faith in the skill of Gobin and punted the mare in, as the 5-2 second choice in the market despite her top impost of 58 kilos. That move paid dividends.
Rio Ponti did not disappoint in the hands of the United States-based Prayven Badrie and once she broke well the race was about over, as she travelled strongly and ran away from her rivals in the style of a very good horse while recording the very good time of 1:03.00 for the trip.
Speaking to Guardian Media Sports yesterday, Shivam Maharaj , the Principal owner of the horses in Gobin's ban said, "I am saddened by the news of his passing. His family at this time are traumatised. Pepsi was always a good trainer. He and I would talk every day. Gobin was a very decent and honest man. He was an amazing individual. He looked out for everyone around him and would assist his grooms in any way possible, In fact, he even asked me to hire one of his groom's wife at my establishment, which I did. He was indeed a caring person. His groom loved him and he will be sadly missed.
Gobin in his career has amassed close to 18 million dollars in prize money from his charges in his 21 years career.
For this season Gobin has landed four winners and won purse money in excess of $55,000,
In 2020 when Gobin's Nuclear Power was expected to win the Gold Cup and at the late stage had to pull out, his substitute proved worthy enough as Mater of War did the trick as a 'Super Sub" and won convincingly by 5 1/4 lengths from the John O'Brien trained Apocalypse with General JN and Cape Canaveral following.
