New trainers’ course underway
A new Trainers’ Training programme conducted by the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) got underway at the Veterinarian Department/Salix Centre at Caymanas Park last Monday.
Two females — Kibbeisha Little and Keisha Lawrence — are among 21 assistant trainers participating in the programme. The others are Ian Alexander, Errol Burke, Marvin Campbell, Byron Davis, Anthony Dixon, Leroy Francis, Orville M Johnson, David Lee Sin, Carlos Leung, Prince McDonald, Keffin Murray, Ian Roberts, Derrick Roman, Donovan Russell, Junior Small, Nicholas Smith, Edward Stanberry, Ryan Williams, and Shaun Williams.
The course will be done in two parts, with part one running from March to June. Part one topics includes basic anatomy of the horse, conformation of the different parts of the horse, equine nutrition, blacksmithery, animal health and basic care, housing and stable layout, and saddling and equipment.
Participants must obtain a minimum pass mark of 70 per cent in their part one exam to move to part two, which begins in August (2017).
Anthony Shoucair, chairman of the JRC, said that the programme is an investment in the people of racing and is a critical component of any successful racing product.
“The JRC has a long and proud history of improving the status and welfare of racing stakeholders, and the training of jockeys and trainers are two significant examples of how the commission continues to achieve this goal.
“The Trainer’s Training programme is offered by the JRC to prepare eligible licensees to become certified racehorse trainers, thus making them eligible to be licensed with successful graduates receiving a racehorse trainers’ diploma,” Shoucair said.
Senior JRC veterinarian Dr St Aubyn Bartlett, also the course coordinator, said that it is very important for the new batch of trainees to learn the rules of racing.
“What you want at the end of the day is to have individuals who are training thoroughbreds to know everything about horses. They must know the nutrition, know the anatomy, know how to train them, and the most important thing, they must know the rules of racing. When you have a class and you go through all of these various areas, then at the end of the day, the guy who goes afoul of the law cannot say he wasn’t given proper training,” Bartlett said.
Lawrence, who is the assistant to trainer Rudolph Hardial, said that she is ready to go.
“Friends, coworkers and family have been encouraging me to do this and I am really excited about taking this huge step forward. I will do my best and hopefully can become a successful trainer,” Lawrence said.
Ryan Williams welcomed the opportunity.
“The feeling is really good to be here right now. I have waited patiently for so long for this opportunity and now that is here, I will embrace it. I just hope that all of us can get through this course successfully and begin our careers as trainers,” Williams said.
Also present at the opening ceremony were Chris Armond, director of racing at Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited; Richard Longmore, general manager of the JRC; and Denzil Miller, racing secretary.