Michael Beecham wants to win the Diamond Mile
Breeder , owner and trainer Michael Beecham revealed in a recent interview with The Supreme Racing Guide that he came into the racing industry 23 years ago with the expectation of winning one of the five Classic races, especially the Jamaica Derby. Thus far, however, Beecham has not been able to fulfil that particular dream.
Despite not winning a Classic race, Beecham in his usual quiet and affable style has made a significant impact on racing.
Now that the Diamond Mile – the richest event in the history of thoroughbred racing in Jamaica – has been added to the racing calendar, Beecham has upgraded his dream to include the Diamond Mile. He wants to win this prestigious race sponsored by the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission along with Supreme Ventures Limited.
After two stagings of the Diamond Mile, Beecham is on the verge of taking one step closer to realising his dream, as his improving Sir Budget is close to qualifying for the event to be run at Caymanas Park on December 2.
“In racing, everybody wants to win a Jamaica Derby, even one of the Classic races or the Superstakes, and now there is the Diamond Mile. I would like to win one of those races.
“I have never really had a horse in the Jamaica Derby, but this time I might have one in the Diamond Mile, as Sir Budget can qualify for the race and that is the closest I am getting to it.
“Right now, he [ Sir Budget] is 10th on the list of money earners to get into the race, and I am going to keep racing him and see what happens if he gets in or not.
“He has gone over the distance of the Diamond Mile already. He didn’t win, but he came second to Will In Charge. Of late, I like how he is running as he is more relaxed in his races instead of boring for the lead as usual, and that is a good sign. I think that he is a top-class horse and he isn’t afraid of anyone,” Beecham said.
Beecham gave his views on the two changes made to the conditions for the third staging of the Diamond Mile.
One of the changes is that imported horses who are domiciled in Jamaica for more than a year will now be given a 2.0kg (five lb) allowance. The 2.0kg allowance will be applied based on the performances of the foreigners. The original condition of imported horses carrying 57.0kg (126 lb) and local-bred at 55.0kg (121 lb) still stands when the foreign-bred horses are not in Jamaica for a minimum of a year.
“I am not so sure about this change in the conditions. They [imported horses] should carry the top weight of 57.0 kg because we don’t really know the ability of the horses as they can pop up at any time. They can just drop on us suddenly. The local horses should get the allowance. Foreign horses should allow local horses weight,” Beecham said.
The other change to the event allows participating horses to be selected based on their earnings at designated racing levels or classes – Graded Stakes, Open Allowance, Overnight Allowance and three-year-old Graded Stakes races. All other earnings will not be considered, including stakes earned in claiming races.
“That makes sense and I totally support that. You have some horses down there running and earning more money than the top horses. They get into the race but they have no chance of winning,” said Beecham.