For decades, Caymanas Park has been the stage where Jamaican horse racing drama unfolds—epic finishes, legendary rivalries, and celebrated champions riding into history. This weekend, however, the spotlight shifts to a fresh cast of jockeys just stepping into the limelight. The 2024 class of the Jamaica Racing Commission’s Jockeys’ Training School is set to break from the gates on Saturday, December 14, and Sunday, December 15, transforming hard-earned lessons into race-day reality.
These apprentices have not simply arrived; they have been rigorously prepared. Their journey began months ago, starting from the fundamentals of thoroughbred care and stable routines, moving on to the finer points of race tactics and physical conditioning. Every stride along the training track, every hour spent polishing their technique, has been building toward this defining moment: the chance to test their mettle in official competitive races.
On Saturday, racegoers can look forward to seeing Evertte Clunis, Demar Williams, Emilio McLean, Jermaine Lewis, and Romaine Gordon guide their mounts through the familiar curves and straights of Caymanas Park’s storied turf. Most of these young riders will return on Sunday, joined by Tyrese Anderson, to continue forging their reputations among more seasoned peers and discerning spectators.
What makes these debuts especially compelling is the journey they have already taken together. Before facing off against established names, these apprentices sharpened their instincts in races reserved exclusively for newcomers. There, they learned to manage the pressure of a crowd, the ebb and flow of a charging pack, the critical interplay between courage and caution. Now the stakes are higher, and the audience is broader, but they carry the confidence of shared experiences and mentors’ guidance.
The weekend’s races stand as a milestone—both an ending and a beginning. After countless hours of preparation, their classroom days have given way to a professional arena where reputations are won and lost in seconds. For the fans—those who have watched champions rise and retire over the years—this unveiling of fresh talent offers a reason to cheer anew, to dream of future legends, and to witness the unending cycle of tradition and renewal that keeps the heart of Jamaican racing beating strong.
As the final instructions are whispered from trainer to rider and the horses step onto the lush green track, a new story is ready to unfold at Caymanas Park. This weekend, keep an eye on these aspiring jockeys, as they translate all their training, commitment, and passion into that first, powerful surge from the starting gate.
