Husbands paving way for jockeys

BRIDGETOWN: Call him the ambassador for all Barbadian jockeys. Patrick Husbands has been the regions best jockey for the past six years, and if he gets his way, a championship to showcase what the Caribbean has to offer is in the making. Husbands, the winner of Canada’s prestigious Triple Crown last year, believes a jockey championship for Caribbean riders is the perfect prerequisite for a larger volume of entrants of riders into the Nortn American market. “I’m just one example that proves we have the calibre of riders that can make it overseas, and that we continue to produce great riders right here in Barbados,” Husbands told the Daily Nation after the inaugural Patrick Husbands Day at the Garrison Savannah. “What happened is great for horseracing. The fact that we could get some of the best riders in Canada to come here and compete on this little track, shows that we are on the world map as far as horseracing is concerned.”

Along with being one of the top money earners at the Woodbine track in Canada, Husbands has been a busy man pushing Barbados as a place that produce top class jockeys. “When I went to Canada ten years ago, most of the people there didn’t even know where Barbados was. Now they know where it is, and jockeys here have an opportunity to follow in my footsteps. “What I have done is put a stepping stone in place, and other riders have the ability to do the same.” Husbands said. Husbands, recent recipient of the Barbados Star, believes special racedays involving Caribbean jockeys in an official championship would further enchance the ability of the regions jockeys. Barbados shortest sporting hero was the big man on the track Saturday, as thousands turned out to be part of Patrick Husbands Day. “This gives me a fantastic feeling. Barbadians are very good at supporting their own, and this proves it.” Husbands did express some disappointment, however, because some jockeys were critical of the decision to have a Jockeys’ Championship involving riders who competed at Woodbine.

“The fact that these guys have given up their time after the season, and then gave their wages to charity should be a clear indication that this wasn’t just about horseracing. “They don’t even live here, and they understand that there are people less fortunate than all of us, who need help.” Proceeds from Saturday’s event are to be distributed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. And it was Husbands who did a lot of the important work to make the event possible. It was he who pitched the idea to the Canadian riders. He also met with the Barbados Turf Club officials and Government, and it was he who decided the QEH should be the beneficiary of all monies made.