Tuesday is D-Day for Derby subs

WHILE there will be racing tomorrow, Emancipation Day, Tuesday will be a big day for owners and trainers of locally-bred three-year-olds. On that day, connections must come up with the $300 third and final subscriptions for the Blue Riband event of the year, the Royal Oak Derby. When subs closed for the second stage, threre were 30 horses left in, but that number is expected to dwindle considerably. The owners of both Crackshot and Second Chances paid a $2,600 penalty each to get into the “big race.” But a big question mark still hangs over the head of the very highly thoutght of Pave The Way, who went down with an injury several months ago and has not been on the track since.

To date, subscriptions paid for the race to be run off on September 24 total $46,500. Those left in at the second stage for the 2000 metres race include UPTC Guineas winner Mucho Tempo and CLICO Midsummer Classic queen Melanie My Love. Barbados-owned Lion Country has stood his ground at the close of the second stage for subscriptions for the Independence Cup. This race over 1850 metres on the turf course has attracted 13 runners including last season’s “Horse of the Year” Sugar Mike, local triple crown winner Top Of The Class and the improving Fantastic Story. Third and final subscriptions of $300 for this race becomes due on August 9.

Here are those left in the Derby: Adoring Ruby; All Set For Battle; Aticka; Bada Bing; Bandikoot; Chief Commander; Crackshot; Explosive Suzie; Fast Company; French Academy; Golden Eye; Java In Style; Kato; Lady Secret; Laura’s Boy; Massoud; Mayaro Breeze; Melanie My Love; Mucho Tempo; Murphy’s Law; Over And Above; Pave The Way; Private Affair; Seaham Harbour; Second Chances; Silver Bullet; Sou Sou Moni; Sunset; Takeover; Yashoda.
And those in the Independence Cup are: Alert The Ship; Dottie’s Way; Fantastic Story; Gautama; Invincibility; Lion Country; Miss Lover Lover; Outswinger; Phantom Bidder; Rebel Music; Sugar Mike; Tactical Bid; Top Of The Class.