Harding rides eight of 12 at Caymanas

Harding, lying second in the championship race with 53 wins, is three behind Simpson (56) in the standings and aims to close the gap with his proliferation of rides on today’s 12-race programme.

Simpson, a four-time Jamaica champion jockey, has five rides on the card. Harding, a seven-time T&T champion jockey, rides Tassy’s Whip in the first race, Zip Up in the third and Asynjur in the fifth race and he has mounts in all the events from races eight to 12.

On Wednesday, Simpson and Harding each won two races as they continued their tussle for championship honours.

Simpson won a national record 171 races in 2002 when Harding placed second with 84 wins, for his best season in Jamaican horse racing.

Harding had returned home to Trinidad and Tobago after the 2002 season in Jamaica and recorded back-to-back title success 2003 and 2004. He was also TT champion jockey in 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1998.

Simpson won the Jamaica championship in 1989, 2002, 2003, and 2004.

Current jockey standings: 1. Trevor Simpson 56 wins; 2. Brian Harding 53; 3. Paul Francis 40; 4. Charles Hussey 37; 5. Dalton Brown 26; 6. Andron Findley 22; 7. Wesley Henry, Dane Nelson 24; 9. Winston Griffiths 20; 10. Kerry Robinson 17.