Caribbean jockeys win five at Woodbine

TORONTO, CANADA: The Caribbean, already prominent in horse racing in Canada, is making an immediate impact mark on the new Woodbine season, securing five wins on Sunday.

Top jockeys Patrick Husbands and Emile Ramsammy were among the winners as personnel from the Caribbean captured half of the 10-race programme — jockeys Simon Husbands and Slade Callaghan and trainer Laurie Silvera claiming victories as well on the second day of the 2003 season. Barbadian Patrick Husbands, the undisputed king of race-riding in Canada with an unprecedented four consecutive Sovereign Awards, staged a smart front-running 1-1/2 length win aboard 8-5 chance Thats the Problem in the fifth race. His older brother Simon Husbands, advertised his proficiency as a sprint rider, when he upset the fourth-race field astride 16-1 outsider Sceptical in a two-length-win over the 9-5 favourite A View Indeed.

Ramsammy, a two-time champion jockey of Canada, fought off 6-5 favourite Dolly Dynamite to win the seventh by a neck astride 3-2 second favourite Big Cheque, before finishing second aboard Dreams Go Bye (5-2) in the feature CAN$107,000 La Voyageuse Stakes, won by Acting Deputy (10-1) with Todd Kabel riding. Callaghan pushed Mille Feville, the 7-5 favourite, to a 3-3/4 length win in the ninth race. Silvera had his win earlier, saddling first race winner Madam Nightingale to a 3-1/2 length victory with Julia Brimo riding. Patrick Husbands and Ramsammy also had wins on Saturday’s opening day.