TT lose top turfite Attie Joseph

TRINIDAD and Tobago lost a top turfite the late Attie Safie Joseph who died at age 92. The man who had a long career in local horseracing as owner and trainer, died at his Ellerslie Park home on Saturday last, and was buried yesterday following a funeral service at the Church of the Assumption. Attie as he was popularly called, was a leading turfite dating back to the 1940s. And local horseracing fans will remember the scarlet body with red and white striped sleeves silks, flashing past the post first to win the Trinidad Derby in 1946 with Adventuress which had previously won the Canning’s Stakes the year before.

Attie raced horses extensively throughout the English-speaking Caribbean, winning “big races” in Barbados and Guyana. Only eight years ago his Tallahornee captured the Barbados Guineas and went on to take the Barbados Derby. And he twice led in Piou winner of the Cave Shepherd Stakes and also scored the double in the Heineken Stakes with his Midnight Tornado. But his most memorable hour came in 1966 when Maid Of Clantoy won the Coronation Stakes in Guyana and a very proud Attie received the trophy from Queen Elizabeth II. Attie also owned Au Revoir, a horse he bought from EV Lionel Luckhoo, which won races in Guyana in 1947.

He was very successful on his home turf as well, as apart from Adventuress winning the coveted Derby, his Light Conceit became the first two-year-old to win the Stewards Cup at the Queen’s Park Savannah in 1958. And Maid Of Clantoy gave Attie a second hold of the Stewards Cup in 1963. Attie was one of the pioneers of racing pool betting with the establishment of Federated Racing Service on Abercrobmby Street in the 1960s. An affable man, he still managed to have a love-hate relationship with his betting pool clients and others in and around the race track at the Savannah.

And when government began to increase taxes on racing pools locally, Attie shifted operations to neighbouring Barbados. Attie is survived by his wife Hapsy (nee Haloute), two daughters Carol and Claudette who were themselves very involved in horseracing. When Maid Of Clantoy won the Stewards Cup in 1963, it was in the colours of Claudette. Also surviving the late Attie are sons Safie and Attie jr.  He also had five grandchildren and one great-grand.