Why top weight for Sugar Mike?

And why have grooms of racehorses been continuously treated as second class citizens?

First, let’s deal with Sugar Mike. Granted for the past two years he was the champ, "Horse of the Year." But the aging warrior, now five years old, having humped 60.5 kilos in most of his starts at least last year, seems to be feeling the pressure.

Without a victory this season, he was dropped to Handicap 1, but still he was handed top weight of 56.5 kilos in the 1350 metres BLB Day feature, having to give weight to Fantastic Story and Miss Lover Lover who are both Graded Stakes and Stakes classified.

Young, affable trainer Grant Lourenco said yesterday, jockey Haniff Emamalie said between the 400 and 300 metres he though he had the race won, but the old fella just was not up to it in the straight.

Lourenco said he believes taking top weight of 60.5 so regularly must have taken its toll on his charge

He said Sugar Mike had a slight back problem which they worked on, and now seems to be feeling his joints so he will have to be selective with his training regimen.

Lourenco said he still has two more races to go after, the Stewards Cup and the Gold Cup after which the owners will decide whether the son of Ponche/No Sugar, which he ragards as "one of the best horses to race here," will be retired.

Now let us turn to the grooms. Why must the champion trainers and jockeys of the day on Betting Levy Board Day receive $900, $400 and $200 — first, second and third in each category, and the men who literally must sleep with the horses and prepare them for racing get just $100 for the Best Turned Out horse in each race and Best Dressed.

What about a similar stipend as the jockeys and trainers to the groom of the horses finishing first, second and third in the four "big races."

Please BLB and all other race day sponsors, it is time we look after the little man who plays a very important role in racing.