‘Stars of Santa Rosa’ on January 28

HORSE RACING at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, will take another one-week break, then it will be “Stars of Santa Rosa” Race Day on January 28. The Arima Race Club will for the first time bring the Jetsam Awards to turfites at the track crowning the 2005 champions of racing. But holders of passes for Level two (the club house), are advised a dress code will be in effect. Although turfites can dress elegantly casual, they are prohibited from wearing jeans, shorts, jerseys, tank tops, caps, slippers, sneakers or sandals. Meanwhile, all questions will be answered concerning the “Horse of the Year” for which there are three nominees — Top Of The Class, Crown Point and All For Java.

It will be a close call between the trio, with Triple Crown and Champion Stakes winner Top Of The Class producing high credentials having among his string of six victories in eight starts, the  Guardian Holdings Gold Cup and President’s Cup. Crown Point was second to Top Of The Class in the Carib Brewery Caribbean Champion Stakes apart from five victories in eight starts, four on the trot before being narrowly beaten by Border Dispute in the Royal Oak Derby. The two-year-old giant All For Java has some outstanding credentials and has dominated all juvenile races to date, winning all five starts in the 2005 season which started in September, erasing Arts And Lovers record for the Betting Levy Board Juvenile Sprint over 1300 metres by almost two seconds.

Without doubt, Man Of Class should be named West Indies-bred Sprinter ahead of Jamaica-bred Latonia, Top Of The Class and Punto A Punto the other nominees in this category. Already decided are the Jockeys Championship won by Venezuelan-born rider Wilmer Galviz, Apprentice Champion won by Joshua Stephen who came within one victory of at least sharing the open title. John O’Brien has the Trainers Championship (wins) locked up while arch-rival Glenn Mendez took the trainers earnings title while once again, Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj was Champion Breedeer and Alwin Poon Tip’s Freshly Squeezed was Champion Sire. Also there will be six prizes of six microwaves to be won by turfites at the Stars of Santa Rosa.