2012 Awards

There was no Hall of Fame induction or award function as the Commission has decided to do induction biennially. This decision was communicated to representatives of the racing fraternity at an evening out on the JRC grounds.

2011 Awards Dinner

The Thoroughbred Hall of Fame induction dinner and prelude to Derby Day, was Held on Jun 9, 2011 at the Terra Nova All-Suites Hotel. Six inductees were awarded citations in three categories. Among the distinguished guests were Minister Hon. Arthur Williams and Dennis Lalor O.J. The guest speaker was Edward Martin, President of the Association of Racing Commissioners International Inc.

Category A - Racehorses
• Distinctly Irish
• I'msatisfied

Category D - Grooms
• George "Geego" Cooper Thomas

Category E - Other Racing Personalities
• David Levy
• Emma Chen
• Howard Hamilton

Category A - Horses

• Distinctly Irish

  Distinctly Irish, the talented well conformed and impressively built bay son of IRISH QUEST out of DISTINCTLY NATIVE has stamped his indisputable class on horseracing in Jamaica. Bred by Kenneth Gooden and owned by Hamark Farms, this stable star of Philip Feanny started racing as a 2 year old and chalked up an impressive array of successes, ending that year as Champion 2-Year-Old and winner of the 2-Year-old Stakes in a very fast time. He went on to establish himself as one of the best ever 3-Year-Olds by winning the Jamaica Derby by 15 lengths and the 2000 Guineas by 9 ? lengths. The Triple Crown was expected to be a mere formality given his dominance in the first two legs, but he succumbed to a rather plucky front running performance by RUN PAPA RUN in the St. Leger. He however valiantly recovered to win the Governor General Stakes by 8 ? lengths to be declared the overwhelming favourite for the Superstakes which he duly won convincingly enough by 2 lengths. His brilliant 3-Year-Old season was capped by nearly all the major awards including that of top middle distance 3-Year-Old Performer, best 3-Year-Old Stayer, Champion 3-Year-Old and the big one Horse of the Year. In 2007 DISTINCTLY IRISH was again awarded the Horse of the Year title after winning five of his seven races including the Prime Minister?s Stakes, the Harry Jackson for a second time and the Gold Cup. This illustrious campaigner retired after a remarkable career with total stakes earned of $17.7M from 19 wins out of 35 starts. The Jamaica Racing Commission warmly embraces this outstanding champion DISTINCTLY IRISH and is elated to welcome him into the Hall of Fame of Thoroughbred Racing in Jamaica. later.

• I'msatisfied

  This dark bay gelding by THE MEDIC out of THE PEACEMAKER mare MIDNIGHT ANGEL has placed his indelible stamp of excellence on the Jamaica racing scene. A true gladiator, this Champion local bred owned by Joseph Duany, trained by Hall of Fame trainer Philip Feanny and bred by Clovis Metcalfe has the distinction of being the seventh Triple Crown winner at Caymanas Park following victories in the Track Price Plus 2000 Guineas, the Red Stripe Jamaica Derby and the Jamaica St. Leger. In the same year he was also runner-up in the Lotto Gold Cup and the Harry Jackson Memorial Cup. I?MSATISFIED, who as a 5-Year-Old in 2002 won six races from 10 starts, beat his stable-companion, Triple Crown Winner SIMPLY MAGIC, as well as Superstakes winner MENUDO for the Horse of the Year title. Among his major achievements that year were the Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint the None Such Sprint Trophy, the Abe Issa Memorial Cup, the Arthur Jones Cup and his definitive performance in the Lotto Gold Cup winning for the second consecutive year under top-weight of 58.0Kgs with leading all time jockey Winston Griffiths aboard. In 2003 I?MSATISFIED continued to amaze, winning four of his nine starts at 6-Years-old. He added the Eileen Cliggot Trophy, SHE?S ON WHEELS and a third consecutive victory in the Caribbean Sprint Championship to his resume and confirmed his status as one of the greatest of all times. He was the top handicapper again that year and ended his racing career with 25 wins from 60 starts and stakes of $15.6M. At the end of 2009 he was therefore third in the all time stakes standings. The Jamaica Racing Commission warmly welcomes this outstanding sprinter and superlative performer into the Hall of Fame of Thoroughbred Racing in Jamaica.

Category A has had the most inductees over the years.

Category D - Grooms

George Cooper Thomas

George Cooper Thomas, a dedicated devotee of the Racing Industry has for Fifty Four years worked assiduously in his area of the sport of horse racing. Born September 29, 1938, George Thomas started out as an Apprentice Jockey to Dr. R.S. Cooke however, misfortune met him putting a stop to ambitions as a Jockey. His tenacity and love for the Sport not wavering, kept hope alive and in 1957 brought him under the strict guidance of John Harrison. Under his watch, he had several successes with horses such as FORRESTURE , DAY BREAK and ROYAL EMPEROR . George subsequently groomed many winners in a number of stables over the years. He worked for his brother Ephraim Thomas and won seven races on a straight with HILLMAN. His next major endeavor came under ace Trainer R.A. Gonzales with horses such as PHILAMELA, CLASSIC EXAMPLE, RELENTLESS, OCTOBER HILL, WILMA, TOOT YOUR HORN, RIPPLING RHYTHM, PADDYS DOLL and BRIGHT WARRIOR . He had eleven wins under Wilfred Chin with BABA RAJA and FRIEND SOUND. Under Trainer Fernando Geddes, Geego had seventeen wins with horses such as BIG RED, PRINCESS MILLY, HONEY ROASTED, PIECE A FOOT, and GORGEOUS ROSE. He continued his winning streak with Charles Morrissey?s BELLA MIA and CIRCLE DROME. In 2010 he won with the Sydney Watson trained TOP OF THE MORN and LADY AJIBAN from Donovan Plummer?s stables where he continues to groom horses today. This groom par excellence has contributed much throughout his career. His love and genuine care for horses is evident in the way he relates to them. The Jamaica Racing Commission recognizes this exemplary groom, George Cooper Thomas and warmly welcomes him into the Hall of Fame of Thoroughbred Racing in Jamaica.

Category E - Other Racing Personalities

• Dr. David Jefferson Levy

  Dr. David Levy was born and grew up on Chelsea Avenue with his home having a side gate that opened onto Knutsford Park Racetrack. His lifelong enchantment with horses and horse racing began here. After graduating from Wolmers he went on to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh and continued to visit several tracks in the area ? studies and time permitting. On his return to Jamaica he spent his early professional days in Westmoreland where he became a keen golfer ? all the time keeping in touch with racing. After his post graduate studies at Bristol University he joined Medical Associates as the Radiologist. The records will indicate that of the approximately four thousand race days at Caymanas between 1959 ? 2009 he had a ninety nine percent record in attendance. On many occasions his skill at timing and handicapping was used by the officials. In 1974 he joined the Jockey Club of Jamaica, was appointed Steward in 1977 and ascended to the position of President in 1985 until 1992. This august body being an affiliate of Great Britain was founded in 1906 making it one of the oldest Jockey Clubs in the world. Dr. Levy also found time for many years to give untiring and dedicated service as a member of the Observation Committee of the Jamaica Racing Commission and a Trustee of the Hall of Fame of Thoroughbred Racing, positions from which he retired in 2008. He owned a number of horses along with friends starting with ALLADINS BEST in 1988 and including NOT QUITE MAGIC, PRINCE NUT and concluding with the horse BODY & SOUL in 2001. He was a frequent visitor to the Winner?s Enclosure. His inability to attend the races these days will not affect the Pari Mutuel but will certainly affect the discussion of horse racing and the camaraderie with racing enthusiasts. For his many years of outstanding service as owner and administrator it is with great pleasure that the Jamaica Racing Commission welcomes Dr. David Levy into the Hall of Fame of Thoroughbred Racing.

• Emma Chen

  Emma Chen?s exceptional involvement in the Racing Industry in Jamaica as a breeder, an owner and trainer spans many decades. In a sport dominated by men, this female?s contribution is quite significant and must be applauded. As a young girl, Emma would ride and care for the half-bred horses on her father?s property in Trelawny. However, her involvement with thoroughbreds began when the ailing and legendary trainer Abbie Grannum invited Emma, a trained graduate nurse, to his Freemason Stables on Arnold Road to assist him in administering medications and vitamins to his horses. Among the first horses that she assisted with were the classic TAM O SHANTER and BANGLE in the year 1957. Her association with Abbie Grannum continued until his passing and the experience was instructive for Emma. There she learned a lot about the keep, care and preparation of horses from a veritable legendary genius. Emma entered the arena of breeder owner with the purchase of the mare MATCH POINT who later provided her with a foal which she appropriately named WIMBLEDON and with which she had some success as a trainer. Some of the horses bred, owned or trained by Emma that readily come to mind are LAMPLIGHTER, GOLDEN TOUCH, GLOBE TROTTER, ROYAL EMBLEM, WIND SONG, COMMENDATION, RUMSTER and ST. THOMAS. Ironically, she gave RUMSTER to the young trainer Kenneth Mattis to train and it was with RUMSTER that the young Mattis won his first race as a trainer. ST. THOMAS provided Emma with the recognition and support she truly earned and deserved as a sensitive conditioner of horses. She stubbornly refused to have him put down on the insistence of the vet, after the horse had fractured a sesamoid at exercise. Fired by the firm resolve, cemented by her nursing training where she had been taught that every broken bone can be healed, Emma against all odds determinedly nursed ST THOMAS back to fitness. She had him back into training taking him from ?D? class to A1 class where he enjoyed a series of nine consecutive wins. His streak was only broken in the tenth race when he barely lost the Red Stripe Superstakes but finished in the frame in that race. Emma retired from racing in 2003 after serving 30 years as a trainer (1973 ? 2003) and after a career involvement in racing of over 50 years (mid 1950?s ? 2003). This approximately half a century contribution was characterized by determination, diligence, dedication and sacrifice. The Jamaica Racing Commission is extremely pleased to welcome this female pioneer, Emma Chen into the Hall of Fame of Thoroughbred Racing in Jamaica.

• Howard Lloyd Hamilton C.D. J.P.

  Born in the hills of St. Mary where he received his early education, he came to Kingston and enrolled in one of the oldest and most prestigious schools in the English Speaking Caribbean, Wolmers School for Boys. He went on to a distinguished career in the chemical industry at Shell Company of the West Indies Limited where he rose to the position of General Manager. He has earned recognition from Jamaica for his civic work by being awarded the honour of Order of Distinction (Commander Class). He is perhaps best known however for his association with horseracing which has spanned a period of nearly fifty years. One of the industry?s largest investors, this distinguished racing enthusiast has been truly an outstanding contributor to the Sport of Kings. He has been involved in almost every aspect of the sport/business with maybe one exception that of being a jockey. A successful breeder, a high profile owner, bookmaker, competent administrator and a renowned racing columnist. He has demonstrated an unprecedented embodiment of excellence, innovation, dedication, integrity and visionary leadership. Howard?s involvement in the Racing Industry began at Knutsford Park in 1973 when he bought his first horse and took his school colours maroon and gold as his own. He had his first win in 1974 with FORMALITY, a chestnut filly by MR FJC (USA). As racing administrator, Howard has served in the capacity of Chairman of the promoting company on two separate occasions. He was head of Racing Promotions Limited (RPL) from 1976 to 1984 and Chairman of Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) in 2001. He also served as President of the Owners Association in the 1970?s and is President of the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association a position he has held from 1996 to the present. Between 1998 and 2009 racing under his own name and under the nom de plume ?Hamark Farms? he amassed multiple wins from seventy-four (74) racehorses, placing Hamark Farms fourth on the all-time owners? List with earnings in excess of Eighty-six Million Dollars ($86,000,000) from 212 starts. He was owner of many outstanding thoroughbreds, GOOD DIVERSION, POSEIDON, DOM PERIGNON, PERSONAL NEMESIS, TECHNO, MUSICAL MAESTRO plus the most outstanding to date A KING IS BORN and DISTINCTLY IRISH both of these going on to win Horse-of-the-Year titles. Mr. Hamilton became the first owner to win the Jamaica Derby (GR1) two years in a row in June 2004 when DISTINCTLY IRISH followed the victory of his half brother A KING IS BORN the 2003 winner, with a superlative win in the prestigious event. Hamark Farms in the years 2006 and 2007 won the coveted title of CHAMPION OWNER with stakes of $12.3M and 29 wins in 2006 and stakes of $11.2M and 20 wins in 2007. One of the high points of this outstanding career was in 2004 when this consummate horseman received the None Such Award, one of the sports highest honours for lifetime achievement in racing. As breeder and part-owner of HAM Stables Limited, (one of the largest stud farms in the Caribbean) in 2010 Howard basked in the reflected glory of MARK MY WORD the Triple Crown and Superstakes winner, making history as both the stallion and mare of that horse were owned by HAM STABLES. The Jamaica Racing Commission applauds this illustrious, achiever Howard Lloyd Hamilton, for his stellar accomplishment as owner, breeder, administrator, racing man par excellence and welcomes him into the Hall of Fame of Thoroughbred Racing in Jamaica.

Citations

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