- Dennis CokeTHE BARBARIAN (Leo Miller) leading home MATANAH (Wesley Henry) in yesterday's Norfolk Cup feature at Caymanas Park.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
A DISABLED water truck just beyond the 1100 metres point of the course yesterday caused the abandonment of the sixth race over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park.
The truck experienced mechanical difficulties shortly after 2:00 p.m. and stalled approaching the 5 1/2-furlong point of the course. Efforts to rectify the problem proved a handful for track maintenance, resulting in a long delay to the start of the sixth race.
The problem, having to do with the air brakes of the truck, was only rectified after the scheduled post time of 2:20 p.m. Air had to be released from the wheels of the vehicle in order to free the brakes, this at 2.50 p.m.
By then the 14 horses down to run became leg weary after parading behind the starting gate for 40 minutes. With this in mind, especially with the meet running way behind schedule, CTL officials in consultation with the Stewards of the meeting, took a decision to abandon the race confined to $100,000 claimers.
The promoters, Caymanas Track Limited, apologised for the delay. The cancellation not only affected the popular Pick-9 but the Racing Pools, both of which resulted in automatic carryovers. The Pick-9 could only be paid on eight winners while the maximum points attainable in the Racing Pools is 28.
Yesterday's incident brought back memories of a similar one in the early '80s when the wheel from one of the Starting Gate gave way, causing the gate to be stalled across the track. Efforts to remove the gate proved futile and on that occasion, following the victory of a rank outsider BRAZEN BRAT, the last seven races were abandoned.
Meanwhile, two-time champion trainer Wayne DaCosta highlighted what was reduced to an 11-race programme with three winners, including the sparingly raced 4-y-o gelding THE BARBARIAN, who romped the day's principal feature, the round five Norfolk Cup (overnight allowance).
His other winners were THE SANDMAN at 5-1 in the seventh race for maiden three-year-olds and 6-5 favourite MIGHTY JOE YOUNG, both ridden by champion jockey Shane Ellis.
THE BARBARIAN (7-2), with back-to-form jockey Leo "Twitch" Miller aboard, tracked long-time leader CATCH THE RUMOR (9-1) in the backstretch before disposing of her on entering the straight to win easily.
GO BABY GO, a 3-2 favourite with leading jockey Wesley Henry riding for champion trainer Philip Feanny, made all to win the secondary feature for the Millard Ziadie Cup (claiming $250,000 - $230,000) over 1100 metres.
