FRANCIS
PAUL 'COUNTRY' Francis won the award as Champion Rider at the passing out ceremony for the 2002 batch of apprentices hosted by the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) at its Winchester Road offices on Thursday.
The function also introduced the new batch of aspiring jockeys to be trained for six months by the JRC.
Sixteen of them will undergo extensive training and will begin riding in August as the new batch of apprentices.
This batch includes Delroy Beharie and Rayan Wilson, both of whom won races confined to exercise riders aboard MAKING WAVES and RUN JAN RUN respectively. Wilson has ridden four winners in these races, two aboard THE RHYTHM DOCTOR.
TRAINING COURSE
The 24-week training course is scheduled to start on Monday, January 9 at the Jockeys' Training School, Cayman Estates. Phase one encompasses January 9 to March 31 and includes basic riding, horse anatomy, gym work and personal development.
The second phase kicks off on April 18 and will conclude on July 7. This includes race riding, conflict resolution and the rules of racing.
In delivering the keynote address, Jamaica Racing Commission chairman Rudolph Muir implored the trainees to "Be true to yourself and do not settle for less than you can be."
Continuing, Muir said: "Report with a serious commitment to learn as much as you can ... Avoid distractions, avoid distractful persons and time wasters ... It's all up to you to make the difference. Do not let yourself down," he said.
STAND ON THEIR OWN
In her review of the last apprenticeship period, Ina Lawrence, the JRC welfare officer who is administrator of the jockeys' school programme along with operations steward, Desmond Riley, said she has been 'mother' to the 21 apprentices who graduated in November, 2002 and it was good to see that they can now stand on their own.
GIVE BACK TO COMMUNITY
She explained that she shared in their joys and sorrows, recalling the unforgettable occasion when one of them (Paul Francis) rode six winners at Caymanas Park on Boxing Day, 2004.
Lawrence encouraged them to give back something to the community and was proud that they were assigned to the Monica's Home for the Aged.
"I am surely going to miss them. My older sons are going but my younger ones are here. My sons. I am proud to be your mother, I am sorry you are going and I love you," she said.
Also speaking was Ruth Smith-Sutherland, general manager of the JRC. She paid tribute to the sponsors CTL, the Sports Development Foundation, represented by Ludlow Watt, as well as Jamaica Business Development Centre and individuals such as former JRC chairman Dennis Lalor, Trainers' Association President Vin Edwards and Elaine Chapman.
RECEIVED SAVINGS
Apart from Francis who rode 192 winners during the three years of his apprenticeship to capture the top award, Dalton Brown copped an award as Most Improved Rider, while Douglas Badaloo was cited as the Most Disciplined Rider.
The outgoing apprentices received the 15 per cent of their total earnings which was saved for them (compulsory) by the JRC during the peroid of their apprenticeship, the top riders receiving substantial amounts.
- O. C.
