Caymanas Park will celebrate its golden anniversary tomorrow and, quite fittingly, the 12-race programme will feature a commemorative race for grade one horses, the Caymanas Park 50th Anniversary Trophy over 1400 metres with a purse of $1.25 million.

The racetrack, situated in the Gregory Park area of St Catherine, opened its doors to thousands of appreciative racing fans on Saturday, August 22, 1959, with a 10-race programme. Tomorrow's meet will be 50 years to the day the track was opened.

The feature has attracted seven starters, including four from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta.

The quartet is led by the reigning champion sprinter AHWHOFAH, who has been allotted top weight of 60.5kg with champion jockey Omar Walker again in the saddle, CHADMAN (58.5kg) with Clive Lynch slated, RACING MACHINE (49.0kg) under Carlton Malcolm and THE GUARDIAN (48,0kg) with Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas down to ride.

Cardenas returns

Completing the field are MEDICAL REPORT (52.5kg) with in-form jockey Paul 'Country' Francis, SHANGHAI PASS (50.0kg) under five-time champion Trevor Simpson, and GOOD CITIZEN (49.0kg) with Jason Simpson slated.

Incidentally, Cardenas, who has been enjoying a successful season, returns to the saddle since his work permit was cancelled by the Husseys on August 3 for alleged breach of contract.

As a result, he was forced to leave the island on August 4, but efforts by certain trainers to secure a new work permit for him has borne fruit and the 25-year-old jockey will resume riding tomorrow.

Cardenas is currently fourth in the 2009 standings with 37 winners and has chalked up 51 wins since he started riding in Jamaica last October.

The 50th Anniversary Trophy race promises keen competition with the likes of AHWHOFAH, SHANGHAI PASS, MEDICAL REPORT, GOOD CITIZEN and the speedy RACING MACHINE sure to provide keen competition.

Class horse of the field

AHWHOFAH, who is coming off an impressive fast-time win under top weight in the She's On Wheels Trophy over 1100 metres on July 25, represents the class horse of the field and could well defy the big weight with stable jockey Walker sticking with the ride.

She won the CTL Gold Cup over the distance last December and her powerful stretch runs usually pay dividends.

The Gary Subratie-trained American colt SHANGHAI PASS has been eased sufficiently in the weights and should make a brave bid, while the ageing MEDICAL REPORT won the Eros Trophy over the distance in a fast time (1:24.4) back in February and should go well in the sure hands of Paul Francis.

Significantly, Francis has ridden seven winners in the past two racedays, not to mention three consecutive feature winners in HE'S REALLY OK in the Prime Minister's Stakes on Independence Day (August 6), ANASTASIA in the TOBA Trophy on August 8 and THE BEST MAN in the Ossie Steele Memorial Cup last Saturday.