MIAMI, Florida:

For a long time it was all good for Wesley Henry in Jamaica. He was among the country's top jockeys. He loved the lifestyle.

But then, the grass on the other side started to look greener.

A decade after becoming champion jockey at 22, he was slapped with a six-month suspension in July 2007 by the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) "for not allowing a horse to run on its merit".

It forced him out of the competitive saddle. Henry struggled with a decision. Earlier stints overseas had exposed him to a bigger racing stage.

Finally, he made the full-time jump to the United States.

"I just like Jamaica," Henry said after finishing a race during the Festival of the Sun at Calder Race Course here last Saturday, a day before catching a flight to ride on the Heroes Day card at Caymanas Park.

"I was trying to ride there, stay there with my friends and family. I just didn't like America, to stay there like this."

Henry claimed he didn't lack confidence to face the steep odds of succeeding on the tough US thoroughbred circuit.

"Believe me," he said, "when I left Jamaica, I know I could do better."

But the jockey racing fans call 'Callaloo' found it hard to blossom on foreign soil.

American trainers and owners hardly knew him. Despite riding more than 400 winners in Jamaica, Henry was no longer an automatic choice.

"I came here a journeyman," he said.

"To make it here in South Florida it's hard, even New York. I used to try New York first, back in '97, '98 and it was real tough."

DIFFICULT

The rugged adjustment for Jamaicans moving to North American racing is not just Wesley Henry's story. Nearly everyone has struggled at first. But for jockeys, it can be especially harsh.

"It's very difficult," said Crawford DeSouza, a Florida-based Jamaican who owns, breeds and trains horses. "Because what I find is there are not much Jamaican trainers with a lot of horses. So they (the jockeys) come here and nobody knows them."

Henry expected more than the single ride he secured from the seven lucrative stakes on Saturday's 13-race programme. It didn't happen.

"Those people come with their jockeys and their horses," he explained. "So they don't wanna give you a ride. They give you a ride once in a while."

But Henry, now 34 and a naturalised US citizen, believes he is entering the home stretch. He is linked to several Jamaican owners and trainers here, including DeSouza and veteran Ralph Ziadie.

He rode Ziadie's three-year-old charge Sir Dandy Andy for his only win of the day in the second race at the Festival. Tracks like Calder and nearby Gulfstream Park have become Henry's comfort zone. Migration is finally paying dividends.

"I'm in the right position," he said on Saturday. "I've built in my clients. All my clients supporting me in Calder right now and in Gulfstream too.

"I've found my little home base and I wanna stay here. I think it's gonna be better for me.

"Now I'm (sixth) in the standings (with 50 winners on the 105-day Calder Meet, which ended Sunday) and I'm really doing very good. Last year, I finished 10th."

JAMAICAN DREAM

Meanwhile, Henry stays in touch with racing in Jamaica. Not everything there, however, is perfect. The betting public can be rough on jockeys. Abuse, Henry said, occasionally goes overboard.

"Well, Jamaica, you know, sometimes they cuss riders, which that's rude and that's bad," explained the jockey who has suffered spills and broken bones. "They can't cuss a rider because their life is out there in jeopardy. Sometimes things do happen ... . Nobody is perfect.

"But here (in the US) they don't do that. You have a lot of supporters. People from all over North America know I'm riding here and once I'm on a good shot, they always bet me a lot."

Henry is happy there will be Sunday racing at Caymanas Park. Maybe he'll find time to return to Jamaica to ride more often. But he likes Florida too. The reason is not surprising.

"Yeah, I enjoy the weather and everything," he said with a broad smile. "I just enjoy. It's just like I think I'm in Jamaica. Honestly."

Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Wesley Henry: I've found my little home base and I wanna stay here.

cricket: michael holding masters tournament