United States-based Jamaican jockey Emilio 'Bimbo' Rodriquez acknowledges the cheers of racing fans at Caymanas Park after his decisive victory aboard 3-1 chance FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE in the sixth race on Saturday, March 11, 2006. Rodriquez, who recently came out of retirement, was riding locally for the first time in six years. - Rudolph Brown/Photographer

TEN STARTERS have been declared for the first-ever Legends and Veterans Jockeys race to be run over 800 metres straight at Caymanas Park tomorrow.

Even with Donovan Lindo and Winston Ford - two jockeys who excelled in the '70s - unable to come, the race is generating a lot of buzz among racing fans.

Sponsored by Exotic Stone Creations Limited, it offers a total purse of $1 millionand will be contested by native-bred maiden three-year-olds.

The horses and their jockeys in post-position order are KING FERDINAND, to be ridden by the legendary Emilio 'Bimbo' Rodriquez, a four-time champion jockey of Jamaica; ROJO (James Douthall), ONELITTLEWISH (Linton Calder), MILESTONE (Rory Brown), LONG PROCESS (Carl 'Duce' Morgan), POOJAH LINKS (Gladstone 'Bobby' Williams), TWIST OF FATE (Neville Anderson), SEEK GOLD (Antonio Barker), GO-SAM-GO (Patrick Beckford) and DE-BACHELOR at post-position 10 with three-time Derby-winning jockey Fitzroy Glispie aboard.

Rodriquez is back

Meanwhile, Rodriquez flew in a week early for the race and was seen chilling out in the company of noted promoter Delroy Carol during the races at Caymanas Park last Saturday.

Rodriquez, who broke his arm earlier this year, said he was really looking forward to the Legends and Veterans race.

"I'm in good condition and is coming to win," said the 54-year-old jockey.

"This will be my last race and I would like to go out in style," added Rodriquez, one of the most popular jockeys in the 50-year history of Caymanas Park, having ridden 1,084 winners locally.

High hopes for de-bachelor

Glispie, now a successful trainer, has high hopes for his mount DE-BACHELOR, one who enjoys galloping over the straight and will be among the fancied runners.

The trainer, who will run his vastly-improved 3-y-o colt SPACE FURY in the $6 million ADL 'Blanca Nieves' Superstakes on Saturday, said he was happy to be back in the saddle.

"The jockeys invited were many of those I used to meet in the heat of competition and this race will bring back a lot of fond memories. I am really looking forward to it," said Glispie, who during his heyday rode three Derby winners in LEGAL LIGHT (1977), ZELL (1978) and BLACK KNIGHT (1980).

Linton Calder, who won the 1971 Benson and Hedges Gold Cup aboard the Michael Silvera-trained ALLIANCE, described the event as "a rebirth of old-time substance ... it's all about roots".

Anderson, who like 'Bimbo' Rodriquez was numbered among the most popular and successful jockeys of the '70s, is down to ride the likely favourite TWIST OF FATE from the in-form stables of trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes.

Anderson, who similar to Glipsie rode three Derby winners in CESARIO (1982), HELLO POOCHIE LUI (1983) and DORVAL (1995), could not be reached for comment, but a source close to the jockey said "... he plans to go wire to wire, as he looks to be aboard the winning horse".

Antonio Barker, who has been training for some time, won the 1968 Ambassador's Trophy for 'A1' horses aboard the Bobby Hale-trained ELLA. He is also looking forward to the rare experience of rubbing shoulders with his retired colleagues.

Betting forecast: TWIST OF FATE 2-1, ROJO 5-2, DE-BACHELOR 7-2, MILESTONE 4-1, KING FERDINAND 6-1, bar the others.