By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTHE TRAGIC death of trainer Howard Phillipps at Caymanas Park on Saturday was a bitter pill to swallow by the racing fraternity, especially his colleagues who really took it personally.
Phillipps, 54, was shot and killed by a lone gunman at his stable almost 15 minutes before the running of the first race at noon. Another trainer (name withheld) who was with him at the time escaped unhurt, as the killer made good his escape over a nearby wall.
The trainer was rushed to the Spanish Town Hospital where he was pronounced dead some 30 minutes later.
When news hit the track that he was dead, his fellow trainers were deeply hurt by the tragedy. Many of them walked around aimlessly in the Trainers' Room with sad faces, some like Tony Kirlew blaming the lapse in security throughout the stable area as a contributing factor.
As a mark of respect, a minute's silence was observed at the track after the second race and flags were flown at half mast as well.
HARROWING EXPERIENCE
It was a harrowing experience for the other trainer present when Phillipps was shot:
"Is the first in my life I have ever seen anything like this," he said about an hour after Phillipps' death was confirmed.
"As you all know, I used to seeing dead man, but this is the first time I have ever seen a man killed before my eyes. The 'bwoy' would have shot me too, but he didn't come for me," he explained with a sigh of relief.
Talking to some trainers it was disclosed that too many undesirables have access to the Stable Area on race days and this problem needs to be addressed urgently, especially the entrance through the Meadowvale paying gate which leads to the grandstand but from which people can divert to the stable area.
They say greater monitoring of human traffic by security (like checking for those who have a legitimate ID, etc.) would go a far way in sorting out who is who.
Not all trainers blamed the security. Patrick Fong said what is needed is the full cooperation of all.
"We the trainers have to cooperate with the track security," he declared. "We all have to cooperate with each other to keep out the undesirable elements otherwise it won't work".
Another trainer said some of his colleagues are at fault, as they harbour undesirables in the stable area.
Vin Edwards, vice-president of the Jamaica Racehorse Trainers Association, said he personally was touched by the incident as he had a good relationship with Phillipps. He then extended condolences on behalf of the association to the family of the slain trainer.
"We are deeply saddened by the untimely death of our colleague. At the same time we breathe a sigh of relief that the other trainer with him at the time of the shooting was not hurt...," he said in part.
A PALL OF GLOOM
Indeed, the killing of Phillipps brought a pall of gloom over Caymanas Park not seen since the legendary Royal Dad collapsed and died on the track after winning the Governor General's Stakes on October 16, 1982.
Jockey Al Gopie's tragic death in a spill in the penultimate race at Caymanas Park on November 20, 1999 did not have such an impact on the day, as many punters only knew of his death after the meet had ended. However, in the days leading up to Gopie's funeral, the outpouring of grief was tremendous.
The Caymanas Police, who are investigating, have not yet determined a motive for the killing of the former army officer who was educated at St. George's College and the Sandhurst Military Academy in Britain.
No attempt was made to rob Phillipps and the question many of his colleagues are asking is: Was it a contract killing?
Reports are that the killer was seen waiting in front of the stables for some time with a race programme in his hand, obviously awaiting the arrival of his target. And Phillipps had just left the stables of Philip Feanny when the gunman struck.
