Latest News
Disqualification sparks chaos, cancellation at Caymanas Park
October 22, 2024
ADVISED to "throw the kitchen sink at Sunday's Reggae 6 opener, a miserable six-and-a-half-furlong event for senior non-winners of three races", keen punters took advantage of the advice to use DIAMOND ROCK, a 24-1 stunner, who derailed most bets at the opening hurdle.
Despite DIAMOND ROCK drilling a hole into many bets, Sunday's Reggae 6 returned $32,780, suggesting many readers, as advised, took no chances with the minefield of five-year-olds.
Unfortunately, bettors aiming at yesterday's Reggae 6, which opened with a single-winning ticket jackpot of $3.49 million, will have to await Saturday for a shot at the bounty following the abandonment of the Heroes Day meet after the second event.
The nine-race card was brought to an abrupt end following a disqualification, which tied the jockeys' title-race battle between Raddesh Roman and Tevin Foster.
Following Roman's four-timer on Sunday, which put him one winner behind Foster to start yesterday's meet, tempers flared among punters after Samantha Fletcher's disqualification aboard first-past-the-post TEKAPUNT handed the second event to Roman astride SALUD.
Fletcher's mount was disqualified for interference caused to third-past-the-post MY SUNSHINE, who was promoted to second.
Runner-up SALUD being awarded the race tied Roman and Foster on 110 winners apiece.
Angry punters stoned the winners' enclosure with debris.
The tunnel leading from the saddling ring to the racetrack was similarly affected ahead of the third event.
Omar Walker, who was astride MY SUNSHINE with whom TEKAPUNT was involved in a bumping match, was especially targeted by punters, claiming his actions had triggered Fletcher's reaction.
After an initial announcement that the third event was abandoned, the day's meet was officially called off by the stewards, citing safety concerns.
In an apologetic release, Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited described the incident as "a series of unfortunate events" that "led to the disruption and subsequent cancellation of races at Caymanas Park by the Jamaica Racing Commission's Stewards".
