Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Veteran trainer Richard Todd. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
Richard Todd has been one of Jamaica's most consistent trainers and, once again, is poised to finish on the top 10 list for 2007.
The second generation trainer, who celebrates his 48th birthday on October 15, was born with racing in his blood and if he had his life to live over, says he wouldn't want it any other way.
His father, L.C. Todd, was a prominent trainer for many years and his late mother Monica, a noted owner and breeder. Because of his family connection to the sport, Todd became interested in horses from a tender age, accompanying his parents to Caymanas Park on a regular basis in his pre-teen years.
Not surprisingly, he developed a keen interest in racing while attending Campion College in the mid-'70s and was destined to follow in his father footsteps on leaving school at age 18.
Caribbean Classic
"I became his assistant trainer and learnt all there was to know about horses from him. One of my fondest memories was accompanying my father to Puerto Rico with the three-year-old colt Mi Lord for the Caribbean Classic in 1978.
"Jamaica had two representatives that year - Mi Lord trained by my father and Impetuous who was conditioned by Donald Andrade.
"Mi Lord, with Fitzroy Glespie aboard, chased the leader for over five furlongs, lost a shoe in the race and finished last ... Impetuous was second to last.
"That didn't bother us, though. The fact that we got the opportunity to compete in such a prestigious race was good for local racing in those days," he remembers.
Having obtained a trainers' licence in 1979, Todd wasted little time in saddling his first winner, the fleet-footed MAGIC WAND with Robert Reid riding in the colours of his mother.
"My father was something of a part-time trainer as he operated a printery and stationery business on Orange Street in downtown Kingston, between Barry and Tower streets, and had to juggle the business with the training of horses. So after a while he asked me to take over the stable in which several of the horses were owned by my mother.
"That turned out to be a good break for me and I gradually established myself as a young trainer who could hold his own.
"As the years progressed, I acquired many horses and at one stage, trained over 40 horses for a number of owners, including Victor McFarlane, Garth Samuels, Ram Nagrani, Raphael Gordon, Carolyn and Victor Tennant, Gladstone Bell, Terence Strachan and others.
"At one time, the focus was on gambling and while this was fun for a while, the professionalism could not be compromised. I worked hard and just wanted to win every race after a while," he explained.
Betting coup
One of his biggest betting coups came in the early '90s with a horse named TRAVEL AGENT, owned by Victor McFarlane.
"I declared him in iron shoes, no whip and went for jockey Headley Betancourt Betancourt was a seldom-used jockey, that didn't matter. The horse won easily at a good price and I was very happy", he recalls.
To date, he has saddled 750 winners, including 20 so far this season to hold down seventh position in the trainers' standings with $6.6 million in stakes.
Among the batch are dual winners TASSY'S WHIP, KING AL, RAGING FURY, PORT ROYALTY and PRIME MINISTER, along with NEGRIL LASS, ASTRO CRUNCH, IT'S DESTINY, SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS and MAN OF HONOUR.
By his standards, however, 20 wins at this stage of the season is nothing to crow about. In 2001, Todd saddled a career best 82 winners, more than champion trainer Philip Feanny, before coming back two years later with 78 wins.
He was voted 'Most Improved Trainer' in 2001 and capped the outstanding trainer award with 78 winners in 2003.
Significantly, Todd has finished outside of the top 10 only once in the past 10 years and that was last year when he decided to trade quantity for quality.
Problems
"I, along with some of my leading patrons, decided to acquire some good young horses. But it didn't work out as how we had planned ... there were problems and I lost a few horses which badly affected my numbers.
"I have rebounded somewhat this year but is still having problems getting some good horses, even claimers.
"In this business when things are going well, you can do nothing wrong. But there are times when it can become frustrating and you just have to be patient and strong," he argued.
Todd recalls losing one of his good horses, HERBIE MANN, a three-year-old colt owned by Victor McFarlane, back in the '90s.
"The horse had some leg trouble and we sent him to sea rather than work him on the track. One day, he got away from the groom and ran into an abandoned car in Passagefort ... chopping his foot clean off. That was hard to take."
Over the years, 'Richie' has posted many well known horses to win races. They include one-timer 'Claimer of the Year' KING ALIC whom he saddled to win eight consecutive races.
Although numbered among the top trainers at Caymanas Park, Todd has never conditioned a horse good enough to win a classic.
However, his expectations are high for a two-year-old chestnut colt by Alisios out of She's On Wheels, purchased for the top price of $1.7 million by Trinidadian owner Richard Smith at last November's thoroughbred yearling sale.
Progressing nicely
He disclosed that the unraced colt is progressing nicely and will make his racecourse debut by November. The trainer has high hopes for him in next year's classics and is keeping his fingers crossed.
Todd, who relaxes by watching football and is an ardent supporter of Premier League champions Harbour View, singles out former associate Michael Pottinger as his favourite jockey, and L.C. Todd, along with the veteran 'Hall of Fame' trainer Sydney Watson, as his role models.
Married, Todd is a father of three children, including 23-year-old son Steven, a past student of St. George's College.
Not surprisingly, Steven has followed his father into racing and is currently learning his craft as an assistant trainer to 14-time champion Philip Feanny. Todd also paid tribute to the many owners who have supported him on his long journey.
"I would never have made it this far without them," he conceded.
