New apprentices ride tomorrow

The new batch of apprentice riders bow into action at Caymanas Park tomorrow, with most of the 19 youngsters securing rides on the nine-race programme.

This the latest batch of riders to be trained by the Jockeys' School since 2009 graduated in a ceremony on the lawns of the Jamaica Racing Commission on Thursday, August 16, following an intensive six-month course at the JRC-run school.

The apprentices, all of whom claim 4.0kg, have had race riding experience in two races put on by the Jockeys' School at Caymanas Park in recent months. The 'Jockeys' Training School' races were won by Orayne Sewell aboard BURNING MEDIC for trainer Carl Anderson on June 13, and Ruja Lahoe the second aboard REGIONAL LEADER for trainer Patrick Smellie a month later.

Significantly, joining the 19 apprentices in the saddle tomorrow is 2009 graduate Kareem Richardson-Garvey, who was involved in an horrific spill during a race two years ago and sustained life-threatening injuries.

Richardson-Garvey had to undergo intensive head surgery and was hospitalised for months.

According to the young rider, recovery was tough but all is now right with him, and the Racing Commission has taken a decision to let him restart his career as a 4.0kg claiming apprentice. Richardson-Garvey has secured two rides on the card - LADY FORTYNINE in the sixth and MAKIN BOP in the ninth.

The valedictorian of the 2012 graduating class, Holanda Butler, will ride I AM THANKFUL for his apprentice master Wayne DaCosta in the final race, the Track Price Plus 'Dig Out' Handicap.

Butler, who has seven CSEC passes, capped the award as the top student.

- O.C.