Tidbits of the Month - Equestrian Federation of Jamaica March - April 2014

M A R C H - A P R I L

OF THE MONTH
GOLDEN HORSESHOE PIC OF THE MONTH:
BEAUTIFUL BAY COLT,
‘PHANTOM’ DOZES OFF ,
NESTLED IN THE
LOVING EMBRACE OF

CAYMANAS PONY
CLUB RIDERS,
SAVANNAH
THOMPSON AND
ELLA MC CONNELL.

FRESH OUT THE STABLE

SDF Funding

The Sport Development Foundation (SDF) will continue
to support the Equestrian Sport in Jamaica. They have
approved an allotment of $107,500 per month for the
development of our sport. We will use this funding to
contribute to the running of shows, and clinics in an effort
for all riders to enjoy and improve our sport. We would
like to formally thank the SDF for their continued
support of the Equestrian Federation of Jamaica.

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Grand National

Delivering another romantic racehorse story
‘The Grand National is as disrespectful of
reputations and predictions as it is constant in
converting flimsy dreams to far-fetched reality’
one BBC reporter writes. The 175th Grand
National has again brought us another
exceptional and romantic story of the
improbable underdog
delivering a sparkly-eyed
saga of triumph.
The Grand National, was held
on April 5th, is a steeplechase at
Aintree Racecourse in
Liverpool, England, which
covers over 4 miles and 3.5
furlongs (7,141m) with horses
jumping 30 fences over two
circuits. It is the most valuable jump race in Europe. This is the
first £1million purse for a Grand National, and won by such an
unlikely team. Aintree had around 40,000 spectators, with an
expectation of more than £1billion in overall bets.
At 25-1, 11-year-old Pineau De Re defeated and far surpassed
the odds stacked against him. This epic tale presents us with a
jockey (Leighton Aspell), who retired seven years ago after his
game seemed up and a trainer/part-owner (Dr. Richard
Newland), with a part-time career as a family doctor and a
stable of just 12 horses. He bought the horse with his long time
friend (John Provan), with much lower expectations than the
Aintree Grand National. Trainer Dr. Newland turned to Aspell
only after his regular jockey chose to ride 13-year-old top
weight horse Tidal Bay.
Pineau De Re took the race with a clear victory of five lengths
ahead of his rivals, followed by Balthazar King ridden by
Richard Johnson (14-1) and then by Double Seven ridden by
AP McCoy (10-1). This race remains the ultimate test of horse
and rider, with 40 setting out and only 18 completing the
course. It has been reported that all horses returned home
without any experiencing serious injury.
Over the past few years, many safety alterations have been
made to the racecourse, including alterations to fence designs,
shortening the race from 4 and a half miles, installation of a
cooling down area for horses after the race and horses being
spared the stress of posing for photographs right after the
unprecedented exertion of the Grand National.
It is important that we not only look at our sport within our
country, but that we also open our minds to the vast horse
world around us.