Randall Soth (left), general manager and acting CEO of Caymanas Track Limited, presents the prestigious None Such Award to Elias Haloute at the 20th None Such/Horse of the Year awards dinner at the Hilton hotel, New Kingston, on Thursday night. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
Triple Crown winner ALSAFRA and Barbados-based owner Elias Haloute shared the spotlight at the 20th None Such/Horse of the Year awards dinner, at the Hilton hotel, New Kingston, on Thursday night.
As expected, ALSAFRA won the 'Horse of the Year' award by virtue of winning six races (including four classics) and just over $9 million in stakes last year. She also won other awards for owners Sherman Clachar and Norman Gordon, including champion three-year-old and champion local-bred horse.
Lifetime endeavours
Haloute, on the other hand, walked away with the coveted None Such Award presented annually to a person or organisation whose lifetime endeavours in the field of thoroughbred racing embodied excellence, innovation and leadership.
The award was presented to Haloute and his wife by Randall Soth, general manager and acting CEO of Caymanas Track Limited.
The citation to Haloute read in part: "Bold as brass, in the modern history of horse racing, few owners have displayed the dedication, passion and financial capital that Elias pours into the sport.
"The survivor was brought out in him in May of 2008 when, on the eve if IT IS I winning the Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup, Elias suffered a mild stroke and was hospitalised. Unable to see any of his three winning horses that day, Elias later celebrated IT IS I's win when friends brought the trophy to his bedside.
"It takes a special breed to transcend boundaries - earthly, culturally and traditionally - to chase a dream. Elias did all that to reach the pinnacle of regional horse racing, not only in Jamaica but elsewhere in the Caribbean."
In addition to the None Such award, Haloute ruled the night by winning a truckful of awards. AD INFINITUM, in particular, won the champion stayer award, was named champion four-year-old and up and was first runner-up to the Horse of the Year as well, while his ill-fated 2000 Guineas hero, ROYAL IMAGE, was named champion three-year-old stayer and middle-distance performer."
Other awardees
Other voting awards went to Fitznahum Williams of Alsafra fame (most improved trainer), Dane Nelson (most improved jockey), the Percy Hussey-trained MISS RUTH (champion two-year-old), AGUILA (claimer of the year), AHWHOFAH (champion sprinter), CHADMAN (champion foreign-bred horse, champion middle-distance performer and second runner-up to the Horse of the Year), OUTSTANDING (cham-pion four-year-old sprinter), as well as Wayne DaCosta (champion trainer), Omar Walker (champion jockey and top apprentice), Henry W. Jaghai (champion breeder), Purcell Keith (champion groom), Royal Minister (Matchem award and champion sire), Tee Gee Vee (champion broodmare) and Clock Tower in Half-way Tree (top OTB award).
Surprisingly, there was no guest speaker this time around, but the dinner was very well attended.
Masters of ceremony were well-known racing personality, Keith Binns, and noted radio personality, Paul-Ann Porter Jones.