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Omar Walker: One of the best of all time - agent

Published:Friday | October 5, 2018 | 12:00 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
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Gladstone Taylor
Omar Walker (right) aboard Without Exception on his way to winning the Cash Pot Play It Trophy at Caymanas Park last Saturday. The win marked Walker's 1000th win.
Gladstone Taylor
Omar Walker being showered after winning his 1000th race at Caymanas Park on Saturday aboard Without Exception.
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Donovan Wilson, the agent of outstanding Jamaican jockey, Omar Walker, said the six-time champion jockey, who become only the seventh jockey to ride a 1000 winners at Caymanas Park on Saturday, is certainly one of the best riders of all time to have graced the race track.

Walker rode Wayne DaCosta's WITHOUT EXCEPTION to victory for his 1000th career winner in the seventh race on Saturday and now join the company of a special band of riders, which include greats such as Winston "Fanna" Griffiths, Andrew Ramgeet, Charles Hussey, Shane "Canterman" Ellis, Trevor "Slicer" Simpson and Emilio "Bimbo" Rodriquez in this exclusive club.

"This must be a great thing because he (Walker) is in a group of just seven. Only seven jockeys have ever reached a 1000 wins and he is the quickest to have reached it. He got to the quickest 500 and now he has the quickest 1000," he said.

"Omar is not a person who is show off but he was happy. He took 12 years to do it so it was a special moment for him. He enjoyed himself with some champagne with his friends at the track and now he is a part of history. But he is also the only jockey who rode a 1000 winners and win six championships in the history of Caymanas Park. None of the others riders have ever done that. So although he may not be the best of all time, he is one certainly of the best of all time and that is what really counts," Wilson said.

 

Quick off the mark

 

Walker started the day needing three wins to join the 1000th club. His got off the mark with victory in the first race of the afternoon aboard MR LYNDHURST for trainer Ryan Darby. That was followed by a win in the fifth race with CALL TO DUTY, while the historic win was sealed in race seven with a top class ride from the champion jockey. With many more years left in the saddle, Wilson, says Walker intends to continue winning more races and more jockey championships.

"His first winner (of career) was with Wayne Dacosta and his 1000 winners was with Wayne Dacosta. He started riding at Caymanas Park in September and he reached the 1000th winner in September.

And from hereon he wants to keep winning, he wants to win as much as possible and continue visiting the winners enclosure and much as he can," he said.