Top jockey Nelson back at Caymanas Park
Published:Saturday | January 8, 2022 | 12:11 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
Three-time champion jockey Dane Nelson will return to riding at Caymanas Park today after a three-month stint in Canada.
Nelson, who is affectionately called the ‘Warrior Chief’ by his supporters, has secured four rides on the 10-race card.
Nelson’s agent, Lerone ‘Bredda’ Lee, said his charge is pumped up and ready to return with a bang on Saturday.
“You know that Dane is a crowd favourite over there,” said Lee.
“I think that Dane, Anthony Thomas and Robert Halledean are loved by racing fans because they are among the top three jockeys in the country and so a lot of people are looking forward to seeing them in action,” he said.
“Even at exercise in the mornings there has been a lot of excitement because Dane is a very jovial person and also helps the other young jockeys with a point or two,” Lee said. Nelson, rated among the best jockeys to have ridden at Caymanas Park, has more than a 1,000 wins in Jamaica. In Canada, he has ridden more than 350 winners.
He will be riding here for the next four months before his scheduled departure for the North American circuit.
LEAVING IN APRIL
“He will be here for a while because he is scheduled to leave in April and he will resume riding (in Jamaica) in November,” Lee said.
The 36-year-old Nelson won 58 races in Jamaica last year before his departure for Canada in October.
One of Nelson’s best rides at Caymanas Park in 2021 came in the inaugural running of the Kingston Cup for three-year-old colts and geldings, when he produced a splendid ride aboard FURTHER AND BEYOND to produce a dead-heat finish with MINIATURE MAN in May. Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas was aboard MINIATURE MAN.
Lorna Gooden, general manager of Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited, said her organisation is delighted to have Nelson back at the track because he is a huge crowd favourite.
I am sure the punters are looking forward to him coming back,” said Gooden. “I know that he will add some excitement to the day’s activities and the race cards going forward,” she added.