HUSBANDS WITHDRAWS FROM COLD CUP RACE

Despite ace jockey Patrick Husbands stunning withdrawal from the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup on Saturday; chief executive officer of the Barbados Turf Club Rosette Peirce says preparations for the Caribbean most prestigious race are on track. 

On Thursday, Husbands announced he was withdrawing from the race; abruptly ending plans for what had been promoted as the final race in his illustrious career. The legendary jockey was scheduled to ride Sir London, the six-year-old gelding owned by the One Guyana Racing Stable and trained by the Barbados born champion trainer at Gulfstream Park Saffie Joseph Jr. 

 Husbands reportedly believed that he would be mounting Diving Propos, the bay gelding which is also owned by One Guyana.   

“This is probably the best horse (Diving Propos) that has ever come to Barbados. The paperwork for this horse is better than any horse coming out of Canada. His numbers are extremely high, and he has stayed consistent across the last three years-so I thought this would be the best scenario for me, I never looked at the horse’s name”, Husband told journalists. 

He indicated that his farewell race on Barbadian soil will take place at later date. Peirce accepted that Husband absence from the Gold Cup will be a disappointment but emphasized that the race will be exciting. 

“I think a lot of people were anticipating and excited to see and know that Patrick would be having his final ride in the Gold Cup, and naturally his withdrawal is a big disappointment, but it was a personal decision and we will have to respect that. I would not say that it will throw a complete damper on the race, but he will be missed”, Peirce said. 

Peirce said the field in this year’s Gold Cup is among the most competitive in recent years. 

“I believe we are going to have record numbers this year; the lineup of horses is such that it is very difficult to set them apart”, Peirce said.