Yesterday’s 32nd running of the Sandy Lane Gold Cup drew thousands to the Garrison Savannah and there was hardly a vantage point not occupied, in contrast to last year.
It was a spectacle that resembled Gold Cup days of yesteryear when people thronged the Garrison as the place to be on the day. There was also a large visitor presence in the stands.
The colour and ceremony traditionally associated with the race were there, especially in the pre-race parade which brought the crowd to their feet at one point when an exuberant visiting race fan joined the parade on the track, going toe to toe, knee to knee with MC Mac Fingall. The dancer, dressed in a dark suit, could not resist the infectious music of the combined bands of the Royal Barbados Police Force and the Barbados Defence Force playing hits from Biggie Irie and other popular calypsos.
But some race fans were overheard remarking that the pageantry that characterized Gold Cup parades of yesteryear had been missing.
Despite the absence of participation by more non-Barbadian horses, there was excitement in the air as the race was being run, especially in the private box of Sir David Seale who won his seventh Gold Cup, and second in succession, when jockey Anderson Trotman rode Aristodemus to victory. Sir David also recorded a fourth place in the big race.
When Fingall signalled the start of the parade that traditionally precedes the big race, there was a mad scramble to the rails, to rooftops, to anywhere that would afford a good view.
But during intervals between races, punters occupied themselves on the infield where other games of chance were set up, and all around children revelled in the jumping tents and other activities specially provided for them.
Members of the Barbados Cheerleading Federation, wearing colourful blue and gold outfits, started off the parade – their gold pom poms weaving patterns in the air.
They were followed by stiltmen carrying the flags of Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, which had one entrant in the race, the Barbados Cadet Band and the Sandy Lane Majorettes, in pink, going through rhythmic paces before the packed stands.
Before the race started, Tamara Marshall’s voice soared with a rendition of Beautiful Barbados.
The loudest cheers were reserved for the horses participating in the Gold Cup.