Hundreds of fans from the Baywoods, St James community were celebrating all night after one of their own fast rising jockeys, Antonio Bishop, impressively won the 2024 Sandy Lane Gold Cup at the Garrison Savannah last night.
Bishop produced a brilliant ride on the Gay Smith-owned American horse 6-1 third favourite Portfolio Company to win the southern Caribbean’s most celebrated horserace from Cash Equity in a nerve-jangling finish before thousands of screaming fans.
It was an upset win for Portfolio Company as most eyes were on Jerry The Nipper, ridden by eight-time Woodbine champion Patrick Husbands. Jerry The Nipper, the 4-5 favourite, didn’t make the expected acceleration over the last 2-1/2 half furlongs and finished a disappointing fourth.
“It was always my dream to win with a horse that the boss brought in. I got my chance and I came through with it. Portfolio Company was training well coming into the race and I was confident.
“The only horse that I had as factor was my stablemate (Jerry The Nipper) but after doing my homework, if it came down to a fight, I felt I would be better off than him so I don’t think I had any worries,’’ he said.
The ice-cool Bishop, who has won every major race in Barbados apart from the Spa Sprint, called his win monumental and amazing.
“I don’t think, it was a shock because my speed figure was better than most of the other horses, so I think that luck was on my side and I came out on top,’’ he said.
This is the second Gold Cup triumph for Bishop but his first outright. He won the 2011 edition on Zoom after Show Me The Money was disqualified.
“Winning the Gold Cup in Barbados is like a stepping stone, so I accept it as I go on,” said Bishop, who now resides in Porey Springs, St Thomas.
Bishop is a product of St James Secondary, the same school that has produced elite sporting stars such as Shane Brathwaite, Fidel Edwards, Jefferson Phillips and Deandra Dottin.
“Fidel is one of my best friends and I am sure he will be happy for me. Sports runs in my family as I have a brother (Afre Ward) who rides at Woodbine.”
Owner Gay Smith is “over the moon” with her fourth Gold Cup triumph following wins with Thady Quill in 2003, Sharp Impact in 2006 and Zoom in 2011.
“I am absolutely over the moon. I have been sort of anticipating this for years now and dreams come true again and I have got my fourth Gold Cup,” she said.
Her husband, renowned owner Derrick Smith, told Sun Sport, it was a fantastic win.
The Gold Cup Raceday had another bumper crowd that included president of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill and cricket legends Sir Wes Hall and Sir Charles Griffith.
Prominent businessmen Ralph “Bizzy” Williams and Sir David Seale were centre-stage in hospitality suites while legendary jockey Challenor Jones, former Test opener Robin Bynoe, and ex-national football goalkeeper Charles Williams and current West Indies’ all-rounder Jason Holder, were in the Grand Stand.
Three-time Mr Barbados bodybuilding champion Stevenson Belle and former table tennis champion Carl Sealy, were also in attendance.
At the Gold Cup Village, an all-inclusive $250 food and drinks package on the infield near the Barbados Rugby Club, patrons included former Member of Parliament George Payne, Senators Gregory Nicholls and Crystal Haynes along with former Test fast bowler Tino Best. Later, Bishop celebrated his win in the Gold Cup Village.
