It has been?a tremendous year for the Walcott brothers of Brittons Hill, St Michael.
Rico, the younger of the boys, has simply taken Northlands Park jockeys’ championship in Canada by storm.
With a mere two weeks left to wrap up that season, Rico has 133 wins, almost doubling those of his nearest rival, and is on course for a third straight title.
Meanwhile, on the local scene Ricky Walcott, another former champion rider at Northlands Park, secured second season honours at the Garrison Savannah by retaining the lead in the four-day third season.
Sitting presently at the top of the overall championship ladder with 26 wins, his winning strike rate corresponds with his brother’s, hovering above 30 per cent.
Ricky’s season statistics are 16 wins, six seconds and six thirds from 47 mounts, earning $198 013 for a 34-win percentage.
The freelance rider teamed up with trainer Victor Cheeseman for the majority of his wins in a partnership that ensured they both copped the top position in each category.
He piloted Joanne Parravicino’s filly Seattle Sunshine to four consecutive wins last season before her rampant form was curtailed by Shared Adventure.
Vanity Affair, owned by Mark Armstrong, was responsible for Walcott’s only feature race successes during the season, taking the Barbados Fillies Guineas and the BTBA Sale Graduates Champion Stakes (Weight For Age) – both over 1 570 metres. Among the others that propelled him to the top were Zaltarr, Sirius Black and Vandross.
Anderson Trotman finished second on the table with season returns of 11 wins, 11 seconds and four thirds from 68 rides to accumulate $234 525 for a 16-win percentage.
After a somewhat quiet beginning, Trotman came into his own on the eighth day when he recorded a treble strike with Corvette, Just Dreaming and Intrepid Dancer to stay in the reckoning for his eighth title.
Damario Bynoe, after leading the first season, was third during the last season but is second overall and among the three main contenders for the title. He has season statistics of nine wins, seven seconds and 19 thirds from 82 rides, landing $158 014 with an 11-win percentage.
His failure to turn over his 18 second-place finishes, ironically the most by a jockey overall, has led to this position.
Antonio Whitehall is lying fourth with season returns of nine wins, six seconds and six thirds from 70 rides, all earning $143 399 with a 13-win percentage.
The transition from apprentice to full-fledged rider has not been an easy one for him but he now seems to be coming into his own.
