FRESH WAVE

A fresh wave of talent is set to hit local racing as 25 newly minted trainers prepare to saddle runners after successfully completing the 2026 Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) Caricom Express Trainers’ Course. The intensive fourmonth programme offered comprehensive conditioning in stable management, equine welfare, the Rules of Racing, and racecourse administration, blending practical modules with flexible online learning sessions to accommodate the cohort. The graduating class reflects both regional expansion and strong generational continuity. Included in the group of 25 are two international participants from Guyana, Collin Elcock and Jeremy Rachpaul, both of whom have had a long and active association with local racing as owners. Additionally, four graduates enter the conditioning ranks with deep family roots in the industry. Ajani Brown is the son of trainer Marlon Brown, Davian Lynch is the son of trainer Patrick Lynch, Simon Roberts is the son of trainer Ian Roberts, and Prince Walker is the son of trainer Edward Walker. Ajani Brown wasted no time making his mark as the first from the 2026 graduating class to officially nominate a runner. Brown pulls double duty in his debut, acting as both trainer and owner for his entrant Stina, who carried saddlecloth #2 in the afternoon’s seventh race on Saturday, October 10, 2026.   The list of the 25 new trainers is provided below: 1 Gary Barnett 2 Ajani Brown 3 Damion Brown 4 Keron Burnett 5 Dean Cooper 6 Mark Crosbourne 7 Meverton Donaldson 8 Hugh Dujoy 9 Basil Edwards 10 Collin Elcock 11 Marvin Fisher 12 Michael Granston 13 Garfield Hemley 14 Boris Jones 15 Carl Lawrence 16 Hassan Lewis 17 Davian Lynch 18 Michael Mattis 19 Kemar Mason 20 Yehert Miller 21 Khamoal Nichols 22 Jeremy Rajpaul 23 Simon Roberts 24 Craig Russell 25 Prince Walker