Sunday, March 3, 1996
Hall & Griffith duo pull it off
by Gayle Alleyne
SUNDAY SUN
TEN thousand or more tense fans watched a thrilling
climax to the 15th Cockspur Cup yesterday.
Hall and Griffith- names long associated with West Indies cricket - snatched
surprise glory in the South Caribbean's premiere horse race.
Just as his father Wes Hall along with Charlie Griffith often stole the
show - with devastating fast bowling - trainer Sean Hall combined with
jockey Chris Griffith to do the same in the Cockspur Cup.
The youthful twosome snatched the Cup and $100,000 with Rambrino (No.2 ),
as the favorites Make'n It Happen and Surya Bhagwan were beaten into second and third
places respectively.
The excited fans pressed on the rails and jumped in the stands as they screamed and
cheered from start to finish; some asking "Who is No.2 ?" as Rambrino
stormed past the finish line.
The four-year-old brown gelding, owned by British horse racing magnate Robert
Sangster, picked up the race inside the final furlong and won comfortably.
Griffith, 25, followed his elder brother, Ricky, who rode the
first Barbadian winner, Tinker's Image, in 1984.
" I knew this horse would win if he ran as well as he could," declared the
ecstatic jockey afterwards.
Like Hall, he termed it the best thing in his career thus far.
" I am Barbadian and this is the biggest race in Barbados. Americans have their
Kentucky Derby, this is mine," said Canada-based Griffith.
The 29-year-old Hall, himself a former jockey, accepted the trophy for Sangster
who is in Australia for another race and said he confident though Rambrino
had hoof and shin problems lately.
" I feel very good, I am in heaven," said Hall , being
smothered by well-wishers. As is customary, the main race was preceded by a musical
spectacle, including a convoy of dancers depicting a horse race and moving to the calypso
beat of the Royal Barbados Police Force Band.
Thick, picnicking throngs on the infield were treated to popular band, Square One,
performing on a trailer as dozens besieged betting stations.
" We were told we should come here and it's been brilliant fun. The people are really
involved," quipped English visitor, Denise Joseph, who bet on the winning horse.
Race fan, Robert Downes, praised Griffith's riding, adding that Rambrino,
finally showed his true class.