Hamark Farms won fewer races last year, 20, compared to 29 in 2006, but still managed to retain the coveted title of CHAMPION OWNER for Howard Hamilton, handing the longstanding horseman his second consecutive owners' championship.  Distinctly Irish  and  Musical Maestro dominated Grade One distance and sprint events, each winning six races to collectively earn in excess of $7.2M. 
Rounding off a fabulous season with a thrilling defense of the Harry Jackson Memorial, Distinctly Irish won other Grade One races such as Caymanas Track Limited Gold Cup in December, the Prime Minister's Stakes, Bob Mayall and Chairman's trophies in mid-year as well as the Eros Trophy in February.
Included in Musical Maestro's six wins were four consecutive victories including the She's On Wheels and Reggae trophies as well as the MegaFone Caribbean Sprint.

Overall, Hamark's runners earned $11.18M with 20 wins from 96 starts in 2007, beating Barbadian owner Elias Haloute for the second year running by less than $1.5M.

CONGRATULATIONS !

CHAMPION TRAINER - Wayne DaCosta registered a personal achievement of winning a third straight and seventh overall Champion Trainer title in 2007. It took DaCosta 15 years to win his second title in 1999 after first doing so in 1984 when the filly, THORNBIRD, won that years Jamaica Derby. DaCosta followed up his win in 1999 by winning consecutive titles in 2002 and 2003 followed by another double over 2005 and 2006. His 2007 title makes him the seventh trainer, since 1936, to have accomplished the feat. DaCosta's runners earned $30.16M with 59 wins from 340 starts, beating arch-rival Philip Feanny by$6.32M.   His winners included top-notch  two-year-olds such as The Real Stream, Mr. Skill and Awhofah as well as seasoned campaigner Clock Work and consistent earner Passa Passa.

CONGRATULATIONS !

It was a historic year for apprentice OMAR WALKER, who won only 10 races in his first five months in the saddle, July to December 2006, before taking 2007 by storm.
Dubbed 'Hot" Walker by his fans, Omar ended 2007 with 95 winners, becoming only the third apprentice to be crowned Champion Jockey at Caymanas Park, following Richard DePass in 1970and Wesley Henry in 1997.  Walker's patience and timing down the backstretch especially when riding in tight quarters along the rail won the confidence of Champion trainer Wayne DaCosta and numerous other trainers, who had no hesitation in summoning the crack rider.

Walker failed to command a ride in the three-year-old classics but Superstakes Day was respected enough to get the leg up aboard AlliedForce, who he had given a peach of a ride when losing by a head to Rum Talk in the Governor General's Stakes.

Walker ended just two wins shy of Brian Harding's 97 the previous year.

CONGRATULATIONS !

For the second year running, the champion groom emerged from a small barn.  Robert Wedderburn, working alongside Trainer Neive Graham, greeted 14 horses in the winners' enclosure in 2007, landing five races with Rumour Has It.  He also notched three wins apiece with Pure Justice and Windjammer in addition to scoring victories with Captain Bone, Ugottabelieve and Milliondollarbaby.

CONGRATULATIONS !

Henry W. Jaghai O.D., J.P. rebounded in style as the Champion Breeder in 2007 after his eight - year reign was snapped in 2005 by Orange Valley Estates Limited.  It was a close in 2006 as HAM Stables Limited beat Jaghai's Bombay Farms by less than $800,000.

However, Jaghai turned the table last year, as horses bred at his farm earned stakes in excess of $24.49M with 51 wins from 478 starters, beating Orange Valley's $23.94M by just over $1.25M.

Jamaica 2000Guineas, St. Leger and Governor General's Stakes winner, Rum Talk, as well as MegaFone Superstakes hero Major Mayer, were top earners for breeder Henry Jaghai, pitching in with stakes of $4.28M and $3.9M respectively.

CONGRATULATIONS !

ROYAL MINISTER, ruled supreme for the fifth straight year as Champion Sire.  The exploits of three-year-olds such as 2000 Guineas and St. Leger winner, Rum Talk, along with Governor's Cup winner, Il Caimano, bolstered Royal Minister's reputation. ROYAL MINISTER-sired horses won 121 races from 997 starts, earning $49.43Min stakes.

CONGRATULATIONS !

Unlike 2006 when he raced on only five occasions, Howard Hamilton's DISTINCTLY IRISH was pretty busy last year, debuting with a three and a-length win in the 1400-meter Eros Trophy in February.
 

Trained by Philip Feanny, the 2004 Horse of the Year went on to win five of his last seven races including the CTL Gold Cup and Harry Jackson Memorial, an event he was winning  for the second straight year.
 

Distinctly Irish's record, including stakes of $3.7M, speaks for itself in his quest for a second Horse of the year Title.

CONGRATULATIONS !

Neive Graham

Most Improved Trainer

Omar Walker
Most Improved Jockey