Meet trainer Ryan Williams
He was born close to the Caymanas Park racetrack and as such it was almost certain that he was touched by horses and the racing industry from an early age.
Today Ryan Williams is a trainer of thoroughbreds and is enjoying every minute of his chosen profession.
SUPREME RACING GUIDE (SRG): How did you get into horse racing?
RYAN WILLIAMS (RW): You can say I was always in racing. I was in it from a tender age as I grew up around horses at Christian Pen where I was born. Back then, there were a lot of stables around and as a small boy, it was fun for me to be around horses and watch them bathe in the river and to watch them walk the ring and, stuff like that. That sort of grounding later helped to motivate me as a young man to get involved in racing. At first, I wanted to become a jockey but I was prompt in understanidng that I was not going to make the weight as a useful rider as I eat a lot. But I decided to stick around horses and learn about them with the intention to become a fullfledged trainer by acquiring a trainer’s licence.
SRG: When did you acquire your licence?
RW: In December 2017. This is the third year I am in the profession.
SRG: Which horse was your first winner?
RW: Pythagoras Theorem.
SRG: Your longest odds winner?
RW: Newton’s First Law in December 2018 at odds of 18/1
SRG: The best horse that you have seen run at Caymanas Park?
RW: For me it is Eros.
SRG: Which trainer/s do you admire most?
RW: There are a number of laudable trainers here that I admire and chief among them is Patrick Lynch. He is a very astute conditioner and added to this, his horses always look immaculately conditioned. Trainers Richard and Steven Todd, Carl Lee and Welsh Soutar must also come in for honourable mention.
SRG: The jockey/s you admire most?
RW: Anthony Thomas. I assisted Mr Soutar with jockey Thomas from the ground up … from an apprentice to where he is today as a champion jockey and he is one of the only riders whom I do trust wholeheartedly.
SRG: Any regrets?
RW: No! No regrets. I love racing, I love racing to the point that only my kids I love more than racing.
SRG: What further steps can be taken to improve the racing product?
RW: From a trainer’s point of view, for me, it is making more racing stock available for trainers. I will welcome more horses at the track to supplement what is available at present.
The weekend of racing scheduled for December 26 and 27 is to be called the Supreme Championship Weekend. This announcement was made on Wednesday (December 16) at a press conference held at Caymanas Park.
One this Supreme Ventures Championship Weekend of racing, the promoting company Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) will be honouring former SVREL board member Ian Levy and current director of Racing Christopher Armond.
On Saturday, December 26, the Ian Levy Cup, to be contested at 8 ½ (1,700m) furlongs by the top rated horses, carries a total purse of $4.5 million as the feature event.
On Sunday, December 27, the Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) Jamaica Two-year-old Stakes (one mile) will be contested for a purse of $4 million.
On the same day, the Chris Armond Sprint, a 5-½ (1,100m) furlong for three year olds and upwards Graded Stakes/open Allowance will also be run for a purse of $2.5 million.
In addition to these feature events, all races over the two-day Championship Weekend will be topped up by an additional $100,000 each.
This brings the total purse money offered by the promoting company for the Championship Weekend to a minimum of $25,320,000. This latter amount can be increased if any race is split during the nomination process.
“This weekend is extra special for us at Supreme Ventures because not only is it a testament to our love for the sport of horseracing, but also a testament to our commitment to the industry, its stakeholders and its future.
“What we strive for with every move is to reinvigorate the industry and change the perception of horseracing among the Jamaican public. The racing that takes place here at Caymanas Park is world class. Every race is broadcast around the world to punters in the United States, Canada, Guyana and South Africa right alongside races from some of the best tracks in the world.
“For us at Supreme, commitment is not an abstract theory but a practice by the men and women who turn up and show up every day to push the brand even higher.
“We honour two gentlemen who have done so for several decades. Supreme Ventures Director Emeritus Ian Levy and Racing Director Chris Armond,” chairman of SVL Group Gary Peart said.