Little Ascot the “Family Track”-Pages from yester years

In lieu of a forward..........................................................................................................3Notes from Mr. Ivan Smith and other “Old Timers”..................................................5Some additional memories & Clippings......................................................................5The Catholic Youth Organization..............................................................................13Publicity conscious management...............................................................................19Leader in Innovation..................................................................................................24Some Fixtures and Programmes................................................................................28The End of An Era-The Start Of An Era...................................................................32...................................................................................................................................32

In lieu of a forward

When one thinks of thoroughbred racing today, one thinks of the stands filled of men with whipping fingers, a sprinkle of women folk trying to calculate how much they charged won or loosed in a given race and a few children, playing in a world of their own. Thoroughbred racing in Jamaica, today reminds one a lot of Hegel’s “thing in itself”, with little or no connection to the family or to the wider community.

These pages of notes and clippings from the Daily Gleaner are intended, to remind us of what racing once meant for the family and for the community, and is meant to be another deposit in to the memory of the Jamaican thoroughbred racing, with the hope that these memories or “flash back” may play a positive in industry policy formulation. From a strict economic perspective, Little Ascot, played a critical role in the development of the local fishing and agricultural (cassava-bammy) industries, the stimulation of the production of ethnic treats such as gizzadas , drops, grater cakes etc, while facilitating greater efficiency in the operation of the Jamaica Railway Corporation. .

For many, Little Ascot was more than a race track, Little Ascot was a concept meaning family entertainment, an outing to the “country” , a chance to see and hear the military band, it meant fry fish and banny in Old Harbour, a drink or two at that Old bar, it mean Church trips and Church organized gymkhanas; a place to see finely dressed ladies and the possibility of striking up a conversation with one of those beauties ; Little Ascot, to each his or her own, for everyone there was space:- the sinner and the saved, the punter and the Bishop, the boy and the girl, father and mother-for all there was space.

These notes and clippings are intended to remind those involved in the sports of thoroughbred racing, that a race programme once in the recent history of Jamaican racing, was more than a set of race meets, more than a set of starts, it was also deliberately planned community engagement, it was the baking of pies with many slices be those slice be in the form of purses, wages, profits on sales, rent from the leasing of vendors’ stalls, or simple plain wholesome family entertainment.

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These notes and clippings are also intended to stimulate the thought process of those industry managers as they seek new and exiting ways to improve strengthen the racing industry and to lure investors.. Finally, one can only but hope, that this small document, will point out the need to engage the services of competent economic historians to analyze the experience and contribution made by Little Ascot and other tracks to the development of the racing industry in Jamaica, here one has in mind that track which was once located where the May Pen Cemetery currently occupies which gave birth to the modern thoroughbred racing industry in Jamaica.

Basil FletcherEconomist/StatisticianJamaica Racing Commission

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Notes from Mr. Ivan Smith and other “Old Timers”

1. Started working there as a trainer in 1952, also worked at Knutsford Park.2. Racing was occasional, once every three months or so.3. People looked forward to going out to “Marlie” (i.e. Littles Ascot), it was a trip to

the country and there was an outing atmosphere.4. A major attraction was fish and bammy after racing.5. Meets were dominated by smaller owners and breeders, since the more affluent

owners raced their horses at Knutsford Park, where there were bigger purses.

Some additional memories & Clippings

There was a cooperative relationship between Little Ascot and the Knutsford Track,For example races ran at the Knutsford for two months then at the Little Ascot for the next two months.

When it rain, there was a problem in the town of Old Harbour, since the waters from Gutters and other neighbouring communities would flow through the town, making transportation difficult. This however became part of the Marlie Experience.

People going to the races from Kingston, would use the opportunity to visit their relatives and friends in the nearby villages, collecting food and ground provisions to take back to Kingston with them. Some would by fish and bammy at the local taverns and eating places to carry back home to their families in Kingston. For some children and wives, if “daddy” brought home fish and bammy then they knew he had a good day at the races, if he brought home lobster , it meant that he had an excellent day, if he came home with nothing then one could tell that he had a very bad day at the track.

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The management of Little Ascot as can be seen from the clipping above, also it terms of maximizing the entertainment value of the race day and to cater to the wide interests of its patrons and punters also promoted or co-sponsored other sporting events which then blending into the race day programme, for example bicycle racing.

By this type of multi-sport, multi-activity blending dead time between races were filled and the interests of patrons and punters were maintained – while dad went to buy the snacks and or place his bet, the children and mom (when she came) were engrossed in watching other events.

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Little Ascot with its narrow tight turns was not a track for all jockeys nor horses, and thus when one thinks of racing at Little Ascot, one is also thinking of horses and men chosen for the track, “Hat Trick was one such horse chosen for the track.

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Up to 1965, in order to maintain and further encourage interest in the “Sports of Kings” , gymkhana racing were promoted by the Church, men’s clubs and other social groups were encouraged throughout the island, this was also of benefit to owners, since owners of horses which were not performing at any of the three major tracks could earn some pursue money or appearance fee by participating in these popular gymkhanas.

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Gymkhanas also tended satisfy the demand for and interest in thoroughbred racing of those residents in small rural townships and villages, thus thoroughbred racing while maintaining a strong urban base also boasted a rural and or near rural support structure which ensured the growth of punting interests through-out the island and at times and occasions played an important role in the identification of potential talent for the major tracks.

The Catholic Youth Organization

It is not possible to give a complete picture of Little Ascot and rural racing without also mentioning the Catholic Youth Organization. The Catholic Youth Organisation through its gymkhanas and co-sponsored races contributed a great deal in maintaining activities at Little Ascot during periods of slumps and also in the creation of the picnic type environment which characterized thoroughbred racing at Little Ascot.

The Catholic Youth organization, through its various community engagement and out reach activities employed the gymkhana and thoroughbred racing as a tool pulling out young men and women from all corners of urban Kingston. It chartered the trains at times

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for these trips to Little Ascot, hence also contributing to the purses of the Jamaica Railway Corporation among others. In this way, through the good offices of the then Catholic Youth Organization, Little Ascot Race Track was able to contribute to the formation of strong communities, facilitated discourse between the various classes and segments of urban Jamaica and encouraged the strengthening and maintenance of strong family ties. In this racing was but a part of a wider social marketing programme, and the binding potion in a wider mix of community social activities happening at the track during those days when the Catholic Youth Organization was present in an organized form.

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Fish Stall In Old Harbour

Old Harbour Market

The spin off of Little Ascot’s contribution to the town of Old Harbour, is still felt today, nearly fifty years after the last race day at that track. Its contribution to the local fry fish and bammy industry is beyond dispute, equally as was its contribution to the strengthening of Old Harbour as a market town. The clippings below gives its story of Old Harbour today.

Food galore at Harbour View round aboutPublished: Thursday | January 29, 2009

Latoya Grindley, Gleaner Writer

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Robert Williams adds the final touches to the jerk/pan chicken on spot. - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

From Monday to Saturday between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. they are at the location, ready to satisfy the

palates of customers. From staples like roast and fried fish, conch soup, stew/jerk/fried chicken,

bammy and festival, customers are given the pleasure of selecting from the array of food available to

them left of the Harbour View roundabout, heading away from Kingston.

Approaching the left of the roundabout, you are sometimes greeted with long lines of motor vehicles parked

along the side of the road and creating a border for the makeshift stalls which serve as the creative kitchens

from which the food is prepared. There are approximately three food stalls at side of the road on what

appears to be a dirt track or open lot. Customers are given the opportunity to dine on wooden benches

provided for their comfort.

Heavily laden jerk pans and occupied coal stoves catch your eye once you step into the food territory. In this

busy atmosphere, customers are treated to musical selections and of course, a range of drinks, including

alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Sanitary aspect

Kevin Simpson manages one of the food stalls with the assistance of five men. He says as it relates to the

sanitary aspect of the food preparation, people should not worry. "I have my food handler's permit and all the

pre-preparation like seasoning is done at home and things are just ready to be put on fire when we come out

here. To keep things clean, we bring containers of water from home because we all live here in Harbour

View".

Friday is arguably the best business day, according to the vendors. And their clientele covers locals and

foreigners. "People who are just coming off a flight at the airport stop here. Entertainers come her too," says

Simpson.

Another vendor, Wayne Amore, adds, "Religious people, uptown people, the Chinese dem and just regular

working -class people stop here".

While each cook has similar menu items, each has his own unique items. "We will have the same things, but

there will be some differences among us. It is really just about what you want and you just walk in and check

out the place," noted Simpson.

When the Food team visited the Harbour View food 'court' on a Sunday evening, not much was happening,

but this could be attributed to the day and time. However, many of the customers were on the go as they

stopped to purchase and then continued on their journey. There were those who exited their vehicles,

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placed their orders and indulged in the delicious fare on spot. From what we observed, the best-selling item

was definitely the conch stew.

latoya.grindley@gleanerjm.com

Garfield Williams shows off a favourite - the conch stew. The stew is said to be one of the best-selling items.

For fried fish and chicken, roasted fish and fried bammies, the Harbour View roundabout may be the place for you.

Publicity conscious managementThrough its existence, the managers of the Turf Club , the owners and operators of Little Ascot race track, were known to be great public defenders of their industry and of their cause. Mr. Altamont V.Armond was a most active contributor to the “Letters to The Editor” column in the Daily Gleaner and maintained when and where possible and active presence in the public eyes, batting as always in the interests of the racing industry and the Turf Club. In fact, it could be said that Little Ascot owes a lot of its successes to the open PR conscious approach of Mr. A.V. Armond.

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Leader in Innovation

Be it in terms of maintaining a training track in the in field or by the use of photo finish technology, Little Ascot in its day led the field in terms of innovation and in keeping abreast with the technology of the day. This attitude and policy towards technology, made Little Ascot one of the best and most modern in the region at the time.

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Some Fixtures and Programmes

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The End of An Era-The Start Of An Era

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The Daily Gleaner 5th. June 1959

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