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Glowing tribute paid to 'Caribbean Man'
Glen Mohammed
Sunday, January 18th 2009
FAREWELL: Chris Armond, right, with Robin Jaisingh, former racing secretary of the Arima Race Club, at the appreciation function for Armond at the Barbados Turf Club, Garrison Savannah, Bridgetown, on Monday.Chris Armond, arguably the Caribbean's most knowledgeable racing person, ended his administrative stint at the Barbados Turf Club (BTC) last month and is now back home in Jamaica.
The six-foot-plus Armond has been involved in the turnaround in fortunes of previously-ailing Caymanas Park in Jamaica, Santa Rosa Park, Arima, and the Barbados Turf Club.
Armond, who resigned as Arima Race Club (ARC) chief executive officer in 2001 under the Derek Chin administration, took up the reins in Barbados in 2002, after being head-hunted by former BTC president Robert Bourque.
He reported to work for the last time in Barbados on December 31, after seven years in the saddle as BTC secretary/operations manager.
At a farewell function for Armond at the BTC office at the Garrison Savannah last Monday, representatives of the owners, jockeys, trainers, breeders, management and even employees all publicly spoke of the positive influence the Jamaican had on racing in Barbados and, more importantly, on their personal lives.
In a very emotional scene, a number of people openly shed tears as tributes were paid to Armond.
They also expressed how much he will be missed and the effect his departure will have on the sport in Barbados.
Armond, speaking to the packed hospitality room at the BTC, thanked the club's management committee for affording him the opportunity to be part of the club and also heaped praise on his employees, whom he told he could not have achieved his goals if weren't for the help of his staff.
He also noted that each of the four BTC presidents he worked under all gave him excellent support and allowed him to carry out his duties.
The Express learnt that Armond left the BTC because of the club's financial constraints.
Armond stated in his farewell speech that he came from a family of horsemen and is a third generation racing administrator, as his grandfather owned his own race track in Jamaica called the Marlie Race Course, and he learned the "ropes" from his father and grandfather.
He declared that his expertise in racing took him to work at US tracks such as Calder and Hialeah Park in Florida and also in Detroit, Michigan.
He went back to Jamaica at Caymanas Park, which he revived, and then onto Trinidad, where he introduced the Allowance/Claiming system at the centralised facility at Santa Rosa, and then Barbados.
Armond said it was an honour for him to be the person given the responsibility of leading the way forward for the three major racetracks in the Caribbean.
He has been credited with turning around the fortunes of the BTC and achieving goals that seemed unattainable, such as the club recording a profit in 2008 after years of losses.
This was revealed by BTC president Sir David Seale.
Armond was also recognised for developing the prestigious Sandy Lane Gold Cup into the richest race in the Caribbean, with a purse of US$100,000.
He was also able to secure world-wide coverage of the event, which was viewed around the world on the TVG Network on which US Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens was a host.
Over the years Armond was able to secure entries for the Gold Cup from as close as Trinidad and Martinique, to as far as the US, Canada and France.
Everyone who spoke at the farewell function agreed that Armond changed the workings of the Barbados Turf Club with his open door policy, welcoming anyone to his office and treating all with respect.
One trainer stated: "In the past we did not feel that we were part of racing, but with Chris there... we were all made to feel welcome and we hope that this will continue with whoever they bring to replace Chris, but truly we do not feel that he can be replaced."
Ironically, the BTC have not been able to find a replacement for Armond and as his office remains vacant.
Late last year, Armond was interviewed for a position with the Arima Race Club, but was unsuccessful.
The ARC have since employed Ken Ogeer as their new chief executive officer.
Glen Mohammed
Sunday, January 18th 2009
FAREWELL: Chris Armond, right, with Robin Jaisingh, former racing secretary of the Arima Race Club, at the appreciation function for Armond at the Barbados Turf Club, Garrison Savannah, Bridgetown, on Monday.Chris Armond, arguably the Caribbean's most knowledgeable racing person, ended his administrative stint at the Barbados Turf Club (BTC) last month and is now back home in Jamaica. The six-foot-plus Armond has been involved in the turnaround in fortunes of previously-ailing Caymanas Park in Jamaica, Santa Rosa Park, Arima, and the Barbados Turf Club.
Armond, who resigned as Arima Race Club (ARC) chief executive officer in 2001 under the Derek Chin administration, took up the reins in Barbados in 2002, after being head-hunted by former BTC president Robert Bourque.
He reported to work for the last time in Barbados on December 31, after seven years in the saddle as BTC secretary/operations manager.
At a farewell function for Armond at the BTC office at the Garrison Savannah last Monday, representatives of the owners, jockeys, trainers, breeders, management and even employees all publicly spoke of the positive influence the Jamaican had on racing in Barbados and, more importantly, on their personal lives.
In a very emotional scene, a number of people openly shed tears as tributes were paid to Armond.
They also expressed how much he will be missed and the effect his departure will have on the sport in Barbados.
Armond, speaking to the packed hospitality room at the BTC, thanked the club's management committee for affording him the opportunity to be part of the club and also heaped praise on his employees, whom he told he could not have achieved his goals if weren't for the help of his staff.
He also noted that each of the four BTC presidents he worked under all gave him excellent support and allowed him to carry out his duties.
The Express learnt that Armond left the BTC because of the club's financial constraints.
Armond stated in his farewell speech that he came from a family of horsemen and is a third generation racing administrator, as his grandfather owned his own race track in Jamaica called the Marlie Race Course, and he learned the "ropes" from his father and grandfather.
He declared that his expertise in racing took him to work at US tracks such as Calder and Hialeah Park in Florida and also in Detroit, Michigan.
He went back to Jamaica at Caymanas Park, which he revived, and then onto Trinidad, where he introduced the Allowance/Claiming system at the centralised facility at Santa Rosa, and then Barbados.
Armond said it was an honour for him to be the person given the responsibility of leading the way forward for the three major racetracks in the Caribbean.
He has been credited with turning around the fortunes of the BTC and achieving goals that seemed unattainable, such as the club recording a profit in 2008 after years of losses.
This was revealed by BTC president Sir David Seale.
Armond was also recognised for developing the prestigious Sandy Lane Gold Cup into the richest race in the Caribbean, with a purse of US$100,000.
He was also able to secure world-wide coverage of the event, which was viewed around the world on the TVG Network on which US Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens was a host.
Over the years Armond was able to secure entries for the Gold Cup from as close as Trinidad and Martinique, to as far as the US, Canada and France.
Everyone who spoke at the farewell function agreed that Armond changed the workings of the Barbados Turf Club with his open door policy, welcoming anyone to his office and treating all with respect.
One trainer stated: "In the past we did not feel that we were part of racing, but with Chris there... we were all made to feel welcome and we hope that this will continue with whoever they bring to replace Chris, but truly we do not feel that he can be replaced."
Ironically, the BTC have not been able to find a replacement for Armond and as his office remains vacant.
Late last year, Armond was interviewed for a position with the Arima Race Club, but was unsuccessful.
The ARC have since employed Ken Ogeer as their new chief executive officer.
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