“I want to win the Gold Cup! I want to win it again; it’s the biggest race in Barbados.”
These were the sentiments of seven-time Canadian Sovereign Award-winning jockey Patrick Husbands.
Weather permitting today at the Garrison Savannah, Husbands will partner the Lord Michael Taylor-owned colt Show Me The Money in the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup.
“Riding in the Gold Cup is like riding in the Breeders’ Cup,” he told the SATURDAY SUN “It’s a race I want to win and riding in [the] Gold Cup is an unbelievable feeling.
“I have been doing this for a long time and it just comes naturally professionally. I just like to play it by ear. Leaving the gates, I hope everything goes in my favour,” he said.
He said Show Me The Money was a speedster and he wouldn’t change his style but they would have to work together to achieve their goal of winning.
“It’s funny how life is.
I could never have foreseen myself riding for Andy [trainer Andy Ward], as we had grown up together and were previously rivals in the saddle,” Husbands added.
“His successes in the last two years have shown everyone that he has taken it to the next level and I want to wish him all the best.”
Husbands, who finished second in the jockeys championship race at Woodbine last year, said his two goals would be to win this year’s championship in Canada and a Breeders Cup race.
“I have been second on two previous occasions. For me it’s like winning a ring in the NBA which is every player’s dream.
“I don’t want to retire without winning a Breeders Cup. I pray that God grants me a good year in both body and health.”
A win on the much fancied Show Me The Money would advance Husbands’ record in Barbados’s pattern horse racing event, alongside the master Venice “Pappy” Richards and Jonathon Jones, both of whom rode four winners in Gold Cups.
Husbands’ previous winners were Vardar, Sharp Impact and Sterwins.
Commenting on the fact that the race had not attracted any overseas entrants he said:
“It’s unfortunate that every year the rules of the Gold Cup change to accommodate someone or a horse; it’s hard to encourage people to come to this event with that going on.”
