THE SKIES opened yesterday and lightning struck the same horse, JON MARSHALL, for the second time in 17 months at Caymanas Park after its rider, apprentice Anthony Allen, was found with what sources said appeared to be an electrical device inside his glove.

On January 5, last year, apprentice Jawani Forbes was allowed to ride JON MARSHALL after a device was confiscated from him during a search at the starting gate.

Forbes, who had only started riding three months earlier, was subsequently handed a two-year ban and a fine of $250,000 by the First Instance Tribunal of the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC). He was found guilty of breaching the rules of the JRC as it relates to having in his possession, or using an electrical device, commonly called a ‘battery’, on a horse.

Late Non-Starter

JON MARSHALL was yesterday declared a late non-starter, with no reason announced, departing from the norm, despite the happenings at the gate being widely circulated among patrons at the racetrack.

Ironically, one of the winners on yesterday’s nine-race card, Gary Subratie’s UNCLE VINNIE, had also won on January 5, last year, the same day Allen had landed in trouble with JON MARSHALL.

UNCLE VINNIE, a 10-1 shot, brilliantly ridden by Robert Halledeen, was one of three upsetters, which turned yesterday’s programme on its head, resulting in more than $5m worth of carry-overs to this afternoon’s meet.

EROY, under a perfect ride from six-time champion Omar Walker, got home by a neck, at odds of 4-1, from NIPSTER with Halledeen, creating a mild upset, which drove the dagger further into punters’ hearts.

However, many left heartened, eyeing this afternoon’s Sunrise Pick 6 carry-over of $2.8m in addition to the Twilight 6’s starting pot of $1.68m.

There is also a Pick 5 carry-over of $638,000 and the Pick 9 will open at $1.22m, thanks to upsetters such as 60-1 stunner, KIAH, in the sixth and 10-1 chance ACTION RUN flooring howling favourite, SPARKLE DIAMOND, in the six-furlong Ahwhofah Sprint.