The Jamaican horse racing scene stands poised to witness historic breaking of a nearly five-decade record as prominent owner Carlton Watson equals Cecil Charlton’s legendary 1977 benchmark of 43 winners in a single racing season. The pivotal moment arrived on December 20, 2025, when Watson’s thoroughbred Hit N Run, skillfully guided by jockey Tevin Foster, surged to victory in the opening event at Caymanas Park.
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Salute The Don poised for a winning run in Wayne daCosta Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes
Caymanas Park becomes the epicenter of Jamaican horse racing excitement today as twelve promising two-year-old thoroughbreds compete in the prestigious Wayne daCosta Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes. The one-mile (1,600m) Futurity event features a substantial $4-million purse, creating intense anticipation among racing enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Leading the field as the probable favorite is Salute The Don, a chestnut colt demonstrating exceptional form in recent performances. With one victory and a strong second-place finish behind the highly-talented Sir Don in two starts this season, this offspring of Aveenu Malcainu and Abicadabby has trained impressively leading up to today’s event. His previous performance, finishing 13¾ lengths behind Sir Don over 7 furlongs on November 29, demonstrates the caliber of competition he has faced.
Several contenders emerge as potential challengers for the top prize. Tia Maria, a chestnut filly, has shown remarkable improvement by securing her maiden victory in her fourth attempt, covering 6 furlongs in 1:16.2. Her current sharpness in exercise suggests she could pose a significant threat at this ideal distance.
Fernando represents another serious competitor, having previously finished third behind both Sir Don and Salute The Don. The chestnut colt has trained exceptionally well and benefits from the expertise of jockey Dane Nelson, potentially enabling him to overcome the favorite’s advantage.
Fidelity, a bay gelding, cannot be overlooked after his record-breaking performance on October 25, where he covered 4½ furlongs in 53.0 seconds. His strong training regimen leading to this event indicates he remains in peak condition.
The field also includes Midnight Traveller, London Spirit, We Jammin, God’s Plan, Senor Biscotti, Bigger Boss, Prosperity Sen, and Darwin, each bringing unique racing equipment and strategies to the competition. Various horses will compete with first-time Lasix administration, tongue-ties, blinkers, and figure-8 equipment, adding strategic dimensions to this high-stakes juvenile event.
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2025/26 NFL season: Week 17, still a lot to play for
The penultimate week of the 2025/26 NFL regular season arrives with immense playoff implications, set against a backdrop of recent dramatic finishes. Week 16 delivered high-stakes theatrics, headlined by two overtime walk-off victories: the Seattle Seahawks’ 38-37 thriller over the Los Angeles Rams and the Chicago Bears’ 22-16 comeback against the Green Bay Packers.
The drama extended into Sunday, where the Detroit Lions suffered a heartbreaking 24-29 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers after two offensive pass interference calls nullified potential game-winning touchdowns. This defeat leaves last season’s NFC leaders at 8-7, clinging to faint postseason hopes. Significant shifts occurred in the conference hierarchies as the Jacksonville Jaguars dominated the AFC-leading Denver Broncos 34-20, while the Carolina Panthers seized control of the NFC South with a 23-20 upset over Tampa Bay. The Sunday action culminated with the New England Patriots joining Denver atop the AFC following a 28-24 victory against Baltimore.
The Philadelphia Eagles solidified their dominance by clinching the NFC East title with a 29-18 win over Washington, eliminating Dallas from playoff contention. While Philadelphia remains the only division champion confirmed, nine additional teams secured postseason berths in Week 16, leaving just four spots remaining across both conferences.
AFC playoff qualifiers include Denver, New England, Jacksonville, Los Angeles Chargers, and Buffalo, with Pittsburgh, Houston, Indianapolis, and Baltimore competing for the final two positions. The NFC confirmed Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Los Angeles Rams, while Carolina, Green Bay, and Detroit vie for remaining slots.
Week 17 features critical matchups with substantial seeding consequences. The Buffalo Bills (11-4) host the Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) at Highmark Stadium, where arctic conditions may influence gameplay. Buffalo trails New England by one game in the AFC East while pursuing conference supremacy. Despite Philadelphia’s overtime victory in their November 2023 meeting, Buffalo enters as field goal favorites riding a four-game winning streak and formidable home advantage (16-1 since early 2024). The matchup hinges on Buffalo’s vulnerable run defense (143.6 yards allowed/game) versus Philadelphia’s resurgent ground game (152.8 yards/game).
Simultaneously, the San Francisco 49ers (11-4) host the Chicago Bears (11-4) at Levi’s Stadium, where both offenses rank among the league’s elite. San Francisco seeks to maintain its five-game winning streak and NFC West leadership aspirations, while Chicago aims to clinch its first division crown since 2018. The Bears leverage additional rest days and league-leading takeaways (31) against a 49ers team combating turnover vulnerabilities. With both teams facing formidable Week 18 opponents, this contest carries vital seeding implications.
As the regular season concludes, teams navigate narrow paths to playoff qualification where any misstep proves catastrophic. Betting markets currently favor the Los Angeles Rams (5.40) as Super Bowl LX favorites, followed closely by Seattle (6.60) and Buffalo (9.60), though odds remain fluid heading into critical weekend matchups.
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No stopping Money Market in Boxing Day Sprint
The prestigious Boxing Day Sprint, featuring a substantial $1.25 million purse, is set to commence with seven elite thoroughbreds competing in this Overnight Allowance event. The 6½-furlong (1,300-meter) race for horses aged three and upward promises intense competition at the track.
Analysts identify MONEY MARKET as the probable favorite following his impressive second-place finish, merely two lengths behind Of a Revolution, in the recent Bruceontheloose Sprint on December 6. This five-year-old bay horse by Successful Native appears perfectly suited to today’s conditions and is widely expected to outperform his rivals.
SUPREMASI, a four-year-old colt by Savoy Stomp, demonstrates remarkable consistency despite his fifth-place finish in the same preliminary event. Racing experts anticipate another strong performance from this dependable contender.
COMMANDER Z (USA) presents another compelling opportunity after narrowly losing to Another One in straight course competition on December 14. The four-year-old chestnut colt has demonstrated equal proficiency around bends and is projected to mount a serious challenge for the title.
The remaining competitors face steeper odds. HUNTSMAN might contend for minor placement, while A GIFT FROM BEN, MAJOR DANGER (USA) – still winless through nine seasonal starts – and FIRECRACKER are generally regarded as unlikely to challenge the frontrunners in this high-stakes competition.
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NORBROOK’S PANAMANIAN PLAY
In a significant development for Panama’s fast-food sector, Platinum Brands S.A., a portfolio company of Norbrook Equity Partners Limited, has unveiled ambitious plans to launch twelve new KFC outlets nationwide. This strategic expansion, representing a capital investment exceeding $15 million, will substantially increase the brand’s presence from 46 to 58 locations.
The expansion follows Platinum Brands’ acquisition of the KFC and Dairy Queen franchises from Franquicias Panameñas, S.A. in June 2024. After a year of intensive operational assessment and strategic restructuring, the company has secured prime locations for its growth initiative. According to Khary Robinson, Founder and Executive Chairman of Norbrook Equity Partners, the initial phase focused on strengthening business fundamentals—infrastructure, processes, and human resources—before pursuing aggressive growth. Robinson emphasized that this foundational work has positioned the venture as Panama’s fastest-growing quick-service restaurant in terms of same-store sales.
The company has already successfully inaugurated three new restaurants in Chorrera Center, David Center, and Algarrobos, all reporting robust customer traffic and strong initial sales performance. This forms part of a broader vision to expand the combined KFC and Dairy Queen portfolio to 100 locations by 2028. The Dairy Queen brand currently operates 21 stores within the country.
Leadership on the ground, led by CEO Juan Carlos Andrade and CFO Christian Sturla, has been instrumental in executing this measured growth strategy. Andrade highlighted that the mandate prioritized rebuilding the operational foundation over rapid expansion, with significant investments directed toward service culture, efficiency, product consistency, store modernization, and leadership development.
The franchises have been recognized as top performers regionally, demonstrating strong same-store sales growth, improved guest satisfaction metrics, and enhanced operational efficiency. Enhancements are also underway for the Dairy Queen brand, with new locations planned for the future.
This expansion is financed through a combination of equity and debt facilities provided by JMMB Bank (Jamaica) Limited and BAC International Corporation. Notably, JMMB Bank had previously extended a $3 million financing facility in June 2024 to facilitate the initial acquisition.
Ownership of Platinum Brands is structured with Norbrook Restaurant Holdings Limited (a St. Lucian entity) holding a 60% majority stake. The remaining shares are distributed among Sygnus Deneb Investments Limited (20%), the Henriquez family (10%), and FirstRock Global Holdings Limited (10%).
This investment represents the latest activity within Norbrook’s diversified private equity portfolio, which also includes recent ventures such as the rebuilding of Pure National Limited’s ice manufacturing plant, the acquisition of a majority stake in California-based Mighty Pilates by Express Fitness Limited, and the divestiture of interests in Grupo Alaska S.A. by joint venture Grupo Frontera Limited. Additionally, Norbrook’s publicly listed subsidiary, Mailpac Group Limited, continues to show strong financial performance following its acquisition of MyCart Quick Limited.
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RACING GUIDE FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2025
A comprehensive ten-race thoroughbred racing program featured competitive fields across various classes and age groups, showcasing both established performers and promising newcomers. The card included high-stakes optional claiming races, maiden special weights, graded stakes competitions, and restricted allowance events.
Race 1’s $350,000 Optional Claiming event saw Rum With Me deliver an impressive performance, holding up strategically before leading one furlong out and securing a four-length victory over Sudden Flight. Princess Akilah entered with strong credentials after finishing third to Propellant by 13 lengths in September while dropping in class.
The maiden races presented several intriguing prospects. In Race 2, Stardom emerged as a forward-type Sensational Slam colt with strong scope, while Another Wow appeared as a nicely conformed Casual Trick filly showing promising training patterns. Race 3 featured Prince Zayden, who had previously chased five furlongs to finish third to Papi Uso by ten lengths.
Undefeated American-bred Sir Don dominated Race 4’s Restricted Stakes discussion with three wide-margin victories recorded in fast times. The Graded Stakes Open Allowance in Race 9 featured elite competitors including Legacy Isle, who led seven furlongs before finishing second by eight lengths in the Mouttet Mile, and Desert of Malibu, who had previously led three furlongs before finishing third to Of A Revolution.
Race 10’s Restricted Stakes included Diesel Train, who demonstrated front-running prowess by clearing two furlongs out and beating Im Outstanding by ten lengths. Don Kwesi similarly displayed dominant speed, leading and clearing in the final two furlongs to defeat American Invader by seven lengths.
The program highlighted numerous horses returning from layoffs, class droppers seeking improved results, and several contenders showing significant fitness improvements from their previous outings.
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79 race days planned in 2026
Caymanas Park has officially released its highly anticipated racing calendar for the 2026 season, promising a year filled with top-tier thoroughbred competition. The jam-packed schedule outlines 79 provisional race days, strategically distributed across weekends and national holidays to maximize spectator engagement.
The racing program features 52 Saturday events, 21 Sunday meetings, and six special holiday race days, offering ample opportunities for racing enthusiasts to experience world-class equestrian sports.
Season highlights commence with the prestigious 1000 Guineas, exclusively for fillies, scheduled for Saturday, June 6th. This will be immediately followed by the colts and geldings counterpart, the 2000 Guineas, scheduled for Sunday, June 7th, creating an exciting weekend of classic racing.
Mid-summer will showcase Jamaica’s most celebrated racing events, with the Jamaica St Leger set for Saturday, July 4th. August will feature two major competitions: the Jamaica Oaks for fillies on Saturday, August 1st, and the premier Jamaica Derby on Thursday, August 6th.
The season culminates with the spectacular Mouttet Mile, one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious racing events, scheduled for Saturday, December 5th. This grand finale promises to deliver an unforgettable conclusion to what anticipates to be an exceptional racing season at Caymanas Park.
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Early warning on democracy
In a stark editorial published in Newsday, former Trinidad and Tobago Health Minister Dr. Fuad Khan issued a profound caution regarding the gradual deterioration of democratic norms, emphasizing that democracies are not abruptly destroyed but systematically weakened over time.
Dr. Khan articulated that the erosion occurs through pervasive silence, rationalization of questionable actions, and uncritical allegiance to political leaders. He expressed particular concern about supporters who applaud every governmental decision while simultaneously dismissing all criticism as acts of hostility. This behavior, he warned, fundamentally undermines accountability and causes significant damage to vital democratic institutions.
Connecting his observations to the current political environment, the former minister stressed that genuine support for leadership should never necessitate the suspension of independent judgment. He posited that robust democracies inherently depend on continuous scrutiny, legitimate dissent, and the unwavering willingness of citizens to challenge decisions made by their representatives.
Drawing lessons from historical precedents, Dr. Khan highlighted the dangerous trajectory nations face when political personality supersedes foundational principles and blind loyalty replaces governmental accountability. Such conditions, he noted, often lead nations toward damaging outcomes that become exceptionally difficult to reverse once established.
The physician-turned-politician concluded with a powerful affirmation that constructive criticism constitutes essential civic responsibility rather than political sabotage. Trinidad and Tobago’s future stability and prosperity, he asserted, will be determined by informed citizens who prioritize national interests above partisan politics and institutional integrity above individual personalities.
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Parang With Rome keeps the culture alive
The sixth annual Parang With Rome festival has solidified its position as a cornerstone of Trinidad and Tobago’s Christmas celebrations, drawing over 3,000 attendees to Cipriani Labour College on December 20 for an electrifying night of cultural music and festive traditions.
Headlined by artist Itz Rome and powered by Karma the Band, the event showcased exceptional performances from parang royalty including Eddie Charles, Crazy, Marcia Miranda, and Los Alumnos de San Juan. The evening reached a poignant milestone when Alicia Jagessar of Los Alumnos de San Juan received the Parang With Rome Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring her decades of contributions to preserving and advancing the parang genre.
The cultural experience was elevated through surprise appearances by soca superstars Nailah Blackman, Blakka Dan, Ravi B, Alison Hinds, and Iwer George, creating an innovative fusion of parang and soca that bridged generational divides and united music enthusiasts across age groups.
Beyond the musical performances, patrons enjoyed an immersive Christmas food village featuring local seasonal delicacies, completing an authentic Trinidadian holiday experience. Event organizer Rome emphasized the festival’s mission: ‘Parang With Rome is about keeping parang alive and giving people a true Trini Christmas experience. It’s about preserving our culture, celebrating the season, and bringing generations together through music.’
The event generated substantial social media engagement and enthusiastic crowd participation, demonstrating its growing cultural significance. With its continued expansion and profound impact on cultural preservation, the festival’s sixth installment has established new benchmarks for future Christmas celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago.
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Kerby Young bridges cultures at Swahili Fashion Week
Trinidad and Tobago-based designer Kerby Young, originally from Guyana, achieved a remarkable cultural synthesis at Swahili Fashion Week 2025, emerging as a standout advocate for sustainable fashion practices. The prestigious event, celebrating its 18th anniversary this December in Dar Es Salaam, served as a global platform for innovative designers who prioritize environmental consciousness alongside creative expression.
Young made history last year as the first Caribbean designer featured at this acclaimed fashion gathering. His return in 2025 proved even more impactful with ‘The Journey’ collection—a deeply personal narrative exploring his evolution from Guyanese roots to his established presence in Trinidad and Tobago through his brand, Kerby Young Designs (KYD).
The collection drew inspiration from Santorini’s iconic color palette, featuring deep Mediterranean blues evoking tranquil waters, crisp whites reminiscent of Grecian architecture, vibrant greens mirroring lush island foliage, and rich reds symbolizing the flowers adorning Santorini’s stone structures. Beyond color, Young incorporated traditional artisan techniques including intricate tie-dyeing, sophisticated fabric manipulation, and collaborative handcrafted crochet elements through partnership with Crochet Peace.
Each garment became a testament to cultural fusion as models moved to the rhythm of African drums accompanied by the soulful vocals of Ella Andall and the late Devon Matthews’ ‘D Journey’. The finale, set to Square One’s ‘Lala’, transformed the show into an interactive celebration that had the audience clapping along—not merely observing fashion but participating in a story of resilience and self-belief.
The commercial response was immediate, with half the collection finding new homes in Africa. Young plans to produce additional pieces upon returning to Trinidad, though certain signature designs will remain exclusive to their Tanzanian debut.
Reflecting on the experience, Young shared: ‘This is one I will carry with me forever. It stands as testament to never abandoning your dreams. I’m profoundly grateful for Tanzania’s warm welcome and the unwavering support from my Caribbean and Guyanese heritage.’
The growing momentum continues with expanding social media engagement and a successful pop-up shop accompanying his showcase. Swahili Fashion Week’s commitment to sustainability provided the ideal environment for Young’s vision, creating what the designer described as ‘a wonderful bridge of cultures’ that he anticipates crossing again in future collaborations.