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Little Ascot the “Family Track”-Pages from yesteryears
In lieu of a forward ......................................................................................................... 1 Notes from Mr. Ivan Smith and other “Old Timers” ..................................................3Some additional memories & Clippings ..................................................................... 3The Catholic Youth Organization ..............................................................................12Publicity conscious management ...............................................................................18Leader in Innovation ..................................................................................................23Some Fixtures and Programmes ................................................................................27The End of An Era-The Start Of An Era ...................................................................31....................................................................................................................................31
In lieu of a forward 
When one thinks of thoroughbred racing today, one thinks of the stands filled of menwith whipping fingers, a sprinkle of women folk trying to calculate how much theycharged 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 initself”, 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 thesememories or “flash back” may play a positive in industry policy formulation. From astrict economic perspective, Little Ascot, played a critical role in the development of thelocal fishing and agricultural (cassava-bammy) industries, the stimulation of the production of ethnic treats such as gizzadas , drops, grater cakes etc, while facilitatinggreater efficiency in the operation of the Jamaica Railway Corporation. .For many, Little Ascot was more than a race track, Little Ascot was a concept meaningfamily 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 meanChurch trips and Church organized gymkhanas; a place to see finely dressed ladies andthe possibility of striking up a conversation with one of those beauties ; Little Ascot, toeach 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 Jamaicanracing, was more than a set of race meets, more than a set of starts, it was alsodeliberately 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.1
 
These notes and clippings are also intended to stimulate the thought process of thoseindustry managers as they seek new and exiting ways to improve strengthen the racingindustry 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 toanalyze the experience and contribution made by Little Ascot and other tracks to thedevelopment of the racing industry in Jamaica, here one has in mind that track whichwas once located where the May Pen Cemetery currently occupies which gave birth tothe modern thoroughbred racing industry in Jamaica.Basil Fletcher Economist/StatisticianJamaica Racing Commission2
 
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 tothe 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 affluentowners 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 thenext two months.When it rain, there was a problem in the town of Old Harbour, since the waters fromGutters and other neighbouring communities would flow through the town, makingtransportation difficult. This however became part of the Marlie Experience.People going to the races from Kingston, would use the opportunity to visit their relativesand friends in the nearby villages, collecting food and ground provisions to take back toKingston 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 withnothing then one could tell that he had a very bad day at the track.3
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