Racehorse owner Rohan Levy (right) gives veteran trainer Donovan Phillipps a well-deserved drink after he saddled his 100th career winner on Sunday, November 23, 2025. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
The third race on Sunday’s (November 23, 2025) 10-race card roared to life when four-year-old chestnut colt Hickory Slim, guided by jockey Dick Cardenas, went across the finish line a comfortable 2 ¼ lengths ahead of Uncle Peck and Monster Vigorous.
That win by Hickory Slim marked trainer Donovan Phillipps’ 100th career winner.
The race was a Restricted Allowance IV contest for native-bred four-year-olds and upward (non-winners of three) and imported four-year-olds and upward (non-winners of two) over 7 ½ furlongs, with Hickory Slim covering the distance in 1:35.3.
“It is good to reach 100 career winners. It is a good win, but I am at the twilight of racing right now. Time coming and so I will just move on from here,” he said, his voice a blend of satisfaction and reflection.
He traced the lineage of his journey, painting a vivid picture of decades on the track.
“I was involved in sport from early with my cousin Howard Phillipps. I became an owner in 1977 and won my first race in 1978, and then I became a trainer in 1981. My first winner as a trainer was with a horse named Vibrant. That day I started two horses and won the two races, Vibrant and Sky’s The Limit with Derrick Ramgeet aboard both horses,” Phillipps told the Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide.
The emotional crescendo built as Phillipps described the present triumph.
“My first winner and my 100th win, for me winners, both wins are sweet victories, but this one,
Hickory Slim, my 100th winner is the twilight, and to know where this horse is coming from,” he said.
“The best horse I ever trained during my career was Sky’s The Limit. I carried this horse from D Class to A Class where I won six races from as many starts.”
Phillipps also lifted the curtain on the sacrifices behind his success, recalling his dual life as a canteen operator.
“I have no regrets coming into the sport. I haven’t trained for the entire 44 years because, as you know, I used to run the canteen here at the racetrack where I had a contract to cater on race day and also for staff members here at Caymanas Park,” he stated.
“Most of times I was told that I could not be training racehorses and having a contract, so it was either one of them I should be doing. The contract with food was sending the children to school and so that took priority, but there were intervals with training in-between and that’s why I took so long to reach 100 winners,” Phillipps further explained.
“Hopefully, I can now get a few more winners after this. For the last four years I only had two horses,” he ended.
PHILLIPPS…hopefully I can now get a few more winners after this (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Hickory Slim (Dick Cardenas) easily wins the third race on Sunday, November 23, 2025, giving trainer Donovan Phillipps his 100th career win at Caymanas Park. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Trainer Donovan Phillipps celebrates his 100th career win at Caymanas Park on Sunday, November 23, 2025. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
