Fitzroy Glispie - file

Fitzroy Glispie has made a successful transition from former top-flight jockey to successful trainer.

Popularly called 'Pumpkin', Glispie saddled his third winner at Caymanas Park on Saturday when the speedy filly MS ANGELICA won the eighth race over the straight five course at odds of 8-1.

He posted his first winner, even-money favourite JAYLEN in the Knutsford Park Cup on Wednesday, September 23 and followed three days later with 9-2 chance SPACE FURY over 1820 metres.

Significantly, all three were ridden by the promising 4.0kg claiming apprentice, Richard Mairs.

JAYLEN and MS ANGELICA both raced in the silks of Glispie's Jockeys' Enterprise outfit which owns a number of horses at the park.

Glispie, 50, started training on September 2, having completed an extensive 24-week course for assistant trainers run by the Jamaica Racing Commission.

'Pumpkin' was one of 19 new trainers who graduated at a ceremony on the grounds of the Jamaica Racing Commission, Winchester Road, on Thursday, August 27. And he graduated at the top of the class, capping the award for best overall student in courses conducted by the JRC's chief veterinarian, Dr St Aubyn Bartlett, and Dr Sophia Ramial.

Quiet and unassuming, Glispie says he is serious about training as he was as a top jockey at Caymanas Park in the late '70s and '80s.

"It takes a lot of hard work to succeed in racing," he said. "You have to be dedicated and prepared to put in the sacrifice," he added. This means coming to the track every morning by 5 o'clock to prepare the horses for exercise.

During his successful stint as a jockey, Glispie notched up 310 winners from 1,886 rides. He rode three Derby winners — LEGAL LIGHT in 1977, ZELL in 1978 and BLACK KNIGHT in 1980.

His résumé also includes a Superstakes winner in THUNDERBIRD (1980).