Third-generation trainer carves out a place

Third-generation trainer Peter-John Parsard, one of the youngest conditioners at Caymanas Park, is steadily carving out a name for himself in local racing following another outstanding season in 2025.

Parsard, who is just 29 years old, is following in the footsteps of his father, Ian Parsard, one of the top trainers at Caymanas Park, and his grandfather before him, as he continues to build a growing and competitive stable.

“The biggest target that we have for this year is to be aggressive in the classics and be able to win some of the classics, with the dream being to win the Derby,” said Parsard.

“The target for 2025 was to win 50 career wins, which we were able to achieve and surpass because now we are at 57 total, and so the target for this year is to at least get to the 100 mark. I have a very good team behind me and, even though I am still young at 29, I have been around horses all my life,” he said.

Parsard, who will be in his third season as a full trainer, noted last season marked a significant step forward for his operation.

“I think it was good progress because the year before was our first full year as a trainer and we were able to double the amount of wins in 2025,” he said.

“We have horses that we have seen improvements in with our young horses and our three-year-olds and we have managed to increase our number of horses, but yet we have still managed to maintain our win percentage and in-the-money percentage, and that is a good sign to show that we have been able to grow the stable without falling off in terms of our performance. And so I am very happy with that because that is something that is very difficult to do. Overall, it was more of a stepping-stone year to where we want to be,” Parsard added.

He noted that while he was pleased with his overall results, success in the classic races remains his main focus.

“Most importantly, we were able to win a couple of graded races and the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes, and so the only thing that was disappointing [is], I think we were knocking around in the classics and we thought that we had horses that could have got the job done, but they came close a lot of times and were not quite there, and that is something that we will be looking to build to have a little more success this year,” Parsard said.

STRONG RESULTS

Parsard, who spent more than a decade as an assistant trainer in his father’s camp, conditioned the talented WE JAMMIN to win the Wayne DaCosta Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes last December. Among the other notable horses in his stable are UNCLE PECK, FEELING FREE, I’ AM OUTSTANDING, MAIN MISTRESS, and BOSS MAN, which have combined to deliver strong results, including 33 wins.

Despite setting performance milestones, Parsard outlined that his main objective is to bring out the best in each horse rather than chasing numerical targets.

“I don’t have overall stable targets like that because the main aim is to maximise each horse’s ability and, once they have the talent, then they can carry you as far as they can if you give them a chance. I think I have some nice horses in the barn and, wherever I end up reaching, I will be happy as long as I am able to maximise their abilities and keep them sound,” he said.

He has also credited Jamaica’s training system and his family background for preparing him for success.

“The system that we have in Jamaica where we go to training school is a little different than it is around the world because you find that myself and other trainers that were in batches are very experienced people when they get the licence,” Parsard said. I have a good foundation, I have learned from my dad and my grandfather and that is a big reason that I have been able to be successful and I think I have done a very good job at creating a good staff.”