ERIC "COLT" DURANT
ERECT A DURANT STATUE AT ARIMA
By Kelvin "N"
Trinidad Guardian
October 10, 2001
Page 32
Racing was dealt a tragic blow Sunday night when Trinidad and Tobago's greatest an most successful racehorse trainer Eric "Colt" Durant died shortly after eight o'clock at St. Clair Medical Complex.
Durant, considered a legend in the region, won more races in his career than any other trainer in the South Caribbean.
Barbados-born Durant came to Trinidad as a groom with the racehorse Nylon and graduated to become the greatest trainer ever seen in these parts.
He obtained his trainer's licence on August, 1959 and saddled his 1,871st winner on December 27, 1999. The horse which gave him his final win in his long and illustrious career was Fruition.
The Arima Race Club honoured the "Marabella Maestro" on April 8 last year before he became the 51st inductee into Racing's Hall of Fame.
The 71-year-old soft spoken Durant contributed some 57 years to the 'Sport of Kings'.
Chief Executive Officer of the Arima Race Club, Christopher Armond, said, "I am still in a state of shock, I didn't know it was this bad. I met the man some 20 years ago and developed a great friendship with him. He was the first Trinidad trainer to come to Jamaica and win the Red Stripe Superstakes with Baree Bahin. In my tenure here our good relationship continued until the time of his death. When he retired it was a massive blow to the racing industry. His death is even a greater blow to racing. He will be sadly missed."
Durant retired from active training in 1999 and achieved everything that could have been achieved in the sport by a trainer.
He crossed the $million mark in earnings on 10 occasions. He won the prestigious Derby on seven occasions, beginning in 1964 with Decorum. He then led in Pegasus Plus for owner Alwin Poon Tip in 1966. A double then was landed in '82 and '83 with Royal Colours and Royal Salute.
His final three winners in the "Run For The Roses" were Buck's Nugget (1987), Flag Woman (1991) and the rampaging Renegade in 1994. Renegade went into the history books as the final Derby winner at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain. In addition Renegade broke the record for the Derby at the "Big Yard".
Naz Ahamad, one of this country's most successful business and racehorse owners, spoke of his great friend and trainer. He said, "Eric Durant was an amazing man. Imagine a man leaving Barbados with limited education as a groom and becoming the top trainer in Trinidad and Tobago for some 35 years. That is phenomenal! 'Colt' was a close friend of mine and our friendship of 40 years transcends racing.
"In the mid-'60s he trained horses for me and I could not help but notice how much of a loyal and confidential person he was. Once he said he was going to do something, it was done. I am going to miss him very seriously."
"It is a pity he went so soon and carried his knowledge and expertise with him, something which he wanted to share with he wanted to share with the racing industry. Durant brought a lot of joy to me and my family in his lifetime.
"I think what made him great was the fact that he took moderate and mediocre horses and made them great. The magic which he showed during his training career will not be matched in this country for a very long time ... if ever, Ahamad said.
He said, "Colt had a great eye for horses and he was the one who selected Flag Woman and Renegade and Shinkansen as yearlings.
"He also selected Night Princess and Sweet Tassa for me in England. However, I felt the pinnacle of my ownership was when in 1991 Durant prepared Sweet Tassa and Flag Woman to win the Stewards Cup and the Derby for me. I dearly wanted to win those races and he did it in one bounce."
In reliving the glory days Ahamad said, "Another highlight of my relationship with Durant was when I led in my first 1-2-3 in the President's Cup in Port of Spain with Panama Pete, Flame Flicker and Hikari. In 1992 when he provided me with the three Grade One winners on the Boxing Day's card. It started with Akhtar, ridden by Julie Krone in the St James Stakes; then Brian Harding romped home with Renegade in the St James Stakes before Sweet Tassa brought the house down in the Stewards Cup. That moment, I will savour for the rest of my life."
"Faith would have it that I spent quality time with Durant on Friday last and I brought him from Port of Spain to San Fernando. We spent his last race day together at Santa Rosa park, Arima.
"Royal Oak Derby Day was the last day that we were together in racing, but I am happy that I spent quality time with him. I was very fortunate to have had him as my trainer and friend. Racing will never be the same without the presence of Eric 'Colt' Durant."
Another of Durant's close friends, Joe Hadeed, said, "The most exciting era in racing has ended. It is a big loss and a sad day for the racing fraternity. I have lost a very close friend.
"Durant was a quiet and humble man, but you felt his presence. He was a genius of a racehorse trainer. It is so sad that he has gone. What hurts is the fact that he has gone to the great beyond without passing on the wealth of knowledge and wisdom which he possessed.
"I doubt that we will ever see one like him in the Caribbean again."
"In our time as trainers we had great battles and we helped each other with horses. To show how close we were, when I trained Hilario there was only one horse which could beat him and that was Borvic which was trained by Durant. Borvic had a problem with his back and I gave Durant the magnetic blanket to assist the colt. Needless to say Borvic beat Hilario.
"But, something must be done for the greatest equine conditioner ever seen in these parts. We must honour him with a statue at Santa Rosa Park. When history is being spoken the name Eric Durant must always be alive," said Hadeed.
Durant leaves to mourn his wife Grace and three children, Bunty, Lennard and Annly.
His funeral takes place at the Lady of Perpetual Health RC Church, Harris Promenade, at 10.30 a.m. tomorrow. He will be buried at the Paradise Cemetery.