Jockey Sachin Parris and trainer Andre Ellis with their longshot winner Orcadian Storm. (George Williams)
by G. S. Thompson
In the competitive world of horse racing, the partnership of jockey Sachin Parris and trainer Andre Ellis represents a compelling tale of Caribbean determination finding its footing on Canadian soil.
At 24, Parris is still establishing himself at Assiniboia Downs, where he’s in his second official year as a ten-pound apprentice jockey. The young Barbadian won two races in his rookie season at the Downs, including a memorable score aboard Orcadian Storm at 15-1 for Ellis last September.
“I got the idea to be a jockey at around 12 or 13, through watching it on TV,” said Parris, whose attraction to horse racing began particularly by watching the prestigious Barbados Gold Cup. Unlike many in the industry, he didn’t come from a racing background. “None of my family was in racing,” he said.
Parris’s path to the saddle wasn’t straightforward. “It was $60 an hour to learn how to ride, and my mother couldn’t afford it,” said Parris, who eventually found his way into jockey school through a government program that offered a chance to those who might not be able to afford the tuition.
“I was just lucky enough to get in,” said Parris. And under the guidance of Robert Pierce at the jockey school, he dedicated himself to the craft, becoming “the only person from the same program to even graduate and get my exercise license.”
Parris longed to become an actual jockey after graduating, but faced some harsh realities. “There are more jockeys than horses there, that’s the truth,” said Parris, who then sought opportunities abroad. Fellow Barbadian trainer Devon Gittens provided the crucial connection to Assiniboia Downs, and Parris arrived ready for action in 2024.
His first chilly spring in Canada exercising horses proved challenging but rewarding. “It was my first time ever travelling and experiencing the cold,” said Parris. “But I battled it out and reaped some rewards.”
His first Canadian victory came on August 21, 2024, aboard 17-1 Press On Baby for trainer Lee Delaronde, followed by the win with Ellis’s Orcadian Storm. Parris also notched a victory at Century Mile in Alberta aboard Brody’s Streak for 7-time ASD leading trainer Tom Gardipy, Jr.
Now galloping for multiple trainers at Assiniboia Downs including Wendy Anderson, Sherri Laing, Gardipy and Ellis, Parris hopes to build on his early success. With two more wins needed before losing his 10-pound apprentice allowance, the lightweight rider represents the valuable commodity of a skilled bug boy.
Kings of the Caribbean, jockey Sachin Parris and trainer Andre Ellis. (George Williams)
Ellis, 40, brings his own compelling backstory to the partnership. After more than 20 years as a groom in Jamaica and North America, the Jamaican horseman took out his trainer’s license recently, focusing seriously on the craft only last year.
“I started out thinking that I could be a rider,” said Ellis. “But the weight had me stressed out most of the time.” When a trainer gave him a horse to look after, he found a different path in the industry. “I got the opportunity to start looking after horses, and less chances to get on horses, and I was getting heavy, so I just started grooming horses.”
After years of working for accomplished horsepeople like all-time leading ASD trainer Gary Danelson, Jack Robertson, and Murray Duncan, Ellis transitioned to owner-trainer status. He currently conditions three horses, including Orcadian Storm, whom he owns himself.
The transition wasn’t entirely self-motivated. “People everywhere I went always seemed to think I was a trainer,” said Ellis. “At the time I wasn’t training any horses, but people just said I should be training. It was people pushing me to be a trainer, more than me wanting to be a trainer.”
Ellis maintains the optimistic outlook typical of Caribbean horsepeople. “You have to give thanks for what you have,” he said. “Growing up in the Caribbean, whatever we had, we turned it into something. So it’s not really like we’re going out there on a big hope that we’re going to take over the world. Whatever slice of the cake we get, we’re happy with.”
When asked about his talent as a trainer, Ellis responded with quiet confidence: “I was born for this.” Parris quickly added, “He showcased it last year.”
From 13 starts in 2024, Ellis registered two wins plus multiple in-the-money finishes. For 2025, he has secured outside owners and expects his stable to grow beyond its current three runners, with one possibly targeting stakes competition.
As Parris and Ellis continue navigating their respective journeys at Assiniboia Downs, they represent the essential Caribbean influence that has reshaped racing both at the Downs and in North America over the past few decades. Their story of persistence, adaptation, and making the most of limited opportunities echoes throughout the backstretches of every track where Caribbean horsepeople have made their mark.
Especially at Assiniboia Downs.