Mark Casse's assistant trainer Nicholas Tomlinson-Alleyne is budding at the right time.

 

Bright, bold, and aware of his surroundings is what struck me the most once I got to speak with Nicholas.

The rumor around has it that the young man is a natural talent for what he does best around horses.  Even more obvious is his ability to look after the string of horses assigned to him down in Hallandale beach by trainer Mark Casse.

Nicholas Tomlinson-Alleyne is gifted in ways only other horse trainers can explain. From a very early age, he was introduced to the stables and the horses on the backstretch at the woodbine racetrack.  Nicholas's dad who hails from the sunny island of Barbados was a groom at the Woodbine racetrack which allowed Nicholas to gain his fondness for horses from a such early age.  Nicholas explained that sometimes when he went missing his dad could often find him in a stall with a horse which he obviously took to and bonded with.  During high school, Nicholas would often sneak away from classes to be around the backstretch at the track.

He explained that he has a great love for Woodbine racetrack and misses Woodbine but currently Florida is home.  With Woodbine being the only major racetrack in Canada it doesn't allow too many talented ones to grow so he gives thanks to all the people who have helped him along up to this point.  I asked him about his relationship with Mark Casse and he described it as being truly professional with always encouraging words from Mark.

Nicholas from a young age.

Like most trainers do, Nicholas has many goals on his bucket list which he would love to one day have checked off.  Not surprising is the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and the king's plate at Woodbine racetrack.  I was a little bit surprised when he also mentioned that he himself would love to one day win the Barbados Gold Cup which is run every year in March on the island of Barbados.

I asked him what attracts him to wanting that Gold cup title and his name written in the history books for the Barbados Gold Cup.  He explained that the occasion there on the island is tremendous and seems like a place any other trainer would want to be and to win.  With an event filled with parades, dancers, people on stilts, and a track lined all the way around with people it's made for people like him.

derek.barntrack@gmail.com