Although Sir David has always listed his priority in life as business, it would be difficult to think otherwise given his passion when he recalls the old days in discussion. Not surprisingly, his best memory was Sandford Prince winning for the third time in the Gold Cup in 1992.
The horseracing scene in Barbados was a far cry from today in the early 1960s when David Seale got involved in the sport and his contribution over 60 years has been awesome. To say he was a Colossus is an understatement as he played a huge part in raising the sport to what it is today. Knighted in 2000 for his service to business and horseracing, Sir David and his devoted wife Lady Seale continue to promote and develop the industry that he loved with such enthusiasm and passion.
Sir David fell in love with the sport when the family moved from White Park to Chelsea Road, close to the Garrison racetrack. He was seven at the time and found his adventure at the track and his passion was enthused when his parents bought a yearling from John Goddard, a stalwart of the Turf Club. He was hooked for a lifetime.
An Old Boy of the famous Harrison College, Clarence David Seale started his career working for BWIA (British West Indies Airways) after school before going into the family business RL Seale & Co Ltd. He rose from the ranks to become Chairman and owner, currently run by his son Richard, the fourth generation of the family that remains a thriving sector of the rum industry.
The family moved to Hopefield Manor, a delightful old plantation property that dates to 1831 situated on the Hopefield Plantation across the valley from Foursquare Plantation. Foursquare is currently an impressive sprawling empire just outside Six Cross Roads, St. Phillip with perhaps the best road on the island. Foursquare has 38 acres and includes the Distillery House, the Bottling Plant, Heritage Park, Rum Ageing Bonds, Distribution Warehouse, Corporation Offices and the famous Pickwick Cricket Club, generously provided by Sir David when the ground left from Kensington Oval in 2007.
Sir David has always been a generous sponsor and patron of many sporting and community causes including the Barbados National Trust. But perhaps his greatest achievements were in horseracing given his passion, enthusiasm and commitment. A former Senator in the Upper House, Sir David is quiet by nature although not shy to air his views on sporting and social issues that arise in modern Barbados.
He was elected President to the Barbados Turf Club in August 2008 and retired in 2021. He was the catalyst and driving force of the Floodlights at the Racetrack after a long and protracted fight to win approval from the Government. He was delighted when floodlight horseracing started in December 2020 as he had advocated for many years it would be a huge boost to sports tourism.
Although Sir David has always listed his priority in life as business, it would be easy to think otherwise given his passion when he recalls the old days in discussion. Not surprisingly, his best memory was Sandford Prince winning for the third time in the Gold Cup in 1992. He spoke enthusiastically of the victories of Benton, who ‘danced’ from the start and Dominus who won all his races from start to finish. His biggest disappointment was the loss in the Gold Cup by Concorde Hero, beaten by the shortest of heads by Tinkers Image in 1984.
He rates Liz Deane as probably the best Trainer at the Garrison and jockeys Challenor ‘Chally’ Jones and Venice Richards were the Class riders in their day. However, he often said, he could never have achieved any success without the love and care of his wife Anne.
Sir David is now a legend in Barbados horseracing. His record eight Gold Cup wins are outstanding, but not just as a winner, but also as a breeder, owner and administrator. He loves horseracing and had interests in Canada and Trinidad. He still has some interests in England. He had several wins, particularly at Sandown Park England, and was a regular at Royal Ascot. Immaculately dressed at race days, he cuts a dashing and imposing figure and his red and black colours are synonymous in the parade-ring or the hospitality box.
Yes, a Colossus in Barbados horseracing.