The racing fraternity was dealt another tragic blow on Saturday evening when one of the country's top racehorse owners and breeders, Bernard Dulal-Whiteway, 62–also a highly successful businessman – succumbed to cancer. Dulal-Whiteway was considered an astute racing man, having won many major events locally and many of the top events in the South Caribbean. Dulal-Whiteway was born in San Fernando in 1947 and had the distinction of winning the first Derby of the new millenium with the aptly named filly, New Millenium. However, that was not his last big race lead-in as he walked into the winner's enclosure in 2006 when Border Dispute a Jamaican-bred horse which he bought for his son, Graeme, came with a wet sail, under Panamanian jockey Nobel Abrego to deny Crown Point in the Royal Oak Derby. His filly Flying Millie finished third in what was a family triumph at the centralised facility at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.
Dulal-Whiteway was in the racing game for 37 years, and his famous orange silks were dominant in the late 90s and beyond when the combination of he and Jack Debideen was unbeatable. The business magnate soared to stardom with Debideen and Ricky Jadoo and their association was the toast of the racing industry for many years. Dulal-Whiteway, a chartered accountant, did not stop at ownership. He was a former member of the Betting Levy Board and in 2005, received the Jetsam award for his contribution to local horse racing. In 2008, he recieved the Chaconia Medal (Gold) the nation's second highest honour at the Independence Day awards for long and meritorious service' to T&T. Word of Dulal-Whiteway's passing evoked deepest sympathies. Chairman of the T&T Racing Authority (TTRA) Joe Hadeed described his death as a loss to society and and "an even greater loss to racing."
Hadeed said Dulal-Whiteway raced horses all over the world and remained a man who lost with grace. "He had a vision and possessed a great love for racing. His vision was that stakeholders should manage racing and I hope there are persons who will move to ensure his vision is achieved." Hadeed recalled the Swing By issue when Dulal-Whiteway had a lot to lose. "How many owners in the game would have been able to endure that and still be as calm as Bernard? He never blamed anyone. Just before his illness he told me he was going to take a more serious interest in the administration of racing. He was to get more involved and it is my view that his vision is the right model for racing. I am happy that I could have trained for him in the early days."
Maniram "Boboy" Maharaj said Dulal-Whiteway was a gentleman of the highest order. "He has done so much for racing and racing will miss him a lot." Maharaj said he met Dulal Whiteway years ago through racing. "I was the first man to learn he had cancer. I was surprised he held me in such high esteem. It is a sad occasion from all aspects. He was my colleague and friend. Our relationship goes back some 30 years and I can never say one bad thing about the man. "We worked, travelled and owned racehorses together and was nothing short of a perfect gentleman. He has been a great supporter in all aspects of his life. Bernard was a rarity and when you lose someone of his calibre, a replacement is difficult to find." Last year, Whiteway received the Chaconia Gold medal for his work in the business arena.
