Anticipation high for Aug. 5 races @ Ellis Thomas Downs
A number of horses, some of which hail from Tortola, will be making their debut across a spectrum of races including the headline race – the Premier Cup.
The debutants are Deroadismine from St Thomas, Starship Titan from Tortola, Daddy’s Dream from St Thomas, Make It a Wynn from Tortola, Appealing Son from St Thomas, Joyful Minister from St Croix, Pa Pa Pa Perfect from St Croix, Sin Mirar Atras from Tortola, Kanavayen from Tortola, Holy Barbera from St Croix, Apollo Sky from Tortola, Majestic Express from Tortola, Admission from St Thomas, Trading Secrets from Tortola and Still Unbroken from St Thomas.
Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online Dwight Cline of the Virgin Islands Horse Owners' Association gave the purses for the various races.
“The first race the purse is $4,000 dollars, the second race the purse is $5,000, the third race the purse is $5,500, the fourth race the purse is $5,500, the fifth race is $6,000, the sixth race is $10,000, the seventh race is $10,000 dollars, the Premier Cup is $20,000 and the last race is $12,000.
The Premier Cup will feature four horses, three of which are making their debut. The new horses in this race are Apollo Sky, Majestic Express and Admission and they will be joined by Break Up The Game.
Horse owner Lesmore Smith expressed confidence ahead of the meet, saying that the races should see good results for his three horses.
“I have three horses participating. In the sprint race which is one of the featured race for the day. I have Gamekeeper in that race and he will be up against Really Uptown and three other horses, two from Tortola and two from St Thomas,” he said.
“I am looking for a favourable day. I feel that with the short distance of the race he is supposed to be very good and competitive. I know that it is a lot of speed in the race but I am looking for a favourable day in that race,” said Smith.
He also has Joshua taking part in a six-furlong race. He said that because this race is a bit long he feels confident that his horse will catch up to the competition near to the closing moments of the race.
“We should take that one because Joshua wasn’t bred for sprint…he was bred more for long distance,” he said. According to Smith, the horse should be a better competitor if he is allowed to relax and get into his rhythm.
“We are hoping also for the best with Good Boy Daddy…he always shows himself up,” said Smith. “The entire team is hoping for the best with him and we are looking forward and are confident that we should [win] at least three of the races,” he said.
“We are looking forward also to a good showing by all the horses from the British Virgin Islands and US Virgin Islands. There are 17 horses from our neighbouring islands competing and it should be a good day,” Smith said.
Alex V. Lake, owner of debutant horse Trading Secrets said that the horse is prepared for the race and that he is looking forward to the race meet. “He is running for the first time…he just came from the States and is running for the first time,” said Lake.
Co-owner of L&B Stables Violet ‘Letty’ Hodge said that she is confident in her two horses doing well in the meet. Her horses Buy Buy Buy and Really Uptown are contending in the Randolph ‘Jawa’ Heskey Memorial Race and the Open Sprint BVI Classic 5 Furlongs respectively.
“I think their chances are good, Really Uptown is running and Buy Buy Buy, those are the two that I have running…so I feel very confident,” said Hodge.
Efforts by this news site to reach President of the Virgin Islands Horse Owners’ Association Karen B. Aaron-Smith for a comment on the August 5 race meet proved futile.
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