Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Horseracing 'will never be the same' without ‘Bob’ & ‘Mileage’- Lesmore Smith

- Rodney A. Simmonds aka ‘Mileage’ to be laid to rest Saturday, March 13, 2021 & Earl D. Hodge aka ‘Bob’ on March 20, 2021
Rodney A. Simmonds aka ‘Mileage’, right, was shot to death at his Threadfall residence on February 5, 2021, while Earl D. Hodge aka ‘Bob’, left, was gunned down at his home in Hannah’s Estate on February 9, 2021. Photo: VINO/File
Earl D. Hodge aka 'Bob' was famously known for owning Actspectation, a horse that dominated horse racing in the Greater Virgin Islands in the early 2000s and famously amassed a 19-race winning streak. Photo: VINO/File
Earl D. Hodge aka 'Bob' was famously known for owning Actspectation, a horse that dominated horse racing in the Greater Virgin Islands in the early 2000s and famously amassed a 19-race winning streak. Photo: VINO/File
Rodney A. Simmonds aka ‘Mileage’, a businessman who part-owned The Boys Gas Station and The Boys Stable with Enos Z. Aaron, owned many respectable horses over the years, including Apollo Sky, which won the 2014 Boxing Day feature race. Photo: VINO/File
Rodney A. Simmonds aka ‘Mileage’, a businessman who part-owned The Boys Gas Station and The Boys Stable with Enos Z. Aaron, owned many respectable horses over the years, including Apollo Sky, which won the 2014 Boxing Day feature race. Photo: VINO/File
A billboard publicising the funeral for the late Rodney A. Simmonds aka 'Mileage'. Photo: Facebook
A billboard publicising the funeral for the late Rodney A. Simmonds aka 'Mileage'. Photo: Facebook
President of the VI Horse Racing Association, Mr Lesmore Smith has lamented that horseracing in the Virgin Islands will never be the same without horseracing aficionados Earl D. Hodge aka ‘Bob’ and Rodney A. Simmonds aka ‘Mileage’. Photo: VINO/File
President of the VI Horse Racing Association, Mr Lesmore Smith has lamented that horseracing in the Virgin Islands will never be the same without horseracing aficionados Earl D. Hodge aka ‘Bob’ and Rodney A. Simmonds aka ‘Mileage’. Photo: VINO/File
SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI- The horseracing fraternity in the Virgin Islands and the US Virgin Islands is still reeling from the death of two of its most prominent horse owners and supporters of the ‘sport of kings’.

Rodney A. Simmonds aka ‘Mileage’ was shot to death at his Threadfall residence on February 5, 2021, while Earl D. Hodge aka ‘Bob’ was gunned down at his home in Hannah’s Estate on February 9, 2021.

Police have said the homicides are unrelated.

Rodney A. Simmonds aka ‘Mileage’

Simmonds, a businessman who part-owned The Boys Gas Station and The Boys Stable with Enos Z. Aaron, owned many respectable horses over the years, including Apollo Sky, which won the 2014 Boxing Day feature race, leaving Chilean Boy and Governor’s Cup champ Swag Daddy in its wake.

From his first horse “Mr Work”, Simmonds owned several horses, including Chovanes, Leave It To Bern, East End Tap, Broken Home, Special Counsel, and Stevens Got Better, Wrol Up among others.

The late Mr Simmonds will be laid to rest tomorrow, March 13, 2021 at Sea Cows Bay Burial Ground, following funeral service at New Life Baptist Church.

A Remembrance Viewing Ceremony was held today, March 12, 2021, for the late Mr Simmonds at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay.

Legendary horse owner Earl D. Hodge aka ‘Bob’

The late Mr Hodge, along with his wife Violet Hodge aka ‘Letty’, famously owned L and B Stables, which had some of the best horses in the Greater Virgin Islands.

Two legendary horses owned by Mr Hodge were Actspectation and Really Uptown. Other horses included Lake Texoma, Doughmaker and Ugly Betty.

Actspectation dominated horse racing in the Greater Virgin Islands in the early 2000s and famously amassed a 19-race winning streak.

Actspectation also won the Premier’s Cup in the VI five times between 2001 and 2005 and also captured the Governor’s Cup in the US Virgin Islands.

Really Uptown famously won the Triple Crown in 2013, taking all three races and also won the Governor’s Cup the same year.

Mr Hodge and his wife also sponsored races while Mrs Hodge also served as a President of the VI Horse Owners Association.

Mr Hodge will be laid to rest on Saturday, March 20, 2021, according to reports reaching our newsroom.

‘Bob’ & ‘Mileage’ had a passion for the sport- Lesmore Smith

Meanwhile, the tremendous contribution to horseracing in the Virgin Islands by Mr Simmonds and Mr Hodge; however, can never be forgotten.

According to the President of the VI Horse Racing Association Mr Lesmore Smith, horseracing will never be the same without the two deceased horseracing aficionados.

He said the two gentlemen made a “tremendous impact” on the horseracing industry because they really had the passion and the love for the sport.

“It wasn’t about anything else but the love for the sport and trying to keep it highly promoted and alive within the Virgin Islands so the people can come out and enjoy themselves to a tradition that we ourselves came and met, that our fore parents left,” Mr Smith told Virgin Islands News Online.

‘Unfortunate’

He said Mr Simmonds and Mr Hodge wanted to make sure the sport stayed alive for generations to come. “Their untimely death was very much unfortunate…it is tragic. They will be dearly missed,” Mr Smith lamented.

The horse owner, businessman and administrator also expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and to the horse racing fraternity in the Virgin Islands and US Virgin Islands.

“It wouldn’t be the same, it will never be the same. Those were two household names in the communities, here and overseas,” an emotional Smith told Virgin Islands News Online.

14 Responses to “Horseracing 'will never be the same' without ‘Bob’ & ‘Mileage’- Lesmore Smith”

  • original (12/03/2021, 23:49) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    How you could forget the horse Punchinella that The Original Boys Stables owned with Rodney
    • horse man (13/03/2021, 04:52) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      Rodney did not owned Punchinella , he owned mr. wok and Dress Formal which use to run against Punchi
    • Look Who is Here Punchinella (13/03/2021, 07:21) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      1990’s Punchinella was the star of the show
  • gkefkkdakxq (13/03/2021, 00:39) Like (7) Dislike (6) Reply
    Two legend have been taken from us
  • pat (13/03/2021, 00:55) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    We will miss both men horse race is dead now
  • @original (13/03/2021, 05:34) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Yessa. mama always say be the best of wat u do no matter wat ........PACK LEADERS...LEGENDARY....RIP MILEAGE/ BOB
  • one eye (13/03/2021, 08:13) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
    May they both rest in power
  • SCB Gurl (13/03/2021, 10:02) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    A wonderful tribute by Lesmore
  • ghut boy (13/03/2021, 10:38) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    These are sad sad times but god is still with us

    Rip mileage and bob
  • da West (13/03/2021, 12:12) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    The work these two gentlemen did will certainly speak for them. Their acts of kindness and the compassion they have demonstrated from time to time will also speak for them. May their souls rest in eternal peace and may God continue to watch over their families. RIP
  • West side (13/03/2021, 16:00) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Letty please stay strong we praying for you
  • Road Town (13/03/2021, 20:04) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    very mindful times must change; some could recall attending a funeral was to past last respect to the passing of the elderly in our villages. fast forward to 2020 and we now morn the passing of the young.....
  • musa (13/03/2021, 21:58) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    God bless their soul and provided the love ones with strength during this period.
  • Peaches (15/03/2021, 07:41) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Condolences to the family. But what boggles my mind is how these two gentlemen died within a week of each other? We have not heard a thing since their demise from the RVIPF? Not one word...


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.