The Premier's Cup scheduled for August 7, 2012 (August Tuesday) at the Ellis Thomas Downs and unqualified horses for that race has to pay a supplementary fee to participate. Photo: VINO/File

Lesmore Smith, President of the VI Horseowners' Association. Photo: VINO/File

This decision that was made by the Virgin Islands Horse Owners’ Association (VIHOA) was as a result of financial constraints faced by the committee and horse owners, which concluded in some cases, with horses deemed as not qualified.

To be qualified to participate in the Premier’s Cup, the horse should race in the VI prior to the big event.

According to President of the VIHOA, Lesmore Smith, a race was scheduled to take place on July 15 for horses to qualify for the main event, however, he said the race did not take place due to lack of funds.

“We had to choose, the horse owners were complaining about their budgets and if they afford to come on the 15, they won’t be able to come on August Tuesday, so we chose and we decided to include a supplementary fee, to accommodate those who didn’t have the chance to qualify. The association does not have money like that to just take up. They too are under financial obligations so we had to choose, and we chose our traditional August Tuesday race that is more popular.”

Mr. Smith told this news site that the introduction of the supplementary fee is to create a chance for the horses around the Virgin Islands who did not have the opportunity to qualify because of the cancelled race.

He added that, “this is not a change that will be effective every year; this is just a change to accommodate those persons who didn’t get the chance to qualify because the race was cancelled. We have to be fair.”

He stated that persons who would have signed up for the cancelled July 15 races are required to pay the supplementary fee which is a figure that varies between the amount of $500-$1000, and are also required to pay the normal requirements for entering a horse.

However, interested horse owners/riders who did not sign up for that race and came after July 15 with horses that do not qualify, will be asked to pay more.

“His/her argument is not one that could have been they didn’t have the opportunity to qualify because they came after the 15th”.

He stated that the Premier’ Cup is slated to be held at Ellis Thomas Downs on August 7, 2012. Smith said so far, only four horses have qualified for the race: the reigning Champion Diablo Fire of St. Thomas along with Budwhite, and one each from St. Croix and Tortola.

Meanwhile, speaking to the Racing Secretary of the Horse Racing Association in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, Kareem ‘Pogo’ Thompson, said that this decision is a good idea and many should be able to benefit from it.
“For persons who didn’t get a chance to race their horses in the BVI they are granted this rare opportunity to enter the competition.”

He added that although the St. Thomas Association would not be taking part in the offer, it is still a good one.

Meanwhile, this news site tried to contact local horse owners to solicit their views on the fees.
However, only Letty Hodge from L & B Stables was available for a comment who said because some horses weren’t given the opportunity to qualify for the upcoming event, they have no other choice but to pay the fee, if they wish to participate.

“This would be the only way to participate if you are not qualified.”