UPDATE - Contrary to false statements, East End Tap alive & well
The talk of East End Tap’s demise first surfaced on NDP radio talk show of May 7, 2012 by host Eileene Parsons who had said the horse was put to sleep on Saturday of May 5. Again, this Saturday May 12, 2012, it was repeated on the Sports Talk Show on ZBVI hosted by 'Pico' Pickering and David 'Cannon' Fahie that East End Tap “was put down”.
Trainer Rodney Simmonds had told this news site that the horse was well and alive when he was interviewed on May 7, 2012 and has once again confirmed that his prized horse is still alive.
On Sunday May 13, 2012, Virgin Islands News Online visited the horse at its stables. East End Tap looked very much at ease until he saw his visitors and couldn’t stand still as one of his trainers took him out for an early morning walk and then to the middle of the track where he was going to be let loose.
The once active race horse could be seen staring at the track getting agitated and according to Mr. Simmonds, it will take a while for him to get accustomed to not being a racehorse.
Simmonds said East End Tap, the winner of the 3rd leg of the VI Triple Crown, will become a pleasure horse but will need several months to adjust to his “quieter” lifestyle.
Simmonds said he is still surprised at the rumours that are spreading about his horse.
East End Tap's leg was still visibly swollen from the injury that has brought an abrupt end to his racing career and a blow to fans.
On April 27, 2012, at the Clinton E. Phipps race track in St. Thomas, USVI, the seven year-old gelding fractured his Sesamoid bone which is located in the right front leg during the Governor’s Cup race.
On April 29, Simmonds had told Virgin Islands News Online that they were awaiting a veterinarian who was being flown in from Miami, to determine whether the VI horse would be able to be “up and running” as a pleasure horse or would have had to be put to sleep based on his injuries.
And according to Simmonds, even before the race was over, he realised something was wrong with East End Tap. “We had a strategy, and when I saw he was lagging behind I knew he was injured.”
When asked if the injury could have been avoided, the season trainer explained that “it is something that just happens, but I was hoping it never happened with him”.
East End Tap, over the few months, has done the Virgin Islands proud. His last victory on March 18, 2012 at the Clinton E. Phipps racetrack was a nail biting one when he beat Bud White to win the 3rd leg of the Triple Crown and a $10,000 bonus cheque.
He is part of The Boys Stables.
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