Really Uptown ahead of the pack. Photo: VINO Team of Reporters

Really Uptown is the first horse to win the Triple Crown and the Governor's Cup, achieving the feat in the same year. Photo: VINO/File

Jockey Alberto Soto celebrates the victory. Photo: VINO Team of Reporters

A section of the crowd at the Clinton E. Phipps racetrack in St Thomas. Photo: VINO Team of reporters

Good Prospecting (extreme right) was expected to face stiff competition from Really Uptown (second right) and Slevin in the Governor's Cup feature of the St Thomas Carnival races. But the competition from Slevin never materialised as the race was between Really Uptown and Bud White. Good Prospecting never found its stride and had to settle for last. Photo: VINO/File

Violet 'Letty' Hodge was very much prepared to bring back the Governor’s Cup to the Virgin Islands even as she had acknowledged the presence of two-time winner, Good Prospecting in the feature race. Photo: VINO/File

Good Prospecting had won the Governor’s Cup in consecutive years, winning the main event in both 2011 and 2012. Photo: VINO/File

Really Uptown is also the first horse to win the Triple Crown and the Governor's Cup, achieving the feat in the same year.

The race minutes ago, April 26, 2013 was between Really Uptown and Bud White with the latter horse putting on a strong fight on his return from injury, however, Really Uptown had enough to take the win and send Virgin Islands horse racing fans into celebration mode.

Slevin of St. Croix came in third while two-time champion Good Prospecting was never a threat in the feature Carnival race.

But even with Good Prospecting failing to three-peat, the Governor's Cup is heading back to Tortola, Virgin Islands.

Important to note is that L&B Stables never won the Governor's Cup even with the legendary Actspectation and so it can be no crime to begin mentioning the name Really Uptown in the same sentence with "Act".

More details to follow.

See previous article posted on April 26, 2013

UPDATE: Carnival races today, April 26; Can Good Prospecting 3-peat!?

- VI horse owners ready to take St Thomas by storm

Horse owners from Tortola in the Virgin Islands are well poised to take St Thomas by storm as ferries and flights chart their way towards the island for carnival races at the Clinton E. Phipps racetrack today, April 26, 2013.

Mr Lesmore Smith, Vice President of the VI Horse Owners Association and owner of consecutive two-time Governor’s Cup winner Good Prospecting, stated that plans were coming along well ahead of today’s action.

“…everything is good, the horses are good [and] everybody is happy,” Smith disclosed.

Six horses were originally scheduled to arrive in St Thomas, but the horses that made the trip from Tortola were Mick G, Broken Home, Really Uptown and Good Prospecting. For reasons unknown, Winaholic (scheduled for debut) and All Country would not be participating in the races.

Smith stated that as far as he knew, the races were on and the horses present were in good health and ready to run.

Asked whether he was ready to defend the title won by Good Prospecting in the two previous instalments of the Governor’s Cup race, Smith said, “As always, I’ll try my best every time.”

Smith also indicated that preparations were moving forward at the Clinton E. Phipps racetrack in time for today’s races, “they’re working vigorously on ensuring the clean-up process and preparation process are in stride,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Mr James Bates, owner of Slevin of St Croix related that his preparations were going smoothly and he was all set for the showdown ahead.

The main attraction for the race is the Governor’s Cup which features Slevin, Good Prospecting, Triple Crown Champion Really Uptown, and Bud White of St Thomas.

The horses from Tortola left on Sunday, April 21, 2013 in preparation for the excitement scheduled to begin at 2 P.M.

Horse racing fans are being encouraged to come out and support the races at the track today. Tickets for the races are available at Native Son in West End, Smith’s Ferry in Road Town and any committee member of the VI Horse Owners’ Association. The tickets are priced at $12 for adults and $5 for children.

See previous story posted on April 19, 2013:

Will the Governor’s Cup change hands?

- stiff competition expected; six Tortola horses to depart for St Thomas Carnival Races

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Horseracing fans are likely salivating at the opportunity to witness yet another Virgin Islands victory as six Tortola horses are expected to leave the Territory this Sunday, April 21, 2013 and hit the deck running in preparations for the upcoming St Thomas Carnival races at the Clinton E. Phipps racetrack.

The feature event for the carnival races, scheduled for April 26, 2013, will be the highly anticipated Governor’s Cup. Tortola’s very own Good Prospecting is currently the defending champion.

Good Prospecting won the Governor’s Cup in consecutive years, winning the main event in both 2011 and 2012.

Among those making the trip would be Mick G, Broken Home, Winaholic (on debut), All Country, Really Uptown and Good Prospecting.

The defending champion is expected to face a serious challenge from Really Uptown, favoured to win the event following a number of scintillating and consecutive victories, which include those in the recently concluded VI Triple Crown Challenge.

Really Uptown aka Jet Blue achieved victory in Tortola, St Thomas and St Croix on the way to becoming the first Triple Crown Champion that secured the event by winning all three legs of the races. Slevin of St Croix and Bud White of St Thomas are also expected to participate in the feature race.

President of the VI Horse Owners’ Association, Karen Smith-Aaron related that final preparations have been made and all the horses are set to travel by barge sometime Sunday evening, April 21, 2013.

Tickets for the races are available at Native Son in West End, Smith’s Ferry in Road Town and any committee member of the VI Horse Owners’ Association. The tickets are priced at $12 for adults and $5 for children.

It is hoped that fans would get their tickets as early as possible since race day is usually a very busy day, Smith-Aaron said.

She encouraged all fans to come out in support of the races and was hopeful that there would be as many VI flags in the air as were seen during the Triple Crown races abroad.

Owner of defending champion Good Prospecting, Mr Lesmore Smith, could not be reached for comment as he is currently overseas on business.

Meanwhile, Really Uptown’s owner, Violet ‘Letty’ Hodge, was all excitement in preparation for the races.

“I’m ready and I’m set to go,” said Hodge, “I’m going to try to accommodate as much victories and as much trophies as I can for the VI.”

She said she was very much prepared to bring back the Governor’s Cup even as she acknowledged the presence of two-time winner, Good Prospecting in the feature race.

“Once it comes home, everything is safe,” she added.

See official race card below: