Vice President of the Virgin Islands Horse Owners’ Association Lesmore Smith confirmed this morning Saturday October 4, 2014 that none of the horses from St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, have come up for the races slated for tomorrow October 5, 2014 at Ellis Thomas Downs, Sea Cow’s Bay, Tortola. Photo: VINO/File

Horse owner Violet 'Letty' Hodge noted that it is always disappointing when horses from outside don’t show up for the races. “It kills the spirit because people want to see the competition and they want to see certain horses competing against each other. It is the same when horses from Tortola go to St. Thomas,” she said. Photo: VINO/File

Horse owners and jockeys are gearing up for the October 5, 2014 races at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cow’s Bay, Tortola with a number of horses from the Territory as well as some from the United States Virgin Islands slated for competition. Photo: VINO/File

A number of horses from the Virgin Islands and the United States Virgin Islands will be competing in the October 5, 2014 races. Photo: VINO/File

In a comment to this news site, Violet ‘Letty’ Hodge said that she has two horses in the meet: Really Uptown and Buy Buy Buy. Photo: VINO/File

Speaking with Virgin Islands News Online, horse owner Alex V. Lake (with trophy) said that he has one horse – Trading Secrets – competing in the meet. Trading Secrets will be competing in with one other horse, Halo’s Midas Touch, in Race six. Photo: VINO/File

“No horse from St. Thomas coming,” said Smith in a comment to this news site today.

Asked why they are not coming, Smith responded, “I am not sure but I know they won’t be coming.”

“It means that the couple horses [from St. Thomas] that would have been on the race card would be taken off. But it didn’t affect the feature race of the day because there were not in that,” he said.

“For the other smaller races that they were in I think we did a combination so instead of six races there will be five now. We make it tighter to be able to deal with [the shortage],” he said. He added that the races promise to be good despite the last minute changes.

According to the race card, Warrior’s Cove and Appealing Son, competing in race 2; Twisted Dream competing in race 3 and Selena’s So Mad competing in race 4 are the horses that hail from St. Thomas.

Speaking to this news site Violet ‘Letty’ Hodge said that she has two horses in the races, Really Uptown and Buy Buy Buy, are in the peak of their condition and are ready.

“If you are not in condition one day before the races then it means that you will have to go with what you have. But my horses are prepared and are in the peak of their condition,” she said to Virgin Islands News Online this morning.

Hodge noted that it is always disappointing when horses from outside don’t show up for the races. “It kills the spirit because people want to see the competition and they want to see certain horses competing against each other. It is the same when horses from Tortola go to St. Thomas,” she said.

See previous story published on September 29, 2014:

Kanavayen, Really Uptown & Apollo Sky to clash in Oct 5 Horse Races

SEA COW'S BAY, Tortola, VI – Horse owners and jockeys are gearing up for the October 5, 2014 races at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cow’s Bay, Tortola with a number of horses from the Territory as well as some from the United States Virgin Islands slated for competition.

The first race features five Tortola horses: Power Ten, True Essence, I’ll Buy, Make It A Wynn and Good Boy Daddy competing in the 6 and a half furlong for Class D Horses.

Race two features Star Ship Titan and Sin Mirar Atras from Tortola and Appealing Sun and Warrior’s Cove from St Thomas.

Twisted Dreams from St Thomas, Buy Buy Buy and Fort Pyramaid from Tortola will headline Race three.

Pa Pa Pa Perfect from St Croix, Selena’s So Mad from St Thomas and Southern Dunn from Miss Homer from Tortola will go head to head in Race four.

Kanavayen, Really Uptown and Apollo Sky all from Tortola will compete in Race five. In Race six will be Trading Secrets and Halo’s Midas Touch, both of Tortola.

Speaking to this news site, member of the Virgin Islands Horse Owners’ Association Dwight E. Clyne said that this time the US Virgin Islands do not have any of their top horses competing in the race.

“The US Virgin Islands are not having any of their top horses [in this race]. These are just the smaller horses that compete in the smaller races. There are about five horses that are supposed to be coming from the US Virgin Islands,” said Clyne.

In a comment to this news site, Violet ‘Letty’ Hodge said that she has two horses in the race: Really Uptown and Buy Buy Buy.

Asked of her expectations for the races, she said, “Like all horse owners we hope to win. My horses are in tip top shape and we are ready to compete and win.”

Speaking with Virgin Islands News Online, horse owner Alex V. Lake said that he has one horse – Trading Secrets – competing in the meet. Trading Secrets will be competing in with one other horse, Halo’s Midas Touch, in Race six.

According to Lake he expects his horse to give of its best.

President of the Virgin Islands Horse Owners Association Karen B. Smith-Aaron could not be reached for a comment on the preparations for the upcoming races.

Click here to view the race card.