Horse owner, Rasharn Creque, said he had decided to give his horse Good Evening Officer a break in the upcoming races at Ellis Thomas Downs. Photo:VINO

Michael Smith of Alliance Point Stables will be racing Khun Dan in the fourth race of first leg of the Second Annual VI Triple Crown. Photo:VINO

Owner of Slevin, Mr James Bates (right, with blue jeans), has related to Virgin Islands News Online that his horse received an injury to a hoof on one of his front legs while he was in a stable at Ellis Thomas Downs at Sea Cows Bay for the Boxing Day races last December. Photo: VINO/File

Horse racing fans may be disappointed that Slevin (in picture) will be missing in the first leg of the Triple Crown Challenge. Photo: VINO/File

All eyes and hopes will be on the back of Really Uptown (right) when the first leg of the Triple Crown Challenge kicks off on Sunday January 13, 2013 at Ellis Thomas Downs. Photo: VINO/File

Horse owner, Rasharn Creque aka Fridge, brought his horse Twisted Dream, who is scheduled to participate in the feature race on Sunday and said his horse was training well and after recently winning in St Croix was expected to perform at his best at Ellis Thomas Downs. “He likes Tortola, he won up here the last time he ran.”

He also noted that even though the race should be tough, he felt good about his chances of winning the race. “We’re ready to go,” he said of his team, “we wish it were today.”

Mr Creque felt that his horse was in good condition considering that he ran as recently as two weeks ago and thought that there wasn’t much that needed to be done in terms of preparation for the big race. “There isn’t much you could do, just to freshen him up and hope he can take the ship good…” he said.

He also disclosed that his other horse that was expected to run in the third race of the day did not make the trip to Tortola. “I have Good Evening Officer as well, but I decided to give her a little break,” he disclosed, “she’s been going hard for 2012 so I just gave her a little break.”

Meanwhile, Michael Smith of Alliance Point Stables will be hoping that his horse, Khun Dan, will emerge victorious in the third race of the day. Khun Dan goes up against Tormento and Gaffalione.

Mr Smith said he plans to take Khun Dan through his paces around the track for a few times and is fully expecting a strong finish. His other horse, News Carrier, had earlier pulled up sore and had to be withdrawn from the races as a result.

See previous story posted January 10, 2013:

UPDATE: Slevin out of Triple Crown first leg!

- injured hoof forces horse out of contention; may recover in time for 2nd leg-Trainer

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The first leg of the VI Triple Crown Challenge has been dealt an early blow with the news that St. Croix's champion horse Slevin is out due to injury.

Owner of Slevin, Mr James Bates, related to Virgin Islands News Online today, January 10, 2012 that his horse received an injury to a hoof on one of his front legs while he was in a stable at Ellis Thomas Downs at Sea Cows Bay for the Boxing Day races last December. 

Bates said the injury was most likely acquired from shavings in the stable

Though disappointed, Mr Bates said he was optimistic his horse would recover quickly and be able to recuperate fully to participate in the second leg of the Triple Crown Challenge.

He disclosed that the horse received a cut to the frog segment of his hoof, which was located near the heel section.  

“He ran some hard races, maybe five or six races in a row,” said Mr Bates before adding that the team was advised to use the opportunity to get some rest ahead of the second leg of the Triple Crown Challenge, which is set for February 17, 2012 in St Croix.

The horse was expected to continue its keen rivalry with Really Uptown, another key feature of the main event for Sunday’s upcoming first leg of the Triple Crown.

Meanwhile, Owner of Really Uptown, Mrs Violet ‘Letty’ Hodge expressed her disappointment at the horse’s absence in the upcoming race. “Well I’m disappointed, but things happen,” she said.

She added that Mr Bates would know what is best for his horse while noting that there will be other races. "…we'll meet again,” she said.

See race card below:

Triple Crown Challenge

First Leg

Ellis Thomas Downs

See previous story posted on January 6, 2013

Can Really UpTown do it yet again?!

- Race card out for 1st leg of Triple Crown Challenge

The first leg of the Triple Crown Challenge is all set for Sunday January 13, 2013 at Ellis Thomas Downs with six of the finest horses in the Virgin Islands going head to head in a battle for the ultimate prize and a so far undisclosed cash bonus.

Locally owned horses Really Uptown and Good Prospecting will be pitting their speed against Slevin and Gato Paso, who replaced News Carrier from St Croix, as well as Sweet Sight and Twisted Dream from St Thomas, over 1 1/16^th mile for the Ellis Thomas Downs Cup.

Back at the Boxing Day Races on the same track, Really Uptown pulled of a fantastic win over Slevin. Horse racing fans will be hoping for the same result come next Sunday.

Bud White is rumoured to be aiming at being fit again to maybe run in the third and final leg in St Thomas, the Leroy Gottlieb Classic, over 1 mile on March 17.

The second leg on St Croix, the Randall Doc James Cup, over 1 1/8^th mile, is scheduled for February 27 and as newly elected President of the VI Horse Owners’ Association, Karen Smith-Aaron, noted “the dates have been set for almost two years and were planned so that St Croix’s date falls on their Annual Agricultural Day and ends in March [so it won’t] affect St. Thomas’ Carnival which is in April.”

The distances for the tracks have been changed to ensure a faster and safer run for the horses. The distance at Ellis Thomas Downs was reportedly deemed too close to the corner last year and St Thomas had bad breaking on the corner, whilst St Croix was deemed the best track for the 1 1/8.

Each track has to guarantee a purse of $10,000 under the rules of the Triple Crown Challenge, but although there will be a bonus structure in place similar to last years the amounts have yet to be confirmed. In 2012, the winning horse on a points system (6 for a win, 4 for a place and 2 for a show) received an extra $10,000 and if a horse had won all 3 legs then the bonus would have been $25,000 with a horse having to take part in all 3 legs to be eligible.

The Triple Crown Challenge is great for horse racing in the territory and probably the only chance for some race fans to witness the best horses from all three islands in action.

The economy on all three islands is also expected to get a boost around the time of the various legs.

Gate time for the first race on January 13 is 2 P.M.