Slevin who won the first leg of the Triple Crown by several lengths gives the rest of the field a head start in Sunday's Turtle Dove Classic.

Slevin, owned by James Bate from St Croix, was last out of the gates by some distance and yet managed to not only catch the field, but also end up winning the race by several lengths from East End Tap, Political Reporter and Good Prospecting in 4th.

Owner of Good Prospecting and President of the VI Horse Owners’ Association, Lesmore Smith, was impressed by Slevin’s run but not overawed.

“I didn’t win, but I’m not disappointed, down spirited, but not disappointed. Sportsmanship tells you these things can happen. I am going to prep again for the second leg in St Croix on February 19th. There are good days and bad days but you have to keep going. I never saw Slevin run before, he’s pretty good, but any good horse can be beaten on a given day, so it’s all about sportsmanship. I will look at the tape and see what went wrong and how we can fix it and look forward to the next leg in good spirits.”

The day was filled with action packed races and although the "Big One" went to Slevin their were wins for 'Tola Horses", Spirit on Fire, Glorious Memory and Really Uptown

Earlier, following his win on Spirit on Fire in the Patsy Lake Classic over 7 Furlongs, Jockey Carlos Lopez Junior had been full of hope for his ride in the Turtle Dove Classic, East End Tap, but couldn’t maintain an early lead.
“He’s been doing wonderful, he’s been going great, but in the end he just didn’t have the legs,” Lopez admitted.

Although technically the day went very well and was a great advert for Horse Racing in the Virgin Islands, the Sport of Kings wouldn’t be the same without some controversy.

In Race 2, in the Oliver Cills Showdown over 7 furlongs, a lengthy Judges’ Inquiry saw Thanks McGiverin keeping his win, but the positions of Mick G, who originally was 3rd and Mr. Gold Prospect, who finished 2nd were reversed following the latter horse from St Thomas veering across the path of Mick G.

The Axel Ritter Special became a one horse race when Northern Pike refused to leave the gate and just stood up as Eastern Seaboard romped round the track to claim the $4,000 purse.

After the edge of the seat excitement of Slevin’s win, the last race threatened to be an anti- climax, but not so as St Croix’s Berberis stormed to victory unaware of what was going on behind him between Square One who finished 2nd and Lake Texoma 3rd.

Jockey Roberto Rosado was adamant that he had been squeezed around the final bend by Sunday Diaz on Square One, but it was the owners who got the most animated with arm waving and shouting. However, calm was soon restored with justice and the integrity prevailing.

Owner James Bates, Supporters and Race Sponsors, Shan Mohammed from Nagico along with Rhodni Skelton from the BVI Tourist Board celebrate Slevin's victory in the first leg of the VI Triple Crown.

A huge crowd had been given a great day’s racing and Lesmore Smith was quick to thank all those who had come out to support the history making spectacle. “The day went very well,” he commented. “I would like to thank all the supporters, the owners and the sponsors.”

The previous Horse Owners’ Association has also announced a special low travel package from Tortola to St Croix for the second leg on Sunday February 19.

For just $160.00, round trip tickets are now available, which includes tickets on the Road Town Fast Ferry and also transportation to the Randall Doc James Race Track. For more information persons can call 544-4046 or 443-3702.

President of the St Thomas/ St John Horse Owners’ Association, Winston D. Benjamin was equally impressed with the way the day had turned out. “It’s been a long time coming, to get this event going,” he said. “It’s tremendous and has attracted a lot of interest. There has been a lot of behind the scenes work with St Thomas and St Croix. We now look forward to the second leg in St Croix in February.”

As for the last leg, Benjamin added that fans will just have to wait and see what they have planned. “The final leg on March 18th may possibly bring some new horses, we don’t know if the horses today will make it all the way through, but whatever happens it’s going to be a fantastic event.”

He also pointed out for those who can’t wait there are races on January 29 at the Clinton E Phipps Track to mark the opening of their 2012 season.

The name “Slevin” has origins from Gaelic and means “Mountain” and that is exactly what the likes of Good Prospecting, East End Tap, Diablo’s Fire, Political Reporter and Voice of Faith will have to climb if they are to maintain a serious challenge for the Triple Crown in the remaining two legs.