No horses from St. Thomas will be blazing out of the gates at Ellis Thomas Downs today

It is not clear why all of the horses from the neighbouring Territory have been pulled out. No one from the Virgin Islands Horse Owners’ Association could be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, St Thomas’ horse Sweet Sight may be missing from the rivalry in the feature race today but Good Prospecting and East End Tap go head to head with a place in next year’s Triple Crown at stake.

Just two points separate the pair in the current Power Rankings, which decide the final allotment of places in the Triple Crown which is slated to start on January 15, 2012.

Each of the three tracks involved, St Thomas, St Croix and Tortola are responsible for their own point system. Points are awarded for winning, placing, showing and also bonus points for travelling to “away” tracks.

East End Tap is expected to take the competition to race favourite Good Prospecting in the feature race today.

Class A Restricted Races award 6 points for a win with an additional 2 bonus points for travel. Placing comes with 4 points and a bonus of 1 for travel and 2 points are awarded for showing.

Open Unrestricted Races in Class A & B, I-1 & I-2 have 5 points for a win, 3 points for a place and 1 point for appearance. Class B Restricted Races and Open Unrestricted Races in both Class B & C, I-2 & I-3 designate 3 points for a win, 1.5 points for a place, 2 points for a win and 1 point for a place respectively.

Additionally in order for Class B points to mature for eligibility for the Triple Crown, Class B Horses must have completed in a Class A Race and run in the money. Alternatively Class B horses must have competed in an Open/ Unrestricted Race with Class A horses and run in the money while finishing ahead of a Class A horse.

Currently Really Uptown has 25 points in the standings and is guaranteed a spot in the Triple Crown; Good Prospecting has 15 points, East End Tap 13 and Broken Home 12. Lake Texoma has 5 points.

Broken Home and Lake Texoma face off over 6 ½ furlongs and, of course, the feature race sees Good Prospecting and East End Tap battling it out in the decider.

The Triple Crown starts with the Ellis Thomas Downs Cup on January 15, 2012. The action then moves to St Croix for the Randall Doc James Cup over 1 1/16 mile on February 19th before culminating in St Thomas with the Clinton Phipps Classic over 1-1/8 mile on March 18.

Sponsorship for the Triple Crown comes from Bellows Brand in the USVI and from Roadtown Wholesale here in the VI. Each stage of the series comes with a minimum $10,000 purse and there is a $25,000 Bonus to the Horse that can win the Triple Crown outright (win all 3 races).

If it comes down to a point’s decision then there is a $10,000 bonus with 6 points for a win, 4 points for placing, 2 points for a show and 1 point for participating in each race.

Meanwhile, sponsors for today’s races include CCT Global Communications, Virgin Islands News Online, Hon. Myron Walwyn and BVI Tourist Board.

Race time today is 1:30 p.m.