The big demon Slevin of St. Croix pose for the camera after completing a morning walk on the track at Ellis Thomas Downs this morning January 13, 2012. Photo: Andre Shadow Dawson

The visiting horses from St. Croix and St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands arrived last evening, January 12, 2012 by barge for the races and are getting familiar with the race track at Ellis Thomas Downs.

Virgin Islands News Online visited the stables this morning January 13, 2012 to get a first-hand look at how preparations are coming along and hear from the horse owners of their anticipations and projections for the feature race.

This is Slevin’s first visit to Tortola and the St. Croix champion horse has been deemed a favourite for the race. This morning he did not gallop on the track but was rather given a causal walk around the track and is expected to test it tomorrow.

Owner James Bates of St. Croix told this news agency that he is looking forward to Sunday’s races.
Bates described his seven year old racing champion as a “nice patient horse” who took the trip on the barge very good. “He ate his food and everything he don’t give us no trouble. He took his bathe ok and everything.”

Asked what are his expectations competing in the first Triple Crown event, the horse owner said, “I am looking forward to bring the sport up where we want it to be and I know we cannot be like States side but this is our work and we do enjoy it very good. I just want this one to set a good mark for the rest a them down the road.”

Bates said Slevin has won three out of his four races so far.

“He won his first race, he won his second where he broke the track record and he did it in hands, the third race he lost to Diablo’s Fire and came back his fourth race and took the championship and track record. The first record is a seven and a half forlong in St. Croix which he ran in 1.29 then he did the mile in 1.48, breaking the record of 1.50.”

Regarding his expectations for the actual race, the humble owner said: “We have also come to win and hope everyone come out, all the horses can make all the legs and hope everyone come out to St. Croix for the second one which is Agriculture Week on February 19 and the last leg in St. Thomas.”

Diablo's Fire will be the only horse representing St. Thomas in the Triple Crown after Voice of Faith was scratched. He was treated to apples and carrots this morning and seemed relaxed for the races on Sunday. Photo: Andre Shadow Dawson.

Diablo’s Fire was in his stable receiving a treat of apples and carrots that was carefully cut and fed to him by his trainer. The Premier Cup winner reached out and gobbled up pieces of apples, seemed to have flashed his visitors a friendly look of pride and returned inside his stable for some oats. Indeed it looked like a King’s treatment for the champion horse.

Meanwhile, the owner of No Nonsense Stables Ajabe Rhymer proudly told Virgin Islands News Online that the horse is here to win.

“We come here to represent St. Thomas and will do the best we can, to all the other horses good luck.”
Asked if his camp had a game plan, the owner said they don’t as “we come here to run and he [No Nonsense] knows what he has to do and he will do it.”

Political Reporter was the only horse to take to the track this morning during this news team’s visit and appeared comfortable as he tested the surface.

The owner, who only gives his name as Jun, said he had wanted to bring his horse to Tortola and looks forward to the big race on Sunday.

“Sunday we expect to come pole to pole, we ain’t studying nobody, about who going come from the back, who going challenge we, that’s it.”

Jun said he is also looking forward to returning again.

East End Tap, is one of two local horses, who is expected to provide top notch competition for the visiting horses. In fact, East End Tap is a race favourite and will be looking to make his debut victory in his homeland, having won on St. Thomas and St. Croix.

Political Reporter from St. Croix was all hyped this morning as his jockey tested the surface in preparation for Sunday's Triple Crown. Photo: Andre Shadow Dawson

According to Lou Harmon from The Boys Stables, they are confident that they could win the race even though he acknowledged that the competition is tough.

“It will be a good race … may the best horse win,” Harmon added.

It was time to catch up with President of the BVI Horseowners’ Association President Lesmore Smith, who is also the owner of Good Prospecting. The stallion has some sweet victories under his harness, including the Governor’s Cup in St. Thomas in May last year and the recent Boxing Day races on Tortola.

From a horseowner’s prospective, Smith says he feels great and knows that Good Prospecting will defend.

Asked about his chances of winning, Smith said: “Defending home is a good thing and with East End Tap and myself I think we are in for a good day. We went St. Thomas and did it one, two … and I am looking for the same turn out this time around as long as we defend that is what matters.”

The races for Sunday January 15, 2012, kick off at 1 p.m.