Fighting Back, above, and Unsociable, below, are two of the horses from Anegada that will be carrying the pride of the Virgin Islands at Carnival Races in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands on Friday, May 1, 2026. Photo: VINO

The first race of the day will get underway at 1:00 PM, while the final race of the day will run at 5:30 PM. Photo: VINO

When the gate breaks at 5:00 PM in the feature clash of the Carnival Races at Clinton E. Phipps Sr Racetrack on St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, on Friday, May 1, 2026, horses from Anegada and Tortola will be in the mix hunting for glory and the top purse of $30,000.00. Photo: Horse Racing Nation VI

Fighting Back of Anegada (Francis Racing Stables) and Laser Sharp of Tortola (Top Priority Racing Stables) will be among the horses competing in the Governor’s Cup, which will be run over one mile.

While Laser Sharp has not featured for a while, Fighting Back is coming off a win in the feature clash of Spring Stakes on March 8, 2026.

Notably, champion horse Pure Speight will also be running in the feature race, which has also attracted the likes of Feel the Magic, Emmett, and Ice Road.

Unsociable

Meanwhile, Unsociable of Anegada will also be carrying the weight of Virgin Islands pride- in the 7^th race of the 9-race card.

Unsociable, which gave Anegada its first victory at Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack on St Thomas on Sunday, December 21, 2025, will be coming up against Valued Cajun, Barrio San Jose, Abadin, Carico and Sound of the Beast.

That race fetches a top purse of $20,000.

Barrio San Jose got the better of Unsociable at Spring Races on March 8, 2026, but its owner, Kenny Francis, had vowed since then to get revenge.

“We going to get ready for Carnival races. As you say, Barrio San Jose beat us in the other race, but we're coming for Barrio [this] Carnival,” Francis had said.

The first race of the day will get underway at 1:00 PM, while the final race of the day will run at 5:30 PM.

‘The big show’

Chief Operating Officer of Southland Gaming VI, Shaine A. Gaspard, told Virgin Islands News Online, Carnival Races is “the big show”.

“Carnival Race Day in St Thomas is a full day of nine races. This is the Big Show. It showcases the Virgin Islands’ top trainers, jockeys, and racehorses, and it is a day for everyone, with families, longtime racing fans, and first-time visitors all coming together in the stands, with something for all, in a celebration of speed and culture.”

The Carnival Races will be run on the heels of Clinton E. Phipps Sr Racetrack having been found to be in “great condition” and safe for continued use following a recent independent inspection that evaluated the track’s running surface, subsurface, grade, and elevation.

The assessment, conducted by a Florida-based company that specialises in thoroughbred tracks and arenas, found no immediate hazards and no significant deficiencies affecting safety or performance. 

See Race Card Below: