Tortola's two-time Governor's Cup Winner Good Prospecting won the September 9, 2012 feature race at the Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack in St. Thomas USVI. He beat out St. Thomas' Sweet Sight and Wise Option. Photo: VINO/File

It was clearly evident that horse races remain alive and well in the greater Virgin Islands as all roads led to the Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack, in St. Thomas USVI on September 9, 2012. 

Three of the Virgin Islands (Tortola) horses were in attendance.  They were two time Governor’s Cup winner Good Prospecting owned by Lesmore Smith, Queteparececholito, owned by Elroy "Yankee" Leonard and Broken Home owned by Rodney Simmons. 

Tortola’s Broken Home beat out News Carrier and Eltheeb who was making his debut, in the 6-furlong Santa Maria Handicap. The purse was $4,500. 

Tortola’s Good Prospecting Shines

Race number 7, the feature race of the day, saw two horses scratched, Gato Paso and St. Thomas favourite Bud White from the Fast N Deco Handicap.
 
The three-horse race which started at 5:15 p.m., was run between two-time Governor's Cup winner Good Prospecting of Tortola, along with Sweet Sight and Wise Option of St. Thomas. Good Prospecting of Tortola seemed to have had an easy win in the 1-mile $5,500 contest.  

Tortola’s Queteparececholito, which placed second in its race, was the only local horse who did not bring home a win, giving Tortola 2 wins out of 3. 

Speaking with this news site, Rodney Simmons, owner of Broken Home said “[The win] was expected, the races that he was in [he] was expected to win.” 

He expressed that there was no real competition for Broken Home and he was pleased about the victory. Broken Home is expected to participate in an upcoming race at the end of this month. 

Meanwhile, Mr Lesmore Smith, owner of Good Prospecting, said that the horse was his god-sent horse. “He runs with such a big heart… he gives his heart, his whole heart.” Smith explained. 

The President of the VI Horseowners’ Association expressed that he was well prepped for the race he entered. It was hoped, he added, that the horse would have met with Bud White who defeated Good Prospecting on August 7, 2012 during the Festival. Unfortunately due to Bud White’s injuries he was unable to participate. 

Smith congratulated the owners of the other horses that participated in the race, noting that his horse possessed the ability to beat them but he didn’t go in with a sense of overconfidence as  he felt  Good Prospecting “could have had a bad day like any [other horse], but as usual, he delivered when he had to deliver.” 

At present, Smith felt, Good Prospecting is the only horse within Tortola and St Thomas that could be able to take on the great champion horse Slevin and Gato Paso out of St Croix in the A Class Category. 

Smith also congratulated the other participants and winners in the races and said he was looking ahead to the next race that Good Prospecting would be entering. “He’s my pride and joy… sometimes I nearly think he’s human,” Smith disclosed, adding “I’m a proud owner to say I have a proud horse.”