Before throngs of enthusiastic screaming and electrifying fans, V.I. horse racing history was made around 5:06 p.m. Sunday afternoon at Ellis Thomas Downs when St. Croix’s Slevin stormed to a 4-length victory in the 1-mile leg of the inaugural V.I. Triple Crown Classic, grabbing the lion’s share of the ,000 purse.
Slevin, who stumbled out the gates, began making his move on the back stretch of the two-lap race before he began pulling away from the field during the turn into the home stretch. He won in one minute and 45.3 seconds.
Tortola’s East End Tap, who was among the early leaders, finished second, followed by St. Croix’s Political Reporter and Tortola’s Good Prospecting. St. Thomas’ Diablo’s Fire rounded out the field after his counterpart, Voice of Faith, did not make the trip.
“When the gates burst and I saw we broke late, I got a little frightened because the horse rushed up, and when you rush up, sometimes it causes the horse to get weary,” Slevin’s owner James Bates explained. “But he caught them very early, and the jockey used his head because he knew what was going on, so when he hit the backstretch, he started to move him. I was a little concerned when I saw him take the lead because we had a good way to go, but the horse just kept going to the victory.”
Bobby Hodge, president of St. Thomas’ Millennium Racing, said Slevin is the class of the field. “Unless he make some mistakes or errors are made, I believe he will win the Triple Crown,” he said.
St. Thomas Horse Racing Association President Winston Benjamin said he was speechless when the horses went into the gates.
“The place was silent, and there was a rush that just came over me —just to see the race start and end without any mishaps and everybody came off safe,” he said. “I am proud to be part of the push that made it happen. There was a lot of work behind the scenes to make it happen. Thanks to the BVI for coordinating with us and thanks to St. Croix for coordinating and coming because getting them here wasn’t easy. Making them comfortable is never easy, so we look forward to bigger things in the future.”
Former BVI Horse Racing Association President Derrick Marshall, who opened the dialogue after being elected last January, said there was negative talk that St. Croix wouldn’t come.
“In past, St. Croix people used to say how small our track was and it’s a bull ring and all that, but they can see today, that our track is a professional track,” he noted. “Not because its small, but it’s well maintained, we have the best surface in the Virgin Islands, the turns are not that hard, because St. Croix’s biggest horse came to Tortola, ran a wonderful race and won.
“It has proven that all the doubts that the Crucians have about our track, all the fans and people saying that the Crucians are not going to come, today has proven that they have no worries.”
Bates said he’d encourage other St. Croix horse owners to join St. Thomas horses in coming to race on Tortola.
“It’s a beautiful race track, I think you have one of the best surfaces in the Virgin Islands right now, and I can see the guys take good care of it,” he pointed out. “I hope the Tortola guys buy more horses to keep this sport going. I know it’s a tough thing — they call it the sport of kings — but the Tortola association has to put money in the races so that the guys can buy horses and to run for something worthwhile.”
The next leg of the Triple Crown is scheduled for St. Croix on Feb. 19, with a distance of 1? mile with the finale scheduled for March 18 on St. Thomas.
St. Croix horses also were victorious in other races on the card. Paul’s Gift was edged by Spirit on Fire in the 7-furlong, $3,500 opening race, which he won in 1:35.3. Power Ten was third, followed by Priority Express, Ray Miestro Jr. and Tax Master.
In the day’s most controversial race, Thanks Megiverin snatched the other 7-furlong, $3,700 race in 1:36.3 after a foul was called. He was originally placed third, but there was contact between second place finisher Mic G and Mr. Gold Prospect, who was penalized. Formerly Cat was fourth, followed by Moonlight Event.
What was to be a duel between Northern Pike and Eastern Seaboard after Sum Splendor and San Viron were scratched, saw Northern Pike leaving his opponent in the gates as he completed the full seven furlongs. Eastern Seaboard eventually ran solo around the track.
Glorious Memory took the 1-mile, $4,000 race from Tiger’s Mischief to win in 1:50.2. Glorious Memory led in the early stages and then lost that lead before regaining it on the home stretch.
By far the day’s most exciting race was the 6½-furlong, $5,000 affair between Aircraft Intercept, Broken Home and Really Up Town. Aircraft Intercept led for most of the way before Broken Home passed on his outside while Really Up Town charged on his inside, en route to victory in 1:23.4.
The day ended with St. Croix’s Berberis overhauling Lake Texoma and holding off fast-charging Square One in the 1-1/16 mile race for $5,000. Berberis had a winning time of 1:53.2. Sweet Sight was fourth, while All Country was scratched.
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