Last Friday morning’s bus ride from Derek Walcott Square in Castries to the DSH horse-race track in Vieux Fort took longer than the normal 45 minutes. As the white of the tents at the race track slowly came to view, my curiosity overtook the effects from getting out of bed much earlier than usual. I wondered about what lay in store on this much-ballyhooed National Day. Finally I disembarked, to be checked out by security at the turnstiles, and headed down a promenade. It was only a little after 11 a.m. but already there were scores of people, some clearly Saint Lucian, judging by their loud talk and other demonstrated peculiarities, others obviously visitors dressed for the races.
Although the first race was scheduled for 2 p.m. the excitement all around was palpable. So much for the negative predictions by fellow Saint Lucians with devil axes to grind. It seemed everyone I talked with was high on the idea of witnessing history in the making.
“I came dressed to impress,” said a Castries acquaintance. Decked out all in black—including his hat and overcoat—he seemed determined to justify (what pun?) the universal reputation of horseracing as “the sport of kings”—as did thousands of others in their plaid jackets, glistening shoes and headgear reminiscent of the Mad Hatter. A sight for eyes sore from interrupted sleep were the ladies in attire definitely not available at local stores. There was hardly a bare head to be seen, and only a small number in outfits normally encountered in William Peter Boulevard or at Daren Sammy Cricket Grounds.
An excited bettor, for unexpressed reasons of his own, wanted me to know he had “just placed bets on all four races”. He said he had investigated the histories of the racing thoroughbreds and gone “with the names that resonated with me”. Chuckling happily, he added: “This is my first time and I’m just testing the waters. For me it’s a matter of just going with what feels good. In all, I’ve bet $80.”
Another bettor volunteered: “I appreciate the help that’s on hand. It’s my first time at a racetrack and I just felt like choosing number four. I bet on one race to see how it goes. If all goes well I’ll place another bet. I’ve put down a hundred on this race.”
He switched gears abruptly: “Everything seems to be going great. It’s a novel project and there is scope for employment and that sort of thing. Trinidad, Barbados and Jamaica have had this for many years and it’s something they’ve been able to sustain. I see no reason why we can’t do so as well.”
I bumped into local sculptor Jallim Eudovic. He designed the trophies for the winning owners and trainers. Of course, government MPs seemed to be everywhere: Prime Minister Allen Chastanet shaking countless hands and accommodating hugs by the score; ever-smiling Guy Joseph; Dominic Fedee high on the joys from his latest tourism-related award; and Lenard “Spider” Montoute, destined a few days later to make news not altogether flattering.
Evidently the opposition party had better things to do than to support the particular national event with its connections with Teo Ah Khing, never mind they were first to entertain his horseracing project. The running rumour was that Kenny Anthony and others from his party were enjoying the view from a hilltop overlooking the racetrack. The rumour remains only a rumour!
Suddenly the amplified sound of an Australian accented voice came over the loudspeakers. A practised Eden Harrington was about to announce the first race of the day. “We are finally here,” he said. “We are finally here! Many of you have made a tremendous effort and have travelled across oceans to be here today. Others have travelled from all corners of Saint Lucia to be part of something historic, something truly, truly special. This is the moment. This is the time, ladies and gentlemen, when something truly special is going to happen and it’s happening on your National Day.”
Applause! Applause! Applause!
Harrington went on: “Today Saint Lucia has become part of the international racing family. Today we launch the Pearl of the Caribbean, a project that is transformational, a project, ladies and gentlemen, that’s gonna change lives. It all starts today.”
For months Harrington had been promoting the day’s event, dubbed “The richest horserace in the Caribbean”. The time had come to deliver on his promise. And boy, did he deliver! No surprise if the roar of the crowd was heard as far south as Laborie and in the prime minister’s Micoud South constituency.
The historic day’s first race was the Coolmore Helen of the West Indies Stakes. A nervous silence descended on the excited thousands as the horses arrived at the starting gate. A strong gust blew in from the direction of the beach at Beane Field, as if sent by Mother Nature to ease the wall-to-wall tension. Then came the awaited announcement: “We’re off!”
Three more races would follow, including the highly touted $250,000 DSH Caribbean Star The Pitons Cup, the main event. That amplified announcement again: “And we’re off with the Pearl of the Caribbean!” Although the action could be seen close-up, thanks to a big screen, few paid it much attention. Necks by the hundreds stretched this way and that to catch a first glimpse of the thoroughbreds galloping toward the first bend. “Where are they?” an impatient bystander shouted, “where are they?” He soon had his answer in glistening horse flesh.
As the horses turned the final bend to the home stretch and came headlong into view, thousands cheered and applauded. As loud as was the noise they made, it could not match that of the racing thoroughbreds. And, just like that, the first race was over, won by Reef Cup jockeyed by James Chau and owned by Fasig-tipton Sales/Bluewater Sales.
Reef Cup’s trainer is Robbie Hewetson. His expressed ecstatic reaction: “Look, it’s a big thrill to win the first race at this racecourse. It’s going to be a special memory for a long, long time. The experience here in Saint Lucia has been fantastic and it’s an honour to be here. Hopefully this will be my home until I retire. I want to spend a long time here. There are big plans for the place, to race for good money. It’s really, really exciting. This place can really take off one day.”
Although overcast, the clouds held their water over the next two races. But the dam broke just before the final race. The horses were taken back to their stables. But not for long. Ten minutes, at most.
Much pomp and ceremony greeted the final race, the richest in the Caribbean. After a rousing rendition of Saint Lucia’s national anthem by the police band, it was Governor General Sir Neville Emmanuel Cenac’s turn at the microphone. “The symbolism of today’s Pitons Cup cannot be lost on anyone,” he said, quite possibly keeping in mind his friends in the invisible opposition Labour Party, once considered home.
“The running of the inaugural Pitons Cup stamps Saint Lucia as the newest member of the international racing family,” he went on. “More particularly, it launches the Pearl of the Caribbean Development, a project of such breadth and sophistication, it may not only regenerate Saint Lucia’s south but be positively transformative to the nation as a whole.” More reason for the House opposition to continue boycotting his appearances in parliament.
Smiling from ear to ear under a beige straw hat—they seemed to be all over the racecourse—Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, wearing a blue blazer and khaki trousers, summarized the day in this way: “I don’t think today’s event could have gone better, especially when you consider what we had to go through to get people to believe in this dream here in Saint Lucia. When you contemplate all that was done so as to guarantee success, I think you will agree no one could’ve done a better job than the China Horse Club. They alone could’ve pulled this off at this time. Not that I am surprised. I am familiar with what they’ve accomplished elsewhere.”
He went on: “Saint Lucians have shown their love for horses and would love to be able to do something at the international level. I think all of us, as Saint Lucians, should recognize the standard of the horse handlers, all of whom come from Saint Lucia. What they did here today was not easy. To be able to do what they’ve done, the high standard achieved after only two or three weeks of training, is something we should all be proud of. It tells me horseracing as an industry has a bright future in our country. We are going to have a great relationship with Desert Star Holdings and China Horse Club.”
When all was said and done, Casting Crowns proved the winning horse of the showcase final piece.
(Next issue: The Winston Trim Memorial Trophy.)
