The Pearl of The Caribbean, a Desert Star Holding (DSH) project, has generated much controversy since its introduction by the newly elected Chastanet government in 2016, with some people expressing their support and others opposed to it, regardless. Still others adopted a “let’s wait and see” attitude. On Wednesday this week the Royal Saint Lucia Turf Club (RSLTC) convened a press conference and offered a tour of the horse racing facilities in Vieux Fort. Many connected matters were discussed, among them the Winston Trim training programme that has been preparing young people, mostly in the south, for gainful employment in the equine industry, and the unveiling of the Pitons Cup Trophy designed by Saint Lucia’s own acclaimed sculptor Jallim Eudovic, whose most recent creation—the All In monument—sits at the Castries waterfront roundabout.
Long before their arrival at Hewanorra International Airport earlier in the week, there was widespread speculation about the forty thoroughbreds: who owns them, whether they were purchased with CIP funds, whether taxpayers—without their knowledge—may be footing the bill for related activities. Opposition party representatives and other acknowledged Allen Chastanet detractors went as far as saying the prime minister had himself paid millions of dollars from the Consolidated Fund for the horses while ignoring more pressing matters. Others who claimed to be only concerned citizens called the talk shows daily to express their often farfetched misgivings or to challenge earlier official pronouncements.
It fell to Eden Harrington, Director of the RSLTC, to provide answers via attendant media personnel on Wednesday. He said the horses were bought and paid for by his organisation exclusively. Also that they had been trained at RSLTC expense in the USA. In the meantime the horses were undergoing quarantine processes in Saint Lucia. Harrington introduced a management team that includes two experienced veterinarians and a training team headed by Deon Visser.
Harrington took the opportunity to invite Saint Lucians, individually or in groups, to purchase the horses. He said participants in the main event—The Pitons Cup—will be given an unraced 3-year-old horse to compete in the Helen of the West race on the
opening day undercard. Each horse will be on sale for US$20,000 and will be not only eligible but will be given precedence to race in one of the undercard events and a chance to win prizes worth between US$20,000 and US$40,000. Put another way: individual locals, their friends and families, as well as foreigners, will be afforded equal opportunity to purchase the thoroughbreds of their choice.
There will be so-called “Open Days” on November 3, 10, 17 and 24—all Sundays—when the general public will be invited to view the forty racehorses at the Vieux Fort facilities. The Open Days are designed to give visitors the chance to learn more about the horses and what’s involved in racehorse ownership. Foreign and domestic personnel will be on hand to answer all questions. Whether or not you see yourself as a future champion in the sport of kings, the Open Days will allow you the opportunity
to determine for yourself what to believe in the on-going politically loaded atmosphere. After all, seeing is believing, whether we’re talking about horses or the droppings from uninformed sources with their respective agendas.
By Jodi von Wahl
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