BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – CLOSE competition in five carded thoroughbred races yesterday (Apr. 25) at Beaumont Park kept fans warm and cheering on the otherwise blustery day.
Each race carried a purse of EC $8 000 and local favourite E Z Smile ran away with the first bounty in a five furlong open company event. Trained by Lebert Liking and rode by Michael Semple, E Z Smile comfortably led throughout its first race back from a two-month freshening and won in a time of 1:00 2/5. Rollofthunder came in second in the race, while Tiedintwine claimed third—the horse’s best placing this year at Beaumont.
Rain began to fall in sheets after the first race and softened the surface for added traction in the remaining races.
The second event of the afternoon was four furlongs and the stakes were high in the open company race as each of the six competing horses were in pursuit of their first Beaumont Park victory for 2010. Rainbow Ridge pulled ahead of the field early and led coming into the turn, but was closely pursued by Gray in Time. The older horse was spurred on by Jockey Navin Persaud through the final stretch and edged out Rainbow Ridge by a head at the line in a time of 48 3/5, while Rum Salute rounded out the top three.
“Gray in Time had a breathing problem earlier and went through an operation. He came back at the last race Easter Monday and today he showed me a lot more improvement,” Persaud told SKNVibes following his victory.
Race three was also a four furlong open company event and saw the clash some of Beaumont Park’s finest thoroughbreds. Dominquero bolted out of the gate and gave a good challenge in the first quarter mile but the turn proved challenging and a late surge from Full Breed saw the horse winning the race in 47 3/5. Daring Spirit was second across the line and Norse Spirit was close behind in third.
Full Breed’s victory makes him undefeated at the Beaumont Park oval and shows the continued hard work by trainer Kevin Dore is paying dividends.
At 5:30 p.m. the first of two 6 ½ furlong races began and Dothewildthing was able to secure his second consecutive victory at that distance, while Semple picked up his second for the day as jockey. Dothewildthing crossed the line in 1:21 3/5 after having trailed Our Bud, who finished second, through the first four furlongs. Ski for Luck also did well and picked up a third place finish.
Semple’s win helped him to close the gap on J’son Liburd for the honour of leading jockey with a total of 14 victories this year.
Liburd answered back in the fifth and final race of the day when he rode Prince Igor to the horse’s second consecutive Beaumont victory in a time of 1:19 2/5. Murray’s Mazal began the feature race with a strong lead through the first four furlongs, but was beaten in the clinches through the turn. Al Portador and favourite High Wire Glory finished second and third, respectively.
Apart from the horse races, patrons were treated to a multitude of entertainment for the whole family including donkey races, a free wine tasting and a post-race concert.
For those who missed out due to the weather, Beaumont Park will once again open its gates on May 24 with even more exciting racing action.
