Basseterre, St. Kitts - The spirit of the large crowd of 4,500 plus at Beaumont Park for this Independence Day celebration sponsored by Digicel, and the fierce competition between St. Kitts-Nevis and Antigua never wavered once the skies opened with heavy rain just prior to the first race.
Starting the battle, Antigua sent Lady J to the post in the first race a convincing winner. The four furlong distance was run in forty-nine seconds flat. Owned by Lingies and Lights Stables, trained by Devon O’Garro, and ridden to victory by Jeff Jacobs, Lady J paid $7.20 to win. Representing St. Kitts, Ragtime finished second and Frontier Sky finished third. The exacta of Lady J with Ragtime paid backers a whopping $278.80 for $2.00.
The second race went off under once again sunny skies. Jockey J’son Liburd never looked back while holding the reigns as he rode St. Kitts representative Mambo Beauty to a comfortable win. Mambo Beauty, went the four furlong race in forty-seven and three-fifths seconds. Mambo Beauty paid $14.40 to win. Reina Mia and Brilliant Bride finished second and third. The winning exacta combination of Mambo Beauty and Reina Mia rewarded winning ticket holders a handsome $101.00.
In the third race St. Kitts scored again. Please The King, patiently ridden by Jamaican jockey Wesley Henry, was sitting just off the pace until the top of the lane set by Norse Spirit and then both horses battled head and head to the finish. The winner’s time going five furlongs was one-minute and two-fifths of a second. Antigua’s Jumma Girl finished third. This was Wesley Henry’s first riding appearance in St. Kitts and his first of two wins on the day in as many mounts. Henry currently rides in the states at Miami’s Calder Race Course. In winning the third race, Please The King paid $6.40 to win. The winning exacta combination of Please The King and Norse Spirit paid $158.00.
The rain came again, this time for an extended period shortly after the third race on the program had been completed. Once the deluge subsided, Beaumont Park officials continued with the fourth race as carded.
In the fourth race, Anansi returned to his winning ways well in hand under jockey J’son Liburd. Owned by M S Stables and trained by Henry James, Anansi paid $3.80 to win. In doing so, Anansi broke his own five furlong mark by establishing a new track record in fifty-eight and three-fifths seconds. Antigua runner Mr. Big Stuff finished second with Al Portador representing St. Kitts finishing third. This winning exacta combination of Anansi and Mr. Big Stuff in order paid $75.60.
With darkness quickly approaching, it was determined by Beaumont Park officials to run a final race using a combination of horses from both the fifth and sixth races on the program as an exhibition and non-wagering event. Both the fifth and sixth races originally carded were eliminated from betting and all wagers were ordered refunded.
The now “featured” race for the afternoon then went postward as the fifth race of the day going seven furlongs. Owner Daislyn Sharpe’s Bad Action, making his debut in St. Kitts and representing St. Kitts, made it a winning one in fine fashion. Trained by Lester Warren and ridden by Wesley Henry, Bad Action left little doubt throughout the running of the race that he was the real deal. Antigua’s Jack Idle finished second and a local favorite Schleishinger finished third. The seven furlong distance was run in one minute and twenty-seven seconds flat.
Racing at Beaumont Park resumes on Sunday, October 24th. Please visit our website at http://www.beaumontpark.kn for racing news and updates.
