CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – HORSE owners face the possibility of paying fines to the Nevis Turf and Jockey Club when the next major event takes place on Monday (June 1) at Indian Castle.

This is according to head of the club Emmanuel Jeffers, who said the organisation has put very strict time limits in place and horse owners not adhering could face fines and even suspensions dependent on the gravity of the breaches.

Races will be run at 45-minute intervals and after the first whistle is blown, horse owners will have 25 minutes in which to saddle and fully prepare their horses. Horses should be in the ring area at least five minutes prior to the start of a race.

Jeffers also promises an exciting card with some four races scheduled - two of which will feature four horses and the others consisting of three.

The former ‘El Pillo’ has also received a name change and will now be known as “High Spirit’.  This particular horse bolted the track and crashed through the railing during the last event, but Jeffers is sure that that problem has been rectified with proper training techniques. 

“The horse was not accustomed to the whip and the jockey touched it with the whip and that just spooked the horse’, explained Jeffers.

The gates will open at 2:00 p.m. and the first race is set to commence an hour later.  Another feature of the day will be a display by junior cyclists on Nevis.