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UPDATE: We just have to ‘reset & come again’- Lesmore Smith

With reigning Governor’s Cup Champion Ghostinyou unable to pull off a win in the feature race of the Race to the Poles horseracing at Clinton E. Phipps Jr Racetrack in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands (USVI) on Sunday, November 3, 2024, horse owner Lesmore Smith of Top Priority Racing Stables said he can’t complain but will just have to 'reset' and come again. Photo: VINO
Come On Venezuela in the winners circle. The horse and jockey Joshua Rodriguez won the 5th race of the Race to the Poles on November 3, 2024. Photo: VINO
Come On Venezuela in the winners circle. The horse and jockey Joshua Rodriguez won the 5th race of the Race to the Poles on November 3, 2024. Photo: VINO
Jockey Sunday Diaz celebrates following his victory with Pure Speight in the Liberty Day Handicap on November 3, 2024. Photo: VINO
Jockey Sunday Diaz celebrates following his victory with Pure Speight in the Liberty Day Handicap on November 3, 2024. Photo: VINO
Faster N Blazes leads the competition in a 7 1/2 furlong race for Mare and Fillies. Photo: VINO
Faster N Blazes leads the competition in a 7 1/2 furlong race for Mare and Fillies. Photo: VINO
Gege Conquest in the winners circle. Photo: VINO
Gege Conquest in the winners circle. Photo: VINO
Jada Esco of St Croix crosses the finish line ahead of Downbebay also of St Croix in the curtain raiser of the Race to the Poles at Clinton E. Phipps Jr Racetrack on November 3, 2024. Photo: VINO
Jada Esco of St Croix crosses the finish line ahead of Downbebay also of St Croix in the curtain raiser of the Race to the Poles at Clinton E. Phipps Jr Racetrack on November 3, 2024. Photo: VINO
Risk vs Reward en route to winning The Election Day Classic at the Race to the Poles at Clinton E. Phipps Jr Racetrack on St Thomas on November 3, 2024. Photo: VINO
Risk vs Reward en route to winning The Election Day Classic at the Race to the Poles at Clinton E. Phipps Jr Racetrack on St Thomas on November 3, 2024. Photo: VINO
Ghostinyou heads to the gates for the start of the feature race of the Race to the Poles on November 3, 2024. Photo: VINO
Ghostinyou heads to the gates for the start of the feature race of the Race to the Poles on November 3, 2024. Photo: VINO
Risk vs Reward of Tortola won the last race of the day at the Race to the Poles in St. Thomas on November 3, 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters
Risk vs Reward of Tortola won the last race of the day at the Race to the Poles in St. Thomas on November 3, 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters
Pure Speight of St Croix won the feature clash of the Race to the Poles races in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands on November 3, 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters
Pure Speight of St Croix won the feature clash of the Race to the Poles races in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands on November 3, 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters
ESTATE BOVONI, St Thomas, USVI- With reigning Governor’s Cup Champion Ghostinyou unable to pull off a win in the feature race of the Race to the Poles horseracing at Clinton E. Phipps Jr Racetrack in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands (USVI) on Sunday, November 3, 2024, horse owner Lesmore Smith of Top Priority Racing Stables said he can’t complain but will just have to “reset” and come again.

Ghostinyou, with new jockey Jose Leon, came in third in the Liberty Day Handicap, an Open Mile race for $25,000.

With a reputation for pulling off come-from-behind victories, Ghostinyou was close behind the lead horses but failed to find that final kick.

The 2024 Lt. Governor Cup champion from St Croix, Pure Speight, held on to second for most of the race before turning on the jets on the final turn.

The winning time was 1:41.2.

Back to the drawing board!

Ghostinyou owner Mr Lesmore Smith thanked the fans who came out to support the races despite the overcast but said he didn’t do “too good” in the feature race but he will just have to “reset and come again”.

Mr Smith said all races have tactics and that they didn’t get their tactics right this time but “will just have to go back to the drawing board and fix it.”

Risk vs Reward delivers the goods!

All was not lost for Mr Smith and the horse racing fans who made their way to the races from Tortola; however, as Risk vs Reward won the final race of the day. The Election Day Classic was run over 7 ½ furlongs for a purse of $16,500.

Risk vs Reward and Jose Leon stayed close to the lead horse and then kicked for home early in the back-straight.

Leon told VINO the plan was to go to the lead and let the horse run but said, since he wasn’t able to do that, he decided to stay close to the lead horse and make his move when he saw the opportunity, “and thank God we ended up with the win and thanks to the trainer and owner.”

Mr Leon said it was his first time racing at Clinton E. Phipps Jr Racetrack and that it was “a good experience.”

Before the start of the race, Buckmaster got away from his jockey and blazed around the track twice before heading to the stables.

Other results

Race 1

The first race of the day, a 6-furlong Native Class affair for a purse of 10,000, turned out to be a two-horse race.
Jada Esco of St Croix clocked 1:15.1 to defeat fellow St Croix horse Downbebay.

Race 2

There was much excitement in the second race when Gege Conquest came from behind to win the 7 ½ Furlong race for Class C& D horses.

It was a three-horse race for much of the distance until Gege Conquest switched gears on the back straight to take the win and the top prize of $11,000.

The winning time was 1:35.2.

Protector, Zagga and Malibu Mandate finished in that order.

Race 3

The third race of the day was for Mares and Fillies over a distance of 7 ½ furlongs and for a top prize of $12,000.

Faster N Blazes, with jockey David Perez, won in 1:37.4.

Bombastic, with jockey Winston Hurst Jr, took second on debut, while Wicket Queen, with David Lopez, came third.

Fourth was Irish Prophecy with jockey Manuel Romero.

Race 4

Race four was bittersweet, as although it was a convincing victory for Run on the Trail and jockey Jose Lopez of No Limit Stables, there was also tragedy.

Run on the Trail galloped to victory in 1:44.2 in the 1-mile, 70-yard race for Class C and D horses. The winning purse was $12,500.

A distant second was First Degree with jockey Winston Hurst Jr, while third was Big Blue ridden by Manuel Rosario.

Call Bros of Store Groone Realty had a good start with jockey David Perez but suffered a broken leg early in the race.

Race 5

Come On Venezuela, with jockey Joshua Rodriguez, was up to the task in Race 5, a 6-furlong race for Class C horses and a purse of $12,500.

The next race at Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack is scheduled for December 22, 2024.

 See previous article published November 3, 2024

 Risk vs Reward of Tortola wins @ Race to the Poles in STT

- Pure Speight of St Croix won the feature encounter

Minutes ago, Sunday, November 3, 2024, Risk vs Reward of Tortola won the last race of the day at the Race to the Poles at Clinton Phipps Sr Racetrack in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands (USVI). 

Ridden by Jose Leon, Risk vs Reward went with the pace and made its move early in the back-straight. It had enough to power home almost unchallenged in the 7 1/2 furlong-race race billed as The Election Day Classic.

Risk vs Reward's win brought with it a purse of $16,500.

Ghostinyou defeated

It was quite a consolation win for the horse racing fans from the Virgin Islands, as Ghostinyou of Tortola came third in the feature race of the day, which was the Liberty Day Handicap race

It was Pure Speight of St Croix that won the feature encounter, stretching its wins this year to 4 and taking the top purse of $25,000.00.

The winning jockey was Angel Diaz.

Colbaloaf of St Thomas took second.

Fourth was Macuco's Choice.

More details to follow.

10 Responses to “UPDATE: We just have to ‘reset & come again’- Lesmore Smith”

  • Yeh (03/11/2024, 21:13) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Got a go shopping again Lesmore. Pure Speight is a beast
  • Lesmore need to do like L&B Racing Stables (03/11/2024, 21:18) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Put Risk & Reward in the big race instead of GhostInYou.....L&B had switch Really Uptown with Lake Texoma
  • ROLL THE DICE! (03/11/2024, 21:23) Like (4) Dislike (7) Reply
    COME ON FRASER! NO MORE EXCUSES! TIME TO GET THE RACETRACK BACK ON TRACK!
    • .... (03/11/2024, 22:35) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
      we rally to get it used as a atv track .\ rc car inner field power wheels and pocket bikes since the we have no other place to go
      • @…. (04/11/2024, 13:27) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
        Don’t forget that area is a residential area. What you mentioned is going to be a noise issue to the residents living in the area.
  • Stealth (03/11/2024, 23:08) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Time for both sides to come together on the Ellis Thomas Downs. Both sides have give some to make things happen , moving the ball. Land isxa VI identity and eminent domain should be a last resort if at all. Land is a Vi identity ut it is scarce resiurces. Demand outpaced supply. If horse racing is a viable sport, there needs a venue to facilitate the sport.
    Honestly I don’t see the Ellis Thomas Downs as the permanent solution. Other options needs to looked if horse racing , the sport of Kings, , is going to be a viable sport. The VI can do anything it wants but it can’t do everything.
  • ... (04/11/2024, 07:46) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good job lesmore
  • Real Macoy (04/11/2024, 10:33) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree to put Risk & Reward in the big race with Pure Speight. I think he is a much better challenger than Ghost In You.
    Ghost In You takes too long to charge so it will be difficult for him to win Pure Speight.
  • one eye (04/11/2024, 13:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Once again, these are issues to be addressed to get horse racing going on tola
  • Time has ended (04/11/2024, 16:37) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    for BVI horse racing. Let the Thomas family develop their flat land in Sea Cows bay for other outdoor activities.

    BVI Competitive swimming is showing more success in STT than racing horses.


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