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HomeNewsArchivesBVI HORSE RACE WINNER DISQUALIFIED, SO FAR

BVI HORSE RACE WINNER DISQUALIFIED, SO FAR

The official who awarded the BVI Chief Minister's Cup to a St. Thomas horse owner following racing on Tortola Tuesday said on Thursday that the horse had been disqualified.
Later in the day, however, she agreed to call a meeting of horse owners, track officials and witnesses to look further into the matter.
Deputy Chief Minister Eileene Parsons, speaking on WSTA's "Morning Show" Thursday morning said, she disqualified the horse, Patchie Stables, owned by Thomas Turnbull, after hearing allegations of cheating by the animal's trainer and jockey.
"We have found out a policeman who was on duty there saw what happened," Parsons said later Thursday in a telephone interview.
The Chief Minister's Cup Race was part of a Tuesday afternoon racing card at the Little A Racetrack held as part of the annual BVI August Monday celebrations.
Parsons heads the BVI Ministry of Health, Education and Culture. Her duties include overseeing organized sports activities including horse racing. She awarded the victory cup to Turnbull as owner of Patchie Stables at the end of a close race with the No. 2 horse Non-Stop Dancer.
Ifield Hodge, owner of Non-Stop Dancer, filed a protest, saying the jockey on Patchie Stable was short of the 116-pound weight assigned to him when he was weighed again after crossing the finish line.
Turnbull initially responded to Parsons' actions by saying he would not give up the cup and would sue the BVI government for the $5,000 victory purse. Later, after Parsons agreed to call a meeting of the participating horses' owners, witnesses and track officials to review the situation, he changed his mind.
"After that hearing, a final decision will be made and we will lay this thing to rest," he said. "Let us get this thing settled once and for all — but we're not just going to throw in our towel and say 'Yes, we're going to return the cup.'"
Turnbull also publicly apologized to racing fans who attended the Tuesday event at Little A, saying he understood if the controversy had upset them.
Parsons said she would have to contact the principals before announcing a date for the meeting.

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