On Friday afternoon before a crowd of thousands at the Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack, the Carnival 2000 races rode into the sunset, not without controversy. It was a seven-card race day with horses from St. Thomas, St. Croix and Tortola taking part.
Race number one was a six furlong, five-horse affair with a $2,500 purse. Prom Queen passed the finish line first. However a foul was called. Sandhill, owned and trained by Mack Mercer, was ruled the winner with Jockey Carmelo Hernandez on board to start the race day.
Race number two was a seven furlong, six-horse competition with a purse of $2,800. This race featured Ivelisse Jimenez, a 23- year-old female jockey, making her debut at the racetrack.
Jimenez, aboard Diplomatic Jeb, trailed after the second turn coming into the backstretch. However, Diplomatic Jeb eventually made his move and over took the field in the final turn. Jimenez rode Diplomatic Jeb to a five length victory in a time of 1:29 2/5.
The controversy started with race three. It was originally a six-horse field with a $3,500 purse. However, two of the three St. Croix entries were scratched. One of them, Kiko G, owned by Louis Hughes and trained by Calvert "Waco" Charleswell slated to be ridden by Puerto Rican jockey Joel Hiraldo. However, the Puerto Rican Jockey Club suspended Hiraldo in November for two years for using an illegal electronic device. Race officials initially ruled that he was an ineligible rider. An irate Charleswell argued with the officials, but to no avail. Kiko G was scratched from the race.
The race ran with the three remaining horses. El Cocodrillo, owned and trained by Elridge Creque, took an early lead at the first turn of this one-mile encounter. El Cocodrillo, ridden by Christian Soto, was never challenged again, winning with a time of 1:41 2/5.
By race four, a six furlong, $3,000 mare and filly handicap, race officials changed their minds about Hiraldo. Gilbert Comissiong, chairman of the St. Thomas Racing Commission, explained "there are not enough jockeys to keep a six horse race field." Thus, the race officials decided to allow Hiraldo to ride.
This race was no contest as Belden's Bluff, owned by Jose "Crash" Kean Jr., trained by Creque and ridden by Hernandez, ran first wire to wire to win with a time of 1:12 3/5. Sen. Lorraine Berry sponsored this race.
Race number five, the six-furlong, $4,400 sprint classic ran with a five-horse field. Hiraldo mounted Roaring River, owned by Steven "Champie" Lewis and trained by Charleswell. Make Me jumped out in front initially. However, Dr. Ira K and Roaring River picked him down on the backstretch. Roaring River then out lasted the field to win the race with a time of 1:12 1/5.
Lewis noted that Roaring River had "more class, a better jockey and better training". Lewis also stated that he told Hiraldo to "stay with the field and let him go down the homestretch". The next race for Roaring River is Memorial Day on St. Croix.
Lewis, Charleswell and Hiraldo teamed up again for the Governor's Cup, a one-mile, $5,500 sixth and featured race. Race officials took no chances, inspecting all the horses and jockeys in the middle of the track instead of in the paddock area. "We wanted to leave no stones unturned," noted Comissiong.
This race lived up to its billing. All six horses stayed within contention thoughout this race. However, Tar Buggy, the trio's entry, was not to be denied as he held off all challenges to win the prize presented by Gov. Charles Turnbull and Lt. Gov. Gerald "Luz" James fot a time of 1:40 2/5.
In the final race, another one-mile, six-horse encounter, Tortola salvaged a victory and claimed the $4,500 purse. Game Buster, ridden by Ricaldo Jadoo, held off all challenges by the field. He ran in front from wire to wire, winning in a time of 1:41 1/5.
