3 minute read

China Horse Club has provided the backing for the Pitons Cup at the new Royal Saint Lucia Turf Club course (which is dirt).

This is part of a development known as "Pearl of the Caribbean" and St Lucia was targeted for a new race course in the south of the island.

The Pitons Cup had prize money of US$150,000 and based on purchasing a slot, twelve of which were available and that ended in 9 horses running.

The horses were claimed in the US in late 2018 and had not raced in 2019.  There were no local participants although there were supposed to be two slots for them but none of the local racing community were allowed to participate in that race or any of the other races on the 5 race card.  While St Lucia has not been the most famous of Caribbean racing centres (that honour rests with Barbados and Jamaica) it still is not the best way to encourage development of the local racing industry.

For the record the Pitons Cup was won by Casting Crown who was in the Taylor Made slot, and racing was under the IFHRA medication guidelines which means no Lasix.

There is no doubt that visitors would have had a great time:  we have been to St Lucia twice and don't remember leaving either time.