Trinis’ day at Yorkshire races

RUM and Carnival costumes will always attract people. Even in England, there was a line-up for Angostura products when Pontefract race course hosted Trinidad and Tobago Day last Monday. Despite it being a cold and bleak day, rum will always cheer up people. There was a line (mostly Brits) for Angostura 1919 which provided a perfect foil to the cold weather. And what made matters worse was when Hugo Gunning, chief organiser, told punters in the parade ring, that 1919 was better than Viagra. That brought laughter to the large crowd gathered, gaping at the rum and the two costumed Trini girls, with skimpy outfits in that cold weather.

There is always a crowd during the parade of horses, but never a crowd at the presentation of prizes. It goes to show that the rum giveaways and the beauties were added attraction to the people of west Yorkshire. Gunning, a Trinidadian, was the busiest man at Pontefract that day, making sure that all the prizes were handed out on time, ensuring that the guests were well treated. Although being a member of the Betting Levy Board (BLB), I was surprised when Gunning asked me to pick the Best Turned Out horse in the feature Trinidad and Tobago Handicap Stakes. It went to a horse who could only manage fourth place.

Miss Trinidad and Tobago (UK) Crystal Laugier was there and enjoyed the day. She is coming for Carnival in February and will pay an official visit to Tobago in 2006 where she will present monies for a charity to be announced. More than 5,000 punters were present at Pontefract, with over 100 Trinis travelling more than 250 miles to attend the racing. Despite being outnumbered by the Brits, the Trinis made their presence felt. The four-member pan side went back in time with tunes from Sparrow and Kitchener. It was also a pleasure meeting Norman Gundill, president of the Race Course at Pontefract, who was the one to stage the first TT Race in 1989.

I also met the top brass at Pontefract. Ashton Ford, Attache at the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in London, attended the races for the second consecutive year. Ford said the staging of Monday’s day was much better than 2004. He expects 2006 to be better. Only time will tell, but one thing is certain — the newly-formed Tourism Development Company Limited, missed a golden opportunity to market TT, although representatives were present handing out brochures. Even Sky Sports television and the daily newspapers in England gave coverage of the TT Day. One punter said he has been to racing all over the world, but was not aware that there is racing in Trinidad.