Tobago’s popular Goat Race Festival attracts large crowd

One of the largest crowds in recent years flocked to the seaside village of Buccoo on Tobago’s south west end ‘Easter Tuesday’ for the 78th running of the popular, annual Buccoo Goat Races. The all-day festivities got going with a colourful street parade from the Buccoo/Shirvan Road junction down to the Race Track, culminating in a vibrant cultural display in the area where the goats would later take centre stage.

Addressing the formal opening, Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Orville London stressed he was very concerned that the villagers of Buccoo were still not necessarily benefiting from the event after 78 long years. Simultaneously, he, like several other speakers, paid special tribute to “all who had anything to do with the Goat Race Festival”, particularly noting the efforts of longstanding president of the Goat Race Committee, Sonny Murray. Said London, “78 years is a long time, and we must take time out to congratulate those who have stuck together to bring the Festival to where it is today”. He, however, added: “I am still concerned that after all this time the residents of Buccoo still do not necessarily benefit from the event”.

In his turn, William McKenzie, THA representative for the area and Secretary for Community Development/ Culture, appealed to the organisers and members of the business community who have been supporting the event over the years, to continue to work together. Noting that the Festival had kept on growing through the years, McKenzie commended the dedication and effort of the organisers, as he, too, paid special tribute to Sonny Murray. With the formalities out of the way, it was time for the goats (and their “jockeys”) to run. And how they ran! When the excitement and dust subsided, “Nuclear Rocket” (KJoseph) emerged Champ of Champs, followed by “Easter Music” (L Kerr) and “Catch De Buck” (D Adams).