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RACES in ST.KITTS 

Races in St.Kitts occurred at the Sandown Race Course in Ponds Pasture around the 20th century (around 1924). The St.Kitts –Nevis Turf Club committee comprised of Messrs.Clement Malone; K.Stanley Veira; J.A Uddenberg; D.F Matheson; F.A Burt and P.E. Rvan, who were all merchants and or plantations owners. 

Ponds Pasture Races were very popular, even the Emporium of Messrs. S.L Horsfords and Co. Ltd contributed to good cheer. The races held were the Leeward Island Stakes, the Administrator’s Cup and the Dewar’s Cup Challenge. One could not have gone to races without taking a bottle of King George IV, the top notch whisky of the eighteenth century according to Messrs.S.L Horsford who commented: 

                  “It will make you forget your losses; and double the pleasure of your gains” 

Horse racing was for the masses though some may have seen it as an elite sport for the rich. Horses were kept in stables at most of estates in Mc Knight, The Old Rectory now Shadwell housing and Ponds Estate.  

It was not until the mid 1900’s around 1950 when the political leader Sir Robert Bradshaw saw races as a sport for the privilege. During his reign as leader he used his power to eradicate poverty, and in so doing stopped horse racing in St.Kitts. He pressured the owner of Ponds Estate (Joseph Feirera) to sell the property which was later turned into a garbage dump. 

Around 1960 some tried to rejuvenate the sport as equestrian at Warner Park, but this only lasted a few years. To date horse racing has not returned to St.Kitts but has survived in Nevis since 1968 at Round Hill, New Castle. Very soon horse racing will start a new lifecycle in St.Kitts at Beaumont Park located in Beaumont Estate- Dieppe Bay. The races would be catered to all, with activities available for the entire family. Kids are encouraged to learn about horses and its history, adults to become horse syndicates or simply come to enjoy a day at the Races. We look forward to seeing you there.