Work Progressing at St. Kitts' Beaumont Park Race Track

PM DOUGLAS AND CABINET MINISTERS VISIT BEAUMONT PARK RACE TRACK AT WHITEGATE

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 22ND 2005 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas led his Cabinet colleagues on a world-wind visit to several tourism-related construction sites in the Whitegate, South Friars Bay and Frigate Bay areas on Thursday.

The first stop was at the US$17 million Beaumont Park Track for thoroughbred horse and horse greyhound races in the Whitegate area of Dieppe Bay, where a racing facility is under currently under construction.

Beaumont Park Horse Track spokesman, Mr. Arthur Sharpe said stalls are being built to hold 100 horses.

“A six furlough or three-quarters of a mile track is here. A five-furlough chute and a seven and a half furlough chute, which will enable us to run any distances is being laid,” said Beaumont Park Horse Track spokesman, Mr. Arthur Sharpe.

He said the design for the Grand Stand is substantially complete and construction is to start within 45 days upon approval.

“We will have 120 greyhounds and any local person, who wants to have a dog, we will give that person a dog free of cost, so that he can race against us to encourage the whole product,” said Sharpe, who said that horse races and greyhound races will be taking place on the same day.

Artist's concept of the Beaumont Park Race Track

“We will probably run a horse race, then a dog race, then a horse race, then a dog race, which will keep the spectators entertained during their down time,” said Sharpe.

He said the straight track is going to be well lit, which will enable the staging of greyhound races at night and for broadcast overseas.

Mr. Sharpe said the Beaumont Park company will soon be publishing advertisements shortly seeking local persons in becoming trainers, jockeys or horse attendants.

“We have linked up with a jockey school in the United States and any youngster who want to be a jockey, we will send him away on scholarship to learn to ride. We will also have trainers and professional grooms, who will be able to teach persons how to look after horses,” said Mr. Sharpe.

He disclosed that the Beaumont Park Horse Track company is already attracting operations from Nevis, Antigua and St. Croix.

Workers constructing the stalls at the Beaumont Race Track

Prime Minister Douglas was accompanied by Minister of Health, the Hon. Rupert Herbert; Minister of Housing, Agriculture, Fisheries and Consumer Affairs, the Hon. Cedric Liburd; Minister of State with responsibility for Finance, Sustainable Development, Information and Technology, Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty and Minister of State with responsibility for Tourism, Sports and Culture, Sen. the Hon. Richard Skerritt and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, the Hon. Delano Bart.

Beaumont Park’s vision is for St. Kitts to have the premier horse and greyhound racing track in the Caribbean.

Photos by Erasmus Williams

Photo 1: Beaumont Park's Mr. Arthur Sharpe; Attorney General, Hon. Delano Bart; St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas; Hon. Nigel Carty, Hon. Ricky Skerritt and Hon. Rupert Herbert looking at the artist's concept of the Beaumont Park Race Track.