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Goat
and crab and racing are
uniquely Tobagonian.
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These
events, attract sizeable
crowds and resemble large
village fairs.
• The
best known venue for
these sports is Buccoo
Village, on Easter
Tuesday , where the
tradition started, about
75 years ago, as a
grassroots response to
the upper-class pastime
of thoroughbred horse
racing.
• With names like
Be My Hero, Trouble Maker
and Sian's Gold, goat
racing gets underway.
Thousands turn out each
year to cheer beautifully
groomed goats raced by
jockeys who rum alongside
each animal, guiding and
coaxing it with a rope
and whip; the race is as
much a test of the
jockeys' speed as well as
the goat's.
• The event is
surrounded by all the
pageantry and pomp of a
day at Ascot. There are
stables, owners,
trainers, jockeys and of
course the steeds. The
latter are very carefully
selected and trained -
energetic and
long-legged, they often
become the sole focus of
the jockey or trainer.
• Goats are
paraded, with a
commentator indicating
the favourites for the
race. Then it's off to
the starting box. It is
thrilling thing to hear
the thundering hooves
along with the shouts of
the jockeys and crowd as
the goats near the finish
line. |
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Tell
your friends
about this site
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Crab
Racing
• Crab racing
isn't as glamorous as goat racing
but equally as intriguing. Here
the crabs, generally large blue,
are harnessed with a short length of
string attached to a small bamboo guide pole. The
crabs are encouraged by much poking and prodding to run towards the finish line.
• Despite the
smaller scale the interest and
energy of the onlookers is very
much in evidence.
• But alas... both the winners and the losers of this race, they soon take up another prized place.
• The Crab and Callaloo - Sunday lunch!
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Phagwa
is a happy, joyous even, all are
welcome to join in the fun
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