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Goat
and Crab Races - Buccco
Village.
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Buccoo
Goat Races
Names like
Be-My-Hero, Trouble Maker
and Sian's Gold, racing
goats begin their hurdles
underway on a Sunday
afternoon at Buccoo.
•
In Tobago, goat
racing is serious
business! Introduced in
1925, goat racing as an
Easter Tuesday activity,
has a long history.
•
This event is
surrounded by pageantry
and pomp. There are
stables, owners,
trainers, jockeys and of
course the steeds.
•
Racing goats are
very carefully selected
and trained. They must be
energetic and
long-legged.
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• The
training of the jockey is equally
rigorous as, since jockeys do not
ride their steeds but must run
alongside whilst holding onto
long leashes.
• They
must be able to match their
goat's pace during an actual race
over a 100m stretch of turf.
• Having
been assigned to their respective
lanes, the goats are then
paraded, with commentary
indicating the race favourites,
before being taken to the box.
• And
they are off! - the starter has
released the field and they race
for the finish.
• It is
thrilling to hear the thundering
of hooves, the shouts of the
jockeys and roars of the crowd as
the goats near the finish line.
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Crab Races
• The
competition is keen since only
the best bred and healthiest
looking crabs are all entered in
these races.
• Here
the crabs, generally large blue,
are harnessed with a piece of
string and then encouraged by
much poking and prodding to run
towards the finish line.
• Despite
the smaller scale of Crab Races,
the interest and energy of the
onlookers is very much in
evidence.
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This
event provides a day of fun and
excitement and takes place only a
few yards
from the waters holding the world
renowned Buccoo Reef and the
legendary Nylon Pool. |
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