For the love of Easter goat racing

By Kaelanne Jordan

mediarelations.camsel@catholictt.org

In Buccoo—where goat racing has been a fixture for over 100 years—and Mount Pleasant proudly celebrating five decades of the tradition, Easter Tuesday isn’t just a day off. It’s the heart of the season.

What might seem like a novelty to visitors is, for locals like Anthony Horsford, a proud expression of heritage.

For more than 40 years, Horsford has been a steady presence on the Easter Tuesday track. His story, like the sport itself, is rooted in community, tradition, and an unshakable love for animals.

“I cannot leave Tobago on an Easter time because I love the goat racing…. it’s very important because sometimes you still see the government giving people time off to go and take in the Easter Tuesday when it is not a public holiday… And it’s the rivalry between the other owners to see who is the champion of the year …that is just the thing that does drive me,” Horsford told The Catholic News via telephone.

He first discovered goat racing as a boy, tagging along with his parents to watch the races in Buccoo.

A cousin inspired him, “and I liked it, and I started it… about 40 years ago,” Horsford recalled. That spark ignited a passion that has spanned decades. He’s now a trainer, no longer a jockey, but still very much in the thick of competition.

Goat racing, Horsford explained, isn’t just about speed—it’s about training, care, and connection. “It’s basically everything. I like the training because training keeps you fit. You have to train the animals… feed them up, get them fit, you do everything. You get them properly medicated, get them by the vet,” he stated.

For Horsford, a healthy goat is a fast goat—and looking good matters. “If they’re looking well, they will perform well.”

So, what does “looking well” mean? “Just not that they’re the heavy ones like the boar goats and them. They’re too heavy to run,” he said with a laugh. He favours common breeds and the Anglo and Saanen types—nimble and quick-footed.

And just like with athletes, some goats are simply special. “I had plenty of goats that were special, but I believe the most special one was Quicksilver… I win many races with it. And I had one that name was Tony’s Gem. It was really a gem,” Horsford said.

Goat racing might look whimsical to the uninitiated, but it takes meticulous preparation. “You have to train them to walk properly in a straight direction, then you get to sprinting and you carry them on the beach to get them stronger… it’s a routine.”

But like any seasoned competitor, Horsford won’t spill all his secrets. His goats are not just trained—they’re companions. Some even follow him around like loyal dogs.

On race day, the track stretches somewhere between 90 to 105 meters. But the goal is the same: win. But surprises abound.

Horsford explained that sometimes the goats stop mid-race if they become startled by a loud noise, if the jockey cramps, or fall on a wet track. Jockeys can get disqualified for not crossing the line with their rope.

Despite all its charm and deep cultural significance, goat racing in Tobago faces real challenges.

“I believe it should have changed and developed more and been expanded… It’s just an Easter rivalry between the guys and the same people from Canaan, Bon Accord, Mt Pleasant, and Buccoo,” Horsford said.

He wishes for more support, especially for the older generation of owners and trainers who have kept it alive with limited resources.

“I would like to see the [Tobago House of] Assembly, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago do something better for goat racing, in the sense of financial… because most of the owners that we have in goat racing, all the guys are pensioners… and they use they little $3,000 to maintain these animals… sometimes they don’t even win anything.”

Even so, his love for the sport keeps him going. “I could find something better to do. But just because I love the sport and the competitiveness, I still continue doing it.”

This year, Horsford’s stables are ready. His goats—Mr Flair, Most Wanted, Superstar, and Ah Blessing—are prepped for every class: C2 (beginners), C1, B, and A (elite). His excitement is as fresh as ever.

“I’m always excited and ready… It’s just so nice to go out on the Easter Tuesday and Monday with your animals… you have a drink with your good friends, and you get back home, and you talk about it for a week, and then that’s it. It’s nice.”