I used www.viphonebook.com to come up with this http://www.stcroixracetrack.com/ Maybe someone there can give you more info...I know that there are horse races from time to time, but, in my ten years here, I have never been to one..

You might want to check the Relocation board. But basically, horse racing here is a cottage industry. The purses are like $1500, the races are maybe 6 times a year? But there is a circuit- St Thomas, St Croix and Tortola.

I was a professional horsewoman for many years (not here) and I don't think you would find anything here related to racing or any other equestrian activity which would resemble anything you're used to - nor enable you to make a decent living. Cheers!

We do have a racetrack on both STT and STX and some racing of thoroughbred horses. STX has more pasture and horses than STT. Call the STX racetrack at340-713-7228 -Randall James racetrack.

dustyjames,

first thing, the racing season has just ended. the last race here (STT) is for carnival, and that was last week. horse racing here isn't very similar to what you would excpect in the states. the purses are usually between $3,000 - $6,000.00; but it just barley begins to cover expenses here. STT and STX are little islands out in a big ocean, far far away from Florida, and even far from Puerto Rico, there are no fields here, there is no hay, all food has to be shipped here from somewhere else (Canada, Michigan, whereever). A single bale of hay is going to cost $25 (the cheapest you will ever find) to about $65. Grain cost is also very high and there is little choice (unless you have lots of $$$<) of what products you recieve and the quality of them. Hay and grain have been exposed to water, salt, and sun... mold is often the result.

Everyone that races here is born and rasied here.....having spent some time thataway i can tell you that its pretty ghetto and the animals are not very cared for and are usually causally disguarded at the end of their career. And, it is common to keep horses racing until they are 8 or 9 years old, too many end up with awful injuries.

If you are planning on moving here to race horses..... i would think long and hard, and also visit the track before you set things in stone.

Things are a little different on STX, plenty of horses, graxing land and hay. But as others have said, probably not enough work for an exercise/hot rider or trainer.

dusty james,

all of the comments provided you so far have been spot on. the best advice above all is to check things out in person before you take the plunge in the virgin islands. I recommend also to speak with Stephanie Luis of the St. Croix Horseowners Association, as there may be more opportunity in St. Croix than St. Thomas. Have you considered work in Puerto Rico? Contact Stephanie at 340-514-1539.
good luck to you.
Island Horse Welfare Foundation