If Horse Racing is the Sport of Kings
What is Goat Racing?

Goat racing! I can't think of any other country besides Tobago where there this is an organized sport.

This is no new thing here. They ahve been racing goats in Tobago for at least 75 years. Nowadays it is an annual event, usually held on the Easter season at Buccoo and Mount Pleasant. It has survived horse racing, which used to be put on at Shirvan Park, but has since moved to Trinidad.

Just to make things more interesting, there is also crab-racing! But that's another story for another night!

How do you goat-race ? Well, the "jockey" does not ride the goat. Rather he runs alongside or behind it. So the jockey's fleetness must at least match the goat's. Now it's not just any old goat that can enter a goat race. No siree! These goats are specially bred for racing, and are very strong.

They have trainers. They have a special diet and are given stout to drink. They are taken to the sea and given baths, just as one would do with a racehorse.

There is even some sort of racing association. The goats are divided into categories, as with horses. There are starting gates. Bets are placed.

Judging by the huge crowds that go to Buccoo for the goat race, it is a real fun time. There is food. And there is drink. And crowds. Some of the goats have expatriate owners, who make a regular pilgrimage to Tobago for the occasion. One Australian visitor had such a whale of a time, he not only bought his own goat, but left vowing to introduce the sport to Australia.

Would you like to own your own racing goat. Well, I'm not sure what a racing goat costs, but if you come here there is some sort of goat racing association, although you won't find it listed in the telephone directory. But you'll find it.

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