Port of Spain, on the Gulf of Paria, is the capital city of Trinidad and Tobago, although it is only the third largest city after Chaguanas and San Fernando, boasting a municipal population of about 38,000 inhabitants. The Queen’s Park Savannah, created by Sir Ralph Woodford in 1817, is the largest open space in the city occupying about 260 acres. It was on Queen’s Park that the first Trinidad and Tobago racecourse was located, hosting registered meetings as early as 1853, although unregistered races were held well before this date. Indeed, a traveller to Trinidad mentioned horse races on the Grand Savannah in 1828. The first Grandstand was erected in 1854, although at this point the meetings were organised haphazardly, without any formal Board overseeing the meetings. That all changed in 1897 when the Trinidad Turf Club was founded, and a more permanent Grandstand erected. The meetings were very popular during the early years of the 20th century, and just after the Second World War had ended facilities were improved, including the rebuilding of the old Grandstand. Racing continued on Queen’s Park Savannah until the early 1990s when the attention of the racing authorities switched to Arima Racecourse where the principal races, the Derby, Guineas, Oaks, Gold Cup and President’s Cup are all held. |
