April, May and June are every horse racing enthusiast’s favorite months featuring the Triple Crown series of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and the Belmont Stakes’ race for the highly coveted Triple Crown.  But right here in St. Croix USVI enthusiasts not only enjoy watching these events, they cheer for the local talent that became world-class jockeys.

The Sugar Beach Resort in St. Croix is just a few miles away from the epicenter of action, the Randall “Doc” James Racetrack and fall & winter guest can experience the excitement first hand and be view one of the oldest sporting events in the history of the Caribbean as well as the world.   Not to mention see future championship jockeys coming up through the ranks.

This year’s American Triple Crown and St. Croix’s own Kevin Krigger is bringing much recognition to USVI horse racing as well as the entire Caribbean.  Krigger and his ride Goldencents ran into every Cruzian’s heart with hopes of winning his first Kentucky Derby but was cheered on to a 17^th place finish due to sluggish performance in muddy conditions, not Goldencents’ strong point. 

Getting his start a little after Krigger is another great local jockey, Victor Lebron.  The underdog at the 2013 Kentucky Derby was not as widely recognized because his ride, Frac Daddy was not as strong of an entry as Goldencents and finished 16^th, one place ahead of Krigger. 

So two young in St. Croix boys with a love of horses and the sport of racing them are grown up and lining up against each other again for a championship run at the upcoming Preakness and Belmont Stakes.  While the world is hoping the Kentucky Derby Winner Orb is successful in winning the elusive Triple Crown, one sure bet on the horses is that throughout the Caribbean the fans will be cheering for Goldencents and Frac Daddy and the Cruzian sons Kevin Krigger and Victor Lebron.

So why not make the Sugar Beach Resort you’re vacation home and enjoy some of the best horse racing in the Caribbean, maybe even see the next Triple Crown winner in the making.

Randall “Doc” James Racetrack

Puerto Ricans have been part of the Virgin Islands community from the beginning of the last century and have become a strong, powerful group of people working hard to improve themselves, their families and what became their new home, St. Croix.  We celebrate this on October 12 with the official Virgin Islands / Puerto Rico Friendship Day.

Their influence was recognized in 1964 by the local Legislature, under Governor Ralph E. Paiewonsky, approving Act No. 1075 making a historical change. Columbus Day, observed in all the Americas as the Discovery Day, was now to be Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Friendship Day. This bill called upon the citizens of the Virgin Islands to "observe the occasion with fitting ceremonies honoring Puerto Ricans residing in our midst and who have made substantial contributions to the advancement and progress of the Virgin Islands."

After the passing of Governor Cyril E. King (second elected governor of the VI) in 1978, Juan Francisco Luis (the first and only Hispanic Governor who served 10 consecutive years) and First Lady Mrs. Luz Maria Luis brought the activity to Christiansted where she could give this event and honorees the recognition they deserved by having it in Government House - this year on October 10.

What started as a luncheon, moved on to three days, then a week, and in 2005, by the initiative of the VI/PR Friendship Committee, expanded to a whole month. Now, in a very fitting way, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Friendship Day is combined with the Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated nationwide, to recognize the contributions to our nation made by Puerto Ricans and all the Hispanics who have joined them.

The first VI/PR Village was celebrated at the Christiansted waterfront and was dedicated to Mr. Miguel Duchesne (deceased), the first VI/ PR Committee president. Every year thereafter, the village has been an important part of the celebrations and it's always dedicated to an outstanding community servant. The Friendship Parade, that was part of the celebrations in the past, will be revived this year on October 10 starting in Richmond and ending at the Canegata Ball Park grounds - the site of this year's Friendship Village from October 8-11.

The first VI/PR Friendship Queen was Nereida Santos, selected in 1960, even before the passing of the bill. Today, Mrs. Santos remembers those wonderful days and continues to encourage our youngsters to cultivate their cultural heritage.

Throughout the years, the VIPR Friendship Committee has expanded its scope, adding many other events to the schedule. Among them, the celebration of the

"Noche de San Juan," poster contests among students, the revival of the Queen Show, Thanksgiving Concerts, theatrical plays from Puerto Rico and local talent (at Island Center for the Performing Arts), Fiesta en el Batey at Whim Museum (October 3), food fairs, Art and Pictorial Exhibitions, a documentary premiere (Sugar Pathways), the opening of a Hispanic Collection Corner at the Evelyn Williams Library, the presentation of many first class music bands and performers from Puerto Rico, and this year, the revival of the boat trip to the "Fiestas Patronales" on the sister island of Vieques, which was a dear tradition in the past. 2012 sees "Friendship Ties Stronger Than Ever" celebrated with pride.

GUEST CHEF SLOW DOWN DINNER with CHEF BRIAN WISBAUER w/ Kiki and the Flaming Gypsies

@Ridge to Reef Farm, September 22nd, 6pm                                          

Are you ready for the next Slow Down dinner? Join us under the half moon for the return of our friend Chef Brian! Over the past 6 months he has been delving deeper into on farm dining in Tennessee, and now he's bringing it back here. Once rumored to make a soup so great that it cured cancer, his magic returns to the Ridge to Reef Community Center!

Before he left, Chef Brian was at Blue Water Terrace and Executive Chef of Blue Moon Cafe in Frederiksted. Brian has made his mark in the territory, as the 2009 top entree winner at the Taste of St. Croix, and chef posts at Ritz Cartlon St. Thomas, Zebo's, and the Northside Frenchie favorite Craig & Sally's. Brian also has taught Slow Food cooking at VISFI during our Ridge to Reef Beneficial Farmer Training Program, and he brings something special and unique every time. 

Also joining in on the evening are the fabulous Kiki and the Flaming Gypsies!

 THE DETAILS

Reach the farm on the newly paved roads through the rainforest on Saturday, September 22nd for our next Guest Chef Slow Down Dinner. Each seasonal element is infused through 6 courses with chosen from our farm’s certified organic crops and grass fed livestock. In between each dish plating, enjoy brief presentations and stories from the farmers and chefs. Dress is island casual. Arrivals are welcome starting at 6pm, and dinner seating is at 6:30pm. Seats are limited and are first-come-first serve, reservations and confirmations required. Make reservations instantly with a membership at our on-line food market http://vi.locallygrown.net/market/index/31665, reply to this email, or leave a clear voice message with your party name, number, & contact info at 340-220-0466 upon which we reply with confirmation. Please remember we have limited seats and any cancellations should be made at least 48 priors prior so we can contact the waiting list.

Show your support for our food production and farming education by making a love offering for the evening of a suggested $60 to $100 per person. Donations go toward organic farm operations and seasonal expenses so we can increase our capacity to provide more organic food and educational programs to St. Croix.  Please consider as well gratuity for your farmer/servers and kitchen staff. We thank you in advance for your generous contributions and hope that you enjoy your farm dining experience to its fullest!

Produce and dinner reservations are at www.vi.locallygrown.net.

Visit the Institute at www.visfi.org.

Upcoming Events & Courses calendar

A MUST-DO if you are visiting St. Croix during turtle nesting season: April to August – is to participate in a “turtle watch”.   Nightly volunteers “watch” the nests,

collecting data and helping with any protection or relocation (due to erosion) needs.  There are scheduled times when the public is invited to come on the “watch”, though you must be a member of the St. Croix Environmental Association to participate.  At $50/year its a bargain that really helps the cause too!  SEA also has other environmental centered events throughout the year, so no matter what time of year you are traveling to St. Croix you can take advantage of these learning expeditions.

Vacationers and locals alike visit Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge on St Croix. It is located on the southwest side of the island, just south of Frederiksted.  Sandy Point is a habitat area for many endangered species, but was particularly set aside as a nesting area for the leatherback sea turtles.  In fact, it boasts the largest nesting population of leatherbacks in the United States on its 2 miles of white sandy beach.

Leatherback sea turtles are the largest sea turtle; females nesting on St. Croix average 6-800 lbs and the largest male ever recorded was more than 2000 lbs! After nesting in the tropics, leatherbacks migrate to the North Atlantic; a satellite transmitter was attached to a St. Croix nester and she was documented traveling all the way to Nova Scotia! Scientists have estimated that leatherbacks could be extinct within 10 to 15 years based on current levels of population decline.

The nocturnal trek of hatchling Sea Turtles is one of the most interesting and exciting spectacles in nature.  It takes between 50 and 65 days after the mother turtle deposits her eggs in a beachside nest that the hatchlings will emerge by breaking out of their thin eggs buried below the sand and make their struggle to the surface and then onward to the water. This is an especially perilous point in their survival because in addition to the natural predators such as Gulls and Raccoons, man has made it increasingly difficult for the newly hatched turtles to find their way to the ocean. The baby turtles emerge under cover of darkness and are naturally attracted to lights, as it is their instinct to move towards the lighter horizon of the ocean and away from the darkness of the beach and sand dunes. Their ability to get from their nest to the relative safety of the ocean is critical for their survival.