Tobago Correspondent
Hundreds of visitors flocked to the Buccoo Integrated Facility on Tuesday for the 98th edition of the world-famous Buccoo Goat and Crab Race Festival.
From as early as 11 am, the streets were lined with tourists with their cameras and umbrellas out for the annual parade heralding the start of the festivities.
It was a carnival-like atmosphere on the road as children portrayed their shimmering costumes and choreography under the blazing sun.
Traditional carnival characters, such as the gorilla, also provided some entertainment, attempting to scare women and children along the route.
The music shifted from soca to the fiddle for the traditional Ole Time Wedding procession as performers in their Sunday best danced a jig.
As performers and patrons poured into the Buccoo facility, an employee gave the track a last-minute cut with a lawn mower ahead of the races.
As the anticipation built, the sweet sounds of the hometown Buccooneers steelband delighted the crowd by playing a number of soca hits.
A couple from Grenada told Guardian Media they came specifically to see the races and were very excited.
However, there was an important task to complete first.
“Where the food selling?” the man asked an official who directed him to the array of tents.
As the bugle blew to signal the start of the races, the tension in the stands elevated with all eyes on the track.
Jockeys walked proudly and purposefully from the paddock to the gates with their goats firmly in hand.
One goat seemed to get shy as he refused to budge and had to be prompted by his jockey to make the trek to the gates.
“Watch how he stubborn nah,” a woman from the crowd shouted.
As the red flight flashed signalling the start of the race, the goats burst from the gates and thundered down the track with their fleet-footed jockeys in full sprint to keep pace.
Happy Feet, which was in winner’s row at the Carnbee/Mt Pleasant Sports Day on Monday, again showed his pedigree with victory in Buccoo.
English couple Bob Powell and Lucy Adams were smiling from ear to ear as they enjoyed the novelty races. They told Guardian Media they have been to the island before, but never for the goat races.
“It is fantastic. It has a wonderful festival feel to it,” Powell said.
“We’ve never seen anything like this before. it’s just an amazing vibe, great entrainment,” Adams chimed in.
Powell said he enjoyed being on vacation in the Caribbean and delving into the local traditions.
“I think it is really proper. It is an insight into T&T culture. There is something really fundamental about this. We are having so much fun just being here, meeting people and having a good time.”
Adams said, “This has been going for almost a 100 years, just the historical nature of this is amazing and also the beaches are beautiful, the food is wonderful. Everything is amazing.”
UK friends Lucy and Beth said they came across goat racing on TikTok and decided to book a flight to Tobago see it live.
“We came for the goats. It is better than we expected,” Lucy said.
