It’s been said, “Horse racing is the sport of Kings” and when one reflects on the significant contribution Rodney “Mileage” Simmonds Sr. of The Boys Stables and Bob Earl Hodge of L&B Stables made to the sport of horse racing, they indeed could simply be classified as kings.
When the announcement of the separate deaths of both horsemen, Simmonds and Hodge broke, not only were family and friends shocked, but an entire community of horsemen and horserace enthusiast from the USVI, Caribbean and US mainland where left in total and utter disbelief. For decades the two had contributed significantly to the sport of horse racing and were always key players amongst the local and regional sporting circle.
Not only did they compete, but they played an integral role in the development and maintaining of the sport in the BVI and USVI. Simmonds and Hodge were always key players and both men, along with their teams, would use personal funds to contribute to make sure the track and paddock had simple essentials like restrooms or the resurfacing. Contributions you’d never hear about. Other major contributors towards the sport, track upkeep and management includes the Lake Family of Family Affairs Stables, Lesmore Smith of Top Priority Stables and others.
While Simmonds had an introduction to horse racing through his father, the late Mark E Simmonds who contributed to the sport in various capacities, he developed his own love and passion for the sport from a very young age and competed at every level of the sport throughout his time as a horseman. His first horse was “Mr. Work” and he went on to own other prize winning horses such as Leave It To Bern, Broken Home, Special Counsel, Chovanes, Apollo Sky, East End Tap, Stevens Got Better, among others.
“Rodney loved to compete,” said BVI Horse Owners Association President and longtime colleague Lesmore Smith of Top Priority stables in an invited comment. “It was never personal, he just loved the sport, Rodney would buy a horse just so we had horses to compete in our local horse race. He loved to win but didn’t have a problem accepting a loss. If he lost today, he would congratulate you and prepare for a comeback next time around. He was always a horseman who would travel, never afraid to purchase a horse, he was never afraid to challenge a race or get involved in a race. Win or lose he gave the people 100 percent sportsmanship every time.”
Smith uttered similar sentiments about Bob Hodge, “Bob and Letty were always key players, they loved and understood the sport and were never afraid to invest in it.” At one-point Bob and Letty Hodge took up the mantle of leadership in trying to keep the track up and running, when Mrs. Hodge served as President of the BVI Horse Owners Association.
Bob alongside his wife Letty Hodge and their team at L&B stables created quite a catalogue of prize winning horses over the years like Actspectation which has been considered the greatest hero Hodge ever had. Others included Really Uptown, Doughmaker, Ugly Betty among others.
In speaking of the significant loss to the sport, Smith said, “The loss of Mileage and Bob to horseracing is a tremendous loss, and horse racing will never be the same without them both. It’s a major setback for the sport. They were two of the main persons I know who were never afraid support the sport in every possible way.”
Over the years both horsemen also rallied for the passing of the Gaming Act, which they strongly believed to be the driving force to propel the sport and allow for greater investment among owners and fans.
While the loss is tremendous to the Virgin Islands community, both BVI/USVI and Caribbean region, it now requires a new generation of horsemen to take up the mantle in order to continue the legacy and livelihood of horseracing in the Virgin Islands.
Fans, family and friends are expected to gather to pay their last respects to Rodney “Mileage” Simmonds at The Ellis Thomas Downs horseracing grounds in Sea Cows Bay in the coming weeks. A venue fitting for a true horseman. No announcements have been forthcoming to date on the funeral of Bob Earl Hodge.