The National Racing Pigeon Commission of Trinidad & Tobago

Pigeons were used in Trinidad and Tobago for food before chickens were farmed on a large scale. Pigeons are classified as poultry. Pigeon racing in this country became popular as a sport approximately one hundred (100) years ago. 

The homing ability of pigeons was  useful to countries involved in wars. Cameras and messages were strapped to the birds at far distances to take back to base. The Americans established lofts in Trinidad in the Second World War. 

Just prior to and around that period, several small clubs emerged and racing occured by releasing pigeons from each other’s home loft a few miles away at the same time  with witnessed present. This evolved into the use of clocking systems. 

The technology was not understood back then so all clocks were not stopped and started at the same time to constitute an accurate duration of race time.  The Great-Circle navigation and a map to estimate location points  before GPS as well.

Birds were released from distances and the winner emerged with the highest velocity to its home. For each bird, it is calculated where its distance flown, over time to get home gave its velocity or speed. 

After many dominant performances by a few fanciers, a discovery in a magazine that highlighted a simple alteration to the clocking method that led to the to start of all clocks at the same time. This standard gave a fair chance to all and encouraged more participants. 

Needless to say, after the war, the sport grew again in Trinidad and Tobago. Club racing at greater distances evolved into the restructured national body which was formed in 1957 to accommodate wider administrative oversight. Participants were incorporated regardless of status, creed or class.

A decision by the members shortly after was then made to seek international recognition. The world governing body, Federation Colombophile International, (F.C.I) admitted The National Racing Pigeon Commission of Trinidad and Tobago in 1963 with recommendations from the British and the Belgian Associations.

Arrangements were made through the Commission's Secretariat to land birds in neighbouring territories which extended the race courses to well over one hundred (100) miles in some cases.

Releases from neighbouring countries took place from as far as Venezuela, South American Coast to Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Vincent. Grenada, Barbados and Tobago. Birds would return to their various homes throughout Trinidad and Tobago.

Part of the operations also consisted of shipping birds away to Europe, Africa, and Japan to participate in World Championship races under the F.C.I. In these cases the baby birds would grow and live in lofts in those countries but represent the flag of Trinidad and Tobago in what is known as one loft racing.

Trinidad and Tobago won top ten  and other high  positions in the world a few times. Since then, this arrangement of racing has become lucrative all over the world with millions of dollars in prizes involved. This has drawn persons away from the love and practice of the sport and solely into its commercial aspects. More sophistication in equipment and racing  techniques are evident as a consequence.

The National Racing Pigeon Commission of Trinidad and Tobago remains non- profit with a commitment to the development of the sport which strikes a balance according to the rules of the world governing body.

This organisation was one of the existing handful of sporting organisations at the time to be officially asked to participate in the consultations which led to the formation of the now known Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs. Subsequent to this, affiliation was sought to the later minted Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee. 

Due to the international and cross border operations of the sport, it was integral to have affiliation with various non-governmental and governmental agencies not limited to departments in sport, customs, immigration, agriculture, health, the port authority, airlines, embassies, regional corporations and so on.

The National Racing Pigeon Commission continues to evolve as an organisation to promote the sport under international standards and lend support to the sportsmen and women who enjoy it.