Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Sept 18, 2022 horse races in jeopardy over land use ban

Sept 18, 2022 horse races in jeopardy over land use ban

Horse racing fans disappointed with the postponement of horse races at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay, Tortola on September 3, 2022, due to inclement weather were looking forward to the new race date of September 18, 2022.

Now comes news that the race card may have to cancelled altogether since a ban has been placed on the use of a portion of land at Ellis Thomas Downs.

“The public is advised effective immediately and until further notice the portion of land at the Ellis Thomas Downs which is owned by Thomas family may not be utilised in any way by the Government, its agents and/or assigns. This includes the Horseowners’ Association, and any person connected thereto,” a notice from Government Information Services (GIS) stated on September 8, 2022.

The parcels of land affected were listed as Parcels 170, 171 and 246, Block 2736B, Sea Cow’s Bay Registration Section.

Upcoming horse races in jeopardy!


“We have taken immediate steps to comply with the directive issued.

“As a result, we have notified the Horseowners’ Association of this important information. We are aware that races are scheduled to take place at the Ellis Thomas Downs on 18 September 2022. Regrettably, Government is not in a position to say whether the current issues will be resolved prior to that date.”

The press release added that Government has notified President of the VI Horseowners’ Association Mr Lesmore Smith that it may be prudent to take urgent steps to cancel those races in order to mitigate the inconvenience to all relevant stakeholders.

“We want the public to remain assured that Government is committed to working assiduously with the Thomas Family to rectify this situation as soon as possible,” the release concluded.

Gov’t has paid on lease for year- Premier


No information was given as to what exactly the problems are, which have resulted in the ban on the use of the track by the Thomas family.

There were speculations that Government may have owed money on the lease of the land; however, this was debunked by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) on social media.

“The ministry has paid for the year. This is not the problem. More info will be made available in due time,” Premier Wheatley briefly stated.

‘It is what it is’- Lesmore Smith


Meanwhile, Mr Lesmore Smith communicated to our newsroom that he has received correspondence from government about the use of Ellis Thomas Downs.

“With immediate effect, we can no longer use the track until further notice. Please follow all instructions to avoid and legal proceedings/ procedures against us or the BVI Government. I’m asking for full cooperation in this matter!

“I know it’s much disappointing, but it is what it is,” a correspondence to horse owners by Mr Smith stated.

Our newsroom will continue to work on more details to this story.

Horse racing fans disappointed with the postponement of horse races at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay, Tortola on September 3, 2022, due to inclement weather were looking forward to the new race date of September 18, 2022.

The public is advised effective immediately and until further notice the portion of land at the Ellis Thomas Downs which is owned by Thomas family may not be utilised in any way by the Government, its agents and/or assigns. This includes the Horseowners’ Association, and any person connected thereto.

Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay, Tortola.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×