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Ellis Thomas Downs gets professional 8-stall starting gate

The professional 8-stall starting gate at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay today, July 13, 2016. Photo: VINO
The new starting gate was shipped in from Louisiana, USA. Photo: VINO
The new starting gate was shipped in from Louisiana, USA. Photo: VINO
President of the Virgin Islands Horse Owners Association, Patsy C. Lake has delivered on her promise of a new starting gate for Ellis Thomas Downs. Photo: VINO/File
President of the Virgin Islands Horse Owners Association, Patsy C. Lake has delivered on her promise of a new starting gate for Ellis Thomas Downs. Photo: VINO/File
SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI- Issues of gates not opening and other starting problems are expected to be drastically reduced if not eliminated at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay, thanks to a modern professional 8-stall gate that has been acquired by the Virgin Islands Horse Owners Association.

The new gate, which was sourced from Louisiana, United States, will be put into action at the August Tuesday Races. It will replace the usually faulty training gate.

According to President of the Virgin Islands Horse Owners Association, Patsy C. Lake, these are the first professional gate in the VI and hopes there would be no starting problems during races.

“I hope we have none of them because this gate has three different mechanisms to open it,” which lake said included manual and ‘press button’.

“If one fails you have two backups.”

Lake further said it was a 10-stall gate that had to be adjusted and fitted with a special dolly that would allow it to be manoeuvred on the Ellis Thomas Downs track.

“I bought for the future. While we are not going to be running eight horses we will just push the two extra gates inside the track, so that when we develop the track we don’t have to spend no kind of money again, because it is not cheap.”

Lake also clarified that more than six horses can possibly start at one time at Ellis Thomas Downs run but is not likely to be allowed for safety reasons.

The cost for the gate was not disclosed by Lake, who noted that the association was given “fantastic help” with the shipping of the gate by Ocean King Services.

14 Responses to “Ellis Thomas Downs gets professional 8-stall starting gate”

  • crazy (13/07/2016, 13:20) Like (8) Dislike (6) Reply
    WHATIS THE COST AND WHO PAID?
    • bvi (13/07/2016, 14:01) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      Who cares. It was a needed commodity for the survival of the sport
    • the rock (13/07/2016, 14:08) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
      that's none of your business "crazy", great job Mrs. Lake, a word given a word kept, boom..Yes I!
    • nosey (13/07/2016, 14:10) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      what difference does it make.
    • @ CRAZY (14/07/2016, 06:24) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
      good question I need to know what was done with my tax dollars
      • Laura (15/07/2016, 09:55) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Oh please u hiding behind your damn name CRAZY you will not come out to light to ask nobody whats being done with your tax dollars. Ms. Lake and others found the gate was needed and boom its there be thankful.
    • ... (14/07/2016, 09:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I think they raised money with the raffle for the Audi Q3
  • on the move (13/07/2016, 13:55) Like (6) Dislike (6) Reply
    Great things are in place for this association as long as Patsy Lake is in charge!!! Kudos to you and whoever donated funds towards Horseracing & the Gate!!!! Keep up the GREAT work Patsy!!! YOU ON DEH MOVE...
  • pat (13/07/2016, 14:26) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Cant say ms p did not do something for horse race
  • Harold (13/07/2016, 19:38) Like (8) Dislike (10) Reply
    Stupid and inhumane sport, a place for a set of fools to show off their materialistic nonsense.
    • @ harold (13/07/2016, 23:49) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
      go back where you come from
    • the rock (14/07/2016, 07:22) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
      harold go find jeckle, see u at the festival races, it is going to be mass in the place, buddy! family affairs---yur large-- lets go!
  • Nice (14/07/2016, 12:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wonder how much is admission now buddy?
  • Well Sah (15/07/2016, 09:35) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Isn't that gate to big for that small track???? 8 gates?????


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