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Horseback riding among initiatives for new Association

Horseback riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses. Photo: Andre 'Shadow' Dawson
President-elect of the VI Horse Owners Association, Lesmore Smith. Photo: Andre 'Shadow' Dawson
President-elect of the VI Horse Owners Association, Lesmore Smith. Photo: Andre 'Shadow' Dawson
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Among the goals for the new executive members of the VI Horse Owners' Association is to have a number of initiatives that would involve the family and also help to raise funds for the development of Ellis Thomas Downs, the mecca of horseracing in the Virgin Islands.

One such initiative is horseback riding.

President-elect of the Association Lesmore Smith said the idea is to have horseback riding done on Saturdays for both children and adults for a fee, which he said would go towards the development of the track.

Other fund raising initiatives the President-elect has in mind are movie nights and breakfasts.

“We are also creating a recreational area for the kids. We are now going through the process of looking for the equipment to have that in place where the kids come out and enjoy themselves in their own environment.”

The ultimate goal, Lesmore Smith related to Virgin Islands News Online during an exclusive interview, is to achieve “a family network situation where everyone can come back as a community more together than ever”.

Smith, the owner of Good Prospecting- the 2011 United States Virgin Islands Governor’s Cup winner, was elected the new President of the Virgin Islands Horse Owners’ Association on Tuesday December 13, 2011 at the Valarie O. Thomas Committee Centre in Sea Cows Bay.

Roy Barry was elected as Vice President, Kishma Baronville as Committee Secretary, Karen Smith-Aaron as Treasurer and Dwight Cline as Public Relations Officer. Karl Thomas, a veteran Horse Owner and former president, was nominated and elected as the new Racing Secretary. Roy Garraway has been elected as Security Coordinator. The other Committee member will be Rodney Simmons.

The current committee, headed by outgoing President Dereck Marshall, will run its last race on Monday December 26, 2011, before the new committee takes over on January 1, 2012.

12 Responses to “Horseback riding among initiatives for new Association”

  • Mann up (24/12/2011, 10:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    bouy lesmore you full speed ahead
  • cut out (24/12/2011, 11:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lesomore let the privet sector and small business do things like this. You job is to lobby your “Friend” Myron to get the legislation to have betting…
  • Native Boy (24/12/2011, 15:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    so who will be getting the money?
  • oh boy (24/12/2011, 17:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    good idea Lesmore but their are people doing this already boss
  • back off (24/12/2011, 20:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    i heard he just got elected and wants to run the vendors off from the track and tell dem what they can sell from what they cannot. He better watch he back yall....KEEP OFF THE VENDORS LESMORE
    • well sa (25/12/2011, 00:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      when you people are going to stop? Change is good. I doubt it very much that Mr. Smith said anything like that as the old committee is still in power. You must be one of them who were not re-elected.
      • toWellsa (25/12/2011, 23:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        where you at the meeting....Since you are so defensive let us know what he said then
  • Horseman (25/12/2011, 00:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ back off Hear something what the hell u dont know, as president HE has the right to do that!!! THATis something that should have been done years ago, throw them out ! let the HOA take over food and drink on the race track. At the end of the day u need to remember, ITA ALL ABOUT THE HORSE OWNERS BCUZ WITHOUT THEM !!NOBODY!! WOULDN'T BE SELLING FOOD OR DRINKS ON THE TRACK OR better yet the same vendors could work for the racetrack and get a paycheck at the end of the day, SO BACK OFF OF LESMORE BOSS, IF HE WANTS TO DO THAT LET HIM DO IT, IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, LET ME ASK U THIS ... ANY OF THOSE VENDORS DOES HELP FEED ANY HORSE FOR ANY HORSE OWNER, YOU DONT HAVE ONE FRIGGIN IDEA HOW HARD IT TO TAKE CARE OF A HORSE, SO DO WA U GOTTA DO LESMORE, ALL THEM VENDORS WANT TO DO IS MAKE MONEY AND GO HOME , THEY ARE NOT LOOKING AT THE BIGGER PICTURE AND THAT IS TRYING TO MAKE ELLIS THOMAS DOWNS A WORLD CLASS TRACK, SO AYO PPL WITH THE VENDORS NEED TO GET REAL.
    • tisk (25/12/2011, 09:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I SEE WHY THEY SAY HORSE MEN ARE ILLETERIATE...VENDORS BRING SPECTATORS TO THE TRACK AS WELL....NOTHING IS WRONG HORSE MEN HAVING A BOOTH BUT DONT REMOVE THE LONG STANDING VENDOR... WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE SPORT AS WELL...SOME VENDORS ARE HORSE OWNERS TOO
  • Horseman (25/12/2011, 14:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ tisk THE ONLY ILLETERIATE PERSON HERE IS YOU, VENDORS BRING SPECTATORS TO THE TRACK ? YOU GOT TO BE BORN STUPID ! PEOPLE COME TO THE TRACK 2 WATCH THE RACES NOT THE VENDORS, DAMN IDIOT
    • tisk (25/12/2011, 22:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @HORSEMAN DON'T THE COMMITTEE COLLECT A FEE FROM THE VENDOR..WHICH HELPS FEED YOUR HORSES....EVEN IF A DOLLAR IS COLLECTED IT GOES TOWARDS THE SPORT/HORSEMEN.....SECONDLY I KNOW PEOPLE WHO COME TO HORSE TRACK JUST BECAUSE AND NOT TO WATCH HORSE RACE...PLAIN AND SIMPLE...IF YOU KEEP YOUR HORSE INSIDE OF THE STABLES..WHAT SENSE DOES THAT MAKE...BEFORE YOU GET INVOLVE IN SOMETHING Y OU SHOULD KNOW THE FINANCIAL IMPICATIONS...PLAIN AND SIMPLE...LIKE I SAID BEFORE THERE ARE VEN DORS WITH HORSES TOO
  • IN THE NEWS (26/12/2011, 11:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    anything lesmore is a part of does not last....time will tell on this one


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