Ms. Parsons calls for racetrack grandstands to be named in honour of Axel Ritter
On the Sports Talk show Ms. Parsons called for the grandstands at Ellis Thomas Downs to be named in honour of horse racing hero, the late Axel Ritter who was buried on Saturday, August 25, 2012. The former legislator said, we need to honour Mr. Ritter’s memory and his contribution to the racing industry...he also was very instrumental in trying to organize races in the early days of the racetrack as well as owning many race horses of his own, Ms. Parsons told the radio sports show.
Ms. Parsons a former Government Minister, founder of the popular Heritage Dancers and cultural icon promised the radio audience to call the current Minister for Education and Culture, Myron V. Walwyn on her suggestion for the naming of the Ellis Thomas Downs’ grandstands in honour of Ritter.
It is unclear the reaction of this suggestion by the public, other horse racing fans and those who have also contributed, or even the family of Ellis Thomas and the district representative Honourable Julian Fraser RA.
Landmarks in Sea Cows Bay that have been named
In the Sea Cows Bay area there are three landmarks named in honour of persons. They are the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School named in honour of Mr. Ebenezer Thomas, who donated the land the school is on free of cost; additionally the Sea Cows Bay softball field now named the Roger Allen Hodge Park, in honour of the late Roger Allen Hodge, a young man who made tremendous contributions in many sports throughout the Virgin Islands and the Sea Cows Bay area. Of course there is also the famous landmark Ellis Thomas Downs, the racetrack named in honour of Ellis Thomas for his undisputed overwhelming contributions to horse racing in both the USVI and VI.
The resource centre/library at the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School is named in honour of Teacher, Augusta Forbes via a plaque. Ms. Forbes, who started the first school in Sea Cows Bay was a long time teacher and one of the first educators in the village.
Axel Ritter a horse racing hero
The horse racing legend who died on August 13, 2012 at Peebles Hospital is survived by his wife Marva, eight children and numerous other family members.
The former horse trainer and owner had a passion for horse racing in the greater Virgin Islands and was a key organiser of races for a number of years.
Mr. Ritter was more than just an organiser though; he was very much involved in the races also as he was the owner of the following race horses: Revenger, Ms. Symbolic, Ms. Jay, Ms. Pittiful, Lady Brava, Merry Boi and the famous Mountain Man, a native bred horse that travelled to the United States Virgin Islands to partake in Native Triple Crown.
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44 Responses to “Ms. Parsons calls for racetrack grandstands to be named in honour of Axel Ritter”
When you love someone or something it should not be subjected to froms of cruelty.
Go get your own screen name P***K!!
People, people, people, don't get your bowels up, this lady is still bitter because she wanted the track named after her. Could you imagine following this lunatic and putting this idea in practice? "I am going to the races at the Axle Writter Grandstand", oh, where is that? At Ellis Thomas Downs.
E*****n is 82 years old and still can't get it right, she teamed up with the Funny Man to choose a song by a woman who ent from here over Quincy who from here. She know better but she just want to be spiteful.
for all r u politician out there: stop giving ppl their flowers wen they dead, give it to them while they living......
Look fools especially them who not from district 3, keep ayo backside out of Sea Cows Bay and trying to dictate to us what should be name what. You all ever can’t get the Road Town Soft ball field named now you all in Sea Cows Bay trying to give our track a second name.
Stop the hate and confusion, you all did not even let Mr. Ritter rest a good couple of hours you all started with the confusion and mischief. I ask that you all at least allowed Mr. Ritter to RIP!!!
2. Ms P suggested naming the Grandstand after Axel not renaming the whole track. It is very normal to say the Axel Ritter grandstand at the Ellis Thomas Downs. Just like we say the Eileen Parsons Auditorium at the H Lavity Stoutt college.
3. There are many people who are deserving of many honors. Ms P merely made a "suggestion". It is just a suggestion people. Everyone doesn't have to agree. I didn't think my good friend Roger was the MOST deserving person to have the field named after him and I know I wasn't the only one. But he was deserving of having his memory honored.
4. My friend Axel needs to rest in peace. We all need to be respectful to his memory and his family and cut out this nonsense back and forth and bringing politics into everything and stop allowing the media to divide us against our own BVIslanders.
5. Tell the poster who said that horse racing is animal cruelty to go suck an egg! Those horses get better treatment and care than my own kids. People like you prefer to see dogs with pretty bows in their hair, than to help a black person in need, or even stop to let a black person cross the road or drive out of an intersection. You care more for animals than humans that aren't your complexion. Kick rocks.
Things in Town name off town people. Eg. A. O Shirley grounds.
Now when coming to Sea Cows bay they want to name thing off people not from the village. You all better scatter. Be fair, I am sure they could fine something in the 5th to name off the horse racing big man Axel.
I actually don't think naming a Grand Stand after him is enough. Nobody pays attention to a Grand Stand. I think naming a yearly big race after him will more keep his name alive than the stands. But hey, that's just me.
And no, I'm not done. We can then name the Runway, get this too: " Kedric Pickering Runway". What about this?