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Gov’t, Horse racing stakeholders to meet @ start of 2022– Premier

- Way forward for sport amidst COVID-19 pandemic key on agenda
Horse racing in the Virgin Islands (VI) could finally be revived following a hard hit from the COVID-19 pandemic that halted the sport and has seen Ellis Thomas Downs suffer some amount of neglect. Photo: VINO/File
Executive Director of the Recreational Trust, Mr Eustance C. Freeman aka 'Boss' said he was looking forwards to seeing the sport being revived in the 2022 new year. Photo: VINO/File
Executive Director of the Recreational Trust, Mr Eustance C. Freeman aka 'Boss' said he was looking forwards to seeing the sport being revived in the 2022 new year. Photo: VINO/File
Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in the Greater Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in the Greater Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI– Horse racing in the Virgin Islands (VI) could finally be revived following a hard hit from the COVID-19 pandemic that halted the sport and has seen Ellis Thomas Downs suffer some amount of neglect.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on social gatherings, the demand for the sport had reached an all-time low; however, things could take a turn in 2022.

Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has indicated that his Government will be meeting with all Horse Racing industry stakeholders at the start of the New Year.

“Horse racing is one of our main Cultural pastimes, and together we must discuss the way forward with this industry,” he said in a brief announcement on December 29, 2021.

When contacted, Executive Director of the Recreational Trust, Mr Eustace C. Freeman aka 'Boss' said he was looking forward to seeing the sport being revived in the 2022 new year.

Looking forward to seeing sport revived - Eustance C. Freeman 

“Horse racing is a big part of our culture and I’ll like to see we get the races back up and ready to run,” he told Virgin Islands News Online (VINO). 

“Our traditional races whether Easter, Summer, Christmas… we just missed Christmas races and Boxing Day races, so we want to make sure that we do what we can to revive races,” he told Virgin Islands News Online (VINO). 

Efforts to contact Premier Fahie for a possible scheduled date of the upcoming meeting proved futile.  

Meanwhile, throughout 2021, Third District Legislator, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) had consistently called for the revival of the sport and the repair of the iconic Ellis Thomas Downs.

Hon Fraser said despite the pandemic, there is no argument that horse racing is the number one national pastime of Virgin Islanders.

9 Responses to “Gov’t, Horse racing stakeholders to meet @ start of 2022– Premier”

  • vip (31/12/2021, 12:31) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    killed horseracing
    • @ vip (31/12/2021, 18:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Get the facts that was the ndp who after the hurricanes of 2017 did nothing for the track or the industry
  • Step 1 (31/12/2021, 12:38) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need an election for the horse owners association
    • @ step 1 (31/12/2021, 18:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      For real Lesmore must go his time is up he is not a legitimate president
  • Invest in young people (31/12/2021, 12:50) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    When will the Premier meet with stakeholders to discuss investing in young people?
    Horses can’t represent the BVI anywhere…don’t put young people further on the back burner…
    • vex (31/12/2021, 13:25) Like (14) Dislike (6) Reply
      The vip is the best hope for this country and that’s a fact!!
    • A VOTER IN #6 (31/12/2021, 16:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      If YOU WANT AN AUDIENCE WITH THE PREMIER CALL AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. IF THE HORSE OWENERS WANT TO DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH THE PREMIER SO BE IT.IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY WILL GET EVERYTHING THEY WANT.
  • WOW (31/12/2021, 13:34) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    Wow. Mis-guided plans. Horse Racing, during these hard times. So, let me just list 3 topics with 1 been the most important and you tell me.

    1. Getting horse racing started
    2. Schools needing much needed attention and not to mention the pay owed to our dedicated teachers
    3. Staff moral (low) at hospital and much needed increase in salary
    4. Infrastructure. Watch out for the crater..sorry I meant pot-holes

    We surely have a priorities in order.
  • B&M race track (01/01/2022, 12:48) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    When the two millionaires was killed horse race die same time. Revive them and it will be on again.


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