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Leave it to Bern 'Put to Sleep'

- horse is latest to be injured at Ellis Thomas Downs & 'Put to Sleep'
Leave it to Bern was put to sleep two days ago according to reports received by this news site after receiving an injury during training on the track at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay on December 7, 2013. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO/File
In July 2012, Lake Texoma was going through its paces at the track during a routine training session when it broke a leg and had to be put down. Photo: VINO/File
In July 2012, Lake Texoma was going through its paces at the track during a routine training session when it broke a leg and had to be put down. Photo: VINO/File
On June 2, 2013 St Thomas’ Bud White also suffered an injury that resulted in the horse being put down. Photo: VINO/File
On June 2, 2013 St Thomas’ Bud White also suffered an injury that resulted in the horse being put down. Photo: VINO/File
Tiger’s Mischief was discovered dead in the stables at Ellis Thomas Downs on June 25, 2013 after being left in apparent good health the previous evening by its trainer. Photo: Andre 'Shadow' Dawson/File
Tiger’s Mischief was discovered dead in the stables at Ellis Thomas Downs on June 25, 2013 after being left in apparent good health the previous evening by its trainer. Photo: Andre 'Shadow' Dawson/File
Meanwhile, the status of VI Triple Crown winner, Really Uptown aka Jet Blue remains unclear to date after the horse received an injury sometime in July 2013 during training. Photo: VINO/File
Meanwhile, the status of VI Triple Crown winner, Really Uptown aka Jet Blue remains unclear to date after the horse received an injury sometime in July 2013 during training. Photo: VINO/File
SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI – Leave it to Bern was put to sleep two days ago after receiving an injury during training on the track at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay on December 7, 2013 according to reports received by this news site.

Horse owner Rodney Simmonds of The Boys Stables declined to comment when approached by this news site.

The horse was the latest to be put down after having met with injury during training or while racing at Ellis Thomas Downs over the past two years.

In July 2012, Lake Texoma was going through its paces at the track during a routine training session when it broke a leg and had to be put down.

Horseowner Violet ‘Letty’ Hodge of L&B stables was said to be devastated and in a state of shock at the time. She told this news site, “As a horse lover I can scream at the top of my lungs, but I have to be strong because I have other horses and don’t want the sport to go down.”

On June 2, 2013 St Thomas’ Bud White also suffered an injury that resulted in the horse being put down.

Bud White was leading a race at the time of the injury when he pulled up abruptly near the finish line. Broken Home went on to complete victory in the race.

Owners of Bud White at Alliance Point Stables had hoped that the horse would be able to recover from the injury and used to stud but this was eventually not possible after the injury worsened.

Stanley Smith of Alliance Point stables later said the injury to his horse would not deter his team from coming to race at Ellis Thomas Downs in the future.

Tiger’s Mischief was discovered dead in the stables at Ellis Thomas Downs on June 25, 2013 after being left in apparent good health the previous evening by its trainer.

Owner of Tiger’s Mischief, Roger White aka Kumo said, “When the trainer took her in the afternoon [Monday] he told me the horse was alright and everything was good, she was jolly as she normally would be and she had eaten all her food and everything.”

Meanwhile, the status of VI Triple Crown winner, Really Uptown aka Jet Blue remains unclear to date after the horse received an injury sometime in July 2013 during training.

Efforts to contact horse owner Violet ‘Letty’ Hodge for comment proved unsuccessful up to post time but she had previously stated that the injury received was not a very serious one.

Mrs Hodge disclosed that all necessary precautions were being taken to ensure that there is no further damage done and a quick recovery is in store.

22 Responses to “Leave it to Bern 'Put to Sleep'”

  • Islander (12/12/2013, 08:29) Like (10) Dislike (17) Reply
    Here we go again MVW tek $10,000 of our tax money and give to buy tis horse now our money is in the grave. Money dat could have been used to buy supplies for schools on the outer islands…can’t wait until next election tis man MUST GO!!!
    • who knows (12/12/2013, 09:18) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply

      Pleass get your facts straight. Myron Walwyn did not buy any horses. A grant was given to the Association to use as they see fit and any horse owner who benefits from the use of the funds is required to pay the funds back. Props to MVW in doing his part to keep this part of our culture alive.

      • TO; WHO KNOWS (12/12/2013, 10:06) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
        Look how deeds paid ndp cowbird bloggers always trying to rewrite history stop tell lie
        • dude (12/12/2013, 11:08) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
          I dunno bout the $$$ transaction but the horse's owner is a known VIP supporter
          • farmer brown (12/12/2013, 13:30) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
            how you know who the man support? RIP Leave it to Bern
            • @ who knows (12/12/2013, 15:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
              spin it all you want iron lady minister you not fooling we again we aint doing tis ting NEVER AGAIN
    • ... (12/12/2013, 11:16) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
      Oh shut up. Government has wasted much more money than that. Horse Racing is part of our culture.
  • ting to talk (12/12/2013, 08:55) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Wonder if de had finish or start paying back de money de got from de Horse owners association to buy de horse.?
  • ... (12/12/2013, 08:59) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    sad but life goes on
  • Real Talk (12/12/2013, 09:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well keep wondering as the bank do not tell the public the terms of anybody's loan!
  • My only thing (12/12/2013, 09:28) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    why is a dead horse making headlines when students today are hungry in our schools?
  • horse fan (12/12/2013, 09:42) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    this is what i keep saying but going def ears, where is the love for the horses? The track itself needs serious upgrading, within 2yrs we have lost 4 top horses in the Virgin Islands at Ellis Thomas alone this tells u something not right the track, it is un even not graded properly an investigation needs to be carried out into the running surface of the track. If I was a horse owner none of my horses will be running at Ellis Thomas until this matter is rectified. I say to Lettie it is the tactics used by ur jockey why Really Uptown is still alive. Please dont run him at Ellis Thomas until the track surface is rectified. God Bless all the horses in the VI.
  • goat meat (12/12/2013, 10:07) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    THATS IS A LOT OF HORSES GET HURT ON THAT TRACK SINC ETHE NDP GOT IN THEY PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE SURFCE
  • Well Sah (12/12/2013, 10:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Anyone who runs there horse on that track is totally crazy. It has been proven time after time that the surface on that track is no good. Totally crazy
  • dude (12/12/2013, 11:10) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Trainer error here not the track's fault.
  • ........ (12/12/2013, 11:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    That's a star studded list of horses that have gone down boy. Something is not right. I don't know if it's the horses themselves, the track, or both. But if something is not done soon, this sport will surely die, just like the horses.
  • one eye (12/12/2013, 12:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    just time to go shop again
  • farmer brown (12/12/2013, 13:29) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Myron grant down the drain as usual
  • ting to talk (12/12/2013, 14:30) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply

    First of all the Govt is who to blame for what's going on on the track. They bill a million dollar track and leave it to fall apart by using untreated lumber . Then they paying a man 60,000 $ to maintain the track who I think is an owl or bat cause he only works at night. you have to see what your doing . We complain to all departments in Govt that has to do with the track ,and as you can see , the problems are still there. He has his head right up de a(;: and he right dey from SCB that you can't find no other person. Now that's thing to talk!!!!!!

  • Olivia (13/12/2013, 08:52) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Do you people really think the 5000 given to the boys racing stable could pay for a horse with that caliber please get the facts before you start talking foolishness
  • yea MAN (13/12/2013, 09:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    we all know, but thats what they got!
  • tom cat (15/12/2013, 19:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    All good things Must come to an End,Unfortunately.


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