Racetrack land lease still unresolved; No horse races for 70th anniversary celebration
Horse racing in the British Overseas Territory (Tortola), which remains a deep part of our cultural identity and pride in the Greater Virgin Islands, has been at a standstill over a dispute with one of three landowners.
It is our understanding that two issues are at the heart of the land dispute. The first is the company the land lease should be in, which the Government labeled as “anomalies”, and the other issue is the new cost of the lease renewal.
There has been correspondence between the family in question, the Thomas Family, and the Government of the Virgin Islands, in particular the Premier’s Office, which has the responsibility under the Dr Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) Administration for lands through the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change.
Land & its cost
It is believed that the Government has proposed a cost per square foot below market value, and this has caused the standoff. Therefore, until this matter is resolved, the Government or the BVI Horse Owner’s Association cannot use the Ellis Thomas Downs for any more races.
The land in question is three plots: Parcels 170, 171, and 246, Block 2736B, Sea Cows Bay Registration Section. There seem to be no recent ongoing talks with the family, as many community-minded residents have urged the Dr Wheatley regime to appoint a negotiating committee to make a serious attempt to resolve the issues.
To date, this call has fallen on deaf ears and, instead, there are letters between the Premier and the family, with matters being referred to the Attorney General’s Chambers.
Additionally, there are others, like the controversial former legislator Mrs Eileene L. Parsons, OBE, who have stated publicly that the Government should use its power under the Compulsory Land Acquisition Act Cap 222, Sec 3, to take the land.
This idea has been met with mixed reactions by the public, especially from residents of District Three and the District Representative Hon Julian Fraser RA, who is opposed to the idea. District Three (Sea Cows Bay) is the home of Ellis Thomas Downs. Land ownership by Virgin Islanders remains sacrosanct, as it has been one of the methods of empowerment.
Appoint a negotiating team- Willock
In an invited comment, former Speaker of the House of Assembly Julian Willock, who is an outspoken Third District Resident, said: “Compulsory acquisition is a divisive tool, and I strongly believe there can be a negotiated settlement that is a win-win for the people of the Territory, The Government, the horse owners, the sport and the fans, along with the Thomas Family.”
Mr Willock noted, “that sometimes you have to take these kinds of emotional issues out of the hands of the Government and set up an ad hoc negotiation team, give them a mandate of items to be achieved and move the process forward.”
However, as the stalemate continues, one can safely conclude there will be no horse racing come August Tuesday 2024, as the Virgin Islands celebrates the 70th anniversary of its emancipation festival. Many see this as a travesty, especially if the government is expected to spend upwards of three million dollars to make this 70th-anniversary event a success.
Horse racing has always been the highlight of any August festivities and is considered an economic booster.
No attention paid to facility after hurricanes of 2017
In addition, after hurricanes Irma and Maria damaged the Ellis Thomas Downs infrastructure, along with the statue, in September 2017, not much work was done to restore the bleachers, the statue of Ellis Thomas whom the facility is named in his honour, or upgrading and building new horse stables.
Up to today, November 13, 2023, the Ellis Thomas Downs (formerly Little A Racetrack), which was reopened in 1997 after its rehabilitation with an investment of some two million dollars, is like a wasteland.
A visit to the facility will find overgrown trees, uncut grass, deteriorating bleachers; an unmaintained and neglected running surface, which is now a grass track, and a place now for storage of boats, automobiles, and the rearing of livestock.
It is unclear how much of a priority this racing facility is for the Government of the day, but horse racing fans from both the USVI and VI were hoping that the matter would have been resolved to have races for August Tuesday 2024, but as time goes by and the compound worsens, hopes have been dashed.
Is there a way forward?
Among the opinions shared is that if the Government of Dr Wheatley is to save the sports, it must be prepared to pour in at least one million plus dollars to fix the bleachers, including adding a covering, repairing the running surface, building some new stables and negotiating in good faith with the Thomas Family, and even subsidising the purchase of horses. There is also the need to get parimutuel wagering up and running to help support the race day purses and maintenance of the facility.
In the meantime, while the racetrack on the main island of Tortola is being ignored, our neighbours in the USVI are full speed ahead with building and upgrading racing facilities on St Thomas and St Croix via public-private partnerships.
It remains unclear if there is still a window to negotiate, as efforts to reach the Thomas family spokeswoman, Attorney Mrs Marie Elaine Thomas-Griffin, proved futile up to publication time.
Premier Wheatley also did not offer a comment on the matter when requested.
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29 Responses to “Racetrack land lease still unresolved; No horse races for 70th anniversary celebration”
Tortola horse racing “ brings people from all over the world”
What you been smoking?
Have you seen how they end up? Wandering around emaciated?
I bet the tourists love that, just like they love all the emaciated dogs.
And give the family market value nobody should be able to hold the government and country from moving forward