Sugar Works Museum highlights VI’s horse racing stalwarts
From radio and television announcers, to horse owners, trainers, and booth owners, they all found their place on the white washed walls of the museum for public viewing and information.
Every year during this time the museum highlights an area in Emancipation celebration and, according to Museum Supervisor Olive Vanterpool, this year is no different.
“Over the years we have been doing queens, princesses, and we have also featured festival village honourees and booth owners, so this year is no exception,” she said.
“It was so interesting to look back and to see how many older folks were in horse racing. So I think it is good so that the younger folks who think that horse racing just evolved, it’s been there from the 40’s, 50’s.”
Vanterpool also took the opportunity to encourage locals and schools to visit the museum to learn about their history.
Expensive hobby
One of the honourees, Lesmore Smith said it is no easy task to care for horses as it would seem to many, and it is an expensive hobby.
“I want everyone to know that it is not easy getting up at 4:00 A.M. to deal with horses so that when the day comes you will have a good day at the horse track,” he said.
Several persons came out to the brief ceremony and refreshments were served.
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5 Responses to “Sugar Works Museum highlights VI’s horse racing stalwarts”
Moreover, the primary purpose of the museum should be to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret artifacts of historical and cultural significance. All artifacts deteriorate over time. As such every effort must be exerted to protect and preserve them. From my visit(s) to the Sugar Mill Musuem, it is my impression that the historical building in which the Museum is housed needs to be modernized. Additionally, the space needs to be conditioned, operating at a temperature of 68-72 degrees with a relative humidity of approximately 45-55, as some experts suggest.
Furthermore, the Sugar Work Musuem should be housed in a new facility designed for a museum. Government has a growing demand to invest limited resources to meet a myriad of needs, i.e., health, education, physical infrastructure, economic growth and diversification......etc. Saddled with limited resources, it has to prioritize its resources to optimize service delivery. Nonetheless, the Sugar Work Musuem, as well as other museums, must be one of the top national priorities. Well developed and managed, the Sugar Work Musuem can become a major tourist attraction, along with preserving it (artifacts) for the enjoyment of Virgin Islanders yet unborn.