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UPDATE: Sunday's horse racing cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns

The Sunday March 15, 2020 horse races scheduled for Ellis Thomas Downs have been cancelled due to Novel Coronavirus and other issues, according to the Virgin Islands Horse Owners Association. Photo: VINO/File
Fresh off winning one of the races of the Pre-Valentine’s race card at Ellis Thomas Downs on February 2, 2020, Holy Giacomo of Thomasville Racing Stables, second from left, will be back in action on March 15, 2020. Photo: Andre S. Dawson aka ‘Shadow’/File
Fresh off winning one of the races of the Pre-Valentine’s race card at Ellis Thomas Downs on February 2, 2020, Holy Giacomo of Thomasville Racing Stables, second from left, will be back in action on March 15, 2020. Photo: Andre S. Dawson aka ‘Shadow’/File
Courage and Honour will be prancing to the starting gate as the favourite, having won the feature clash of the Pre-Valentine’s Race Card at Ellis Thomas Downs on February 2, 2020. Photo: Andre S. Dawson aka ‘Shadow’/File
Courage and Honour will be prancing to the starting gate as the favourite, having won the feature clash of the Pre-Valentine’s Race Card at Ellis Thomas Downs on February 2, 2020. Photo: Andre S. Dawson aka ‘Shadow’/File
The Virgin Islands Horse Racing Association is galloping full speed ahead to pull off a race card at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay, Tortola, on Sunday, March 15, 2020. Photo: Facebook
The Virgin Islands Horse Racing Association is galloping full speed ahead to pull off a race card at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay, Tortola, on Sunday, March 15, 2020. Photo: Facebook
SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI- Cancellations due to the global pandemic, Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), are being felt here in the Virgin Islands, with horse racing being one of the latest public events to be cancelled.

A 5-race card, dubbed ‘March Madness’, was slated for Sunday, March 15, 2020 at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay.

The Virgin Islands Horse Owners Association has since announced that the races have been called off.

“Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and reasons beyond our control, we are canceling the March 15th Horse Races,” the association said today, March 13, 2020.

It said all other future events and fundraisers are postponed until further notice.

“The association apologises for any inconvenience caused.”

See previous article published March 12, 2020

‘March Madness’ horse racing this Sunday, minus a number of USVI horses!

- only 4 STT horses registered to compete @ Ellis Thomas Downs on March 15, 2020

Although a number of horses from the US Virgin Islands (USVI) will be absent, including Totally Evil and Thulean, the Virgin Islands Horse Racing Association is galloping full speed ahead to pull off a race card at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay, Tortola, on Sunday, March 15, 2020.

The race card, dubbed ‘March Madness’ will see 5 races run off, with post time set for 1:30pm.

Courage & Honour the race favourite

The feature race, for $5000, will be a clash among local horses Courage and Honour of Top Priority Racing Stables and Chovanes of the Boys Racing Stables and Barrabas Key of Brother’s Stable in St Thomas.

Courage and Honour will be prancing to the starting gate as the favourite, having won the feature clash of the Pre-Valentine’s Race Card at Ellis Thomas Downs on February 2, 2020.

Barrabas Key was third in that race.

Chovanes had tasted victory in the penultimate race of the day, a one-mile showdown for Class B Horses, blazing the trail in 145.1.

Only 4 USVI horses to feature

Meanwhile, only 4 horses from the USVI will feature on Sunday- God’s Greatness, My Running Mate, Gottcha Blessing and Barrabas Key.

According to the VI Horse Owners Association, the USVI’s Festival Race is May 1, 2020, “and some want to train for that.”

Entertainment will be provided by Turbo Sounds.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children.

See official race card below:

No photo description available.

10 Responses to “UPDATE: Sunday's horse racing cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns”

  • A man (12/03/2020, 13:12) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    madness indeed
  • ann (12/03/2020, 13:15) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Should we come out?
  • Socrates (12/03/2020, 13:22) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    With the Coronavirus pandemic on the loose, why is a horse racing event behind scheduled?

    Should VI residents be avoiding all large gatherings, ie, dances/clubs, sport events, funeral services, schools(?), day cares(?), gyms, senior centers, churches (?).....etc.?

    Does VI residents realized that whole o Italy is locked down with only drug stores and food stores open?

    Does VI residents erroneously believe they are immune from the Coronavirus?

    Is the VI ready for a major outbreaks?

    Where will hundreds or even thousands of people be quarantine at?

    Does VI hospitals have surge capacity in case of an outbreak?

    Has the MHSD identified a site and place a conditional order for a portable/temporary hospital?

    Does the VI have enough food stored if the ships are not coming?
  • @Socrates (12/03/2020, 19:58) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am thinking the same exact thing. One thing I can say for sure is people on the Island think that they are immune or they are living behind a protective bubble. I am staying away from, and I am only speaking for myself, large gathering of people. I use to go to ST.Thomas carnival but this year it’s a no for me.
  • Ugh (13/03/2020, 02:32) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    There will be 20 people Max on that track. Just stop while you’re ahead and cancel the event.
  • for real (13/03/2020, 08:52) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am also staying away from large crowds of people. In the States they are canceling sports events, two players from the Utah Jazz tested positive, Tom Hanks and his wife tested positive and Coachella the biggest music festival where tickets goes for $1,000 a pop has canceled. Someone/s here has the virus but don’t know because it can be in your body for 2 weeks before it expose itself.
    • Ok. Why? (14/03/2020, 09:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Why.? Seems like they know something.... Is VG festival going to cancel also. ?
  • concern (13/03/2020, 17:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Stop the cruise ships!!!!!!
  • tretretrete (14/03/2020, 09:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Seems like there is something they are not telling us. Do we have any case in the Territory?
  • @hmm (15/03/2020, 13:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Why wait until we have cases? Prevent them now.


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