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‘We might have to do a march’ to get the horse track back- Judith E. Vanterpool

- said no horse racing in the VI hurts her heart
Local businesswoman Mrs Judith E. Vanterpool, right, has called for the return of the Ellis Thomas Downs racetrack and even suggested a march be done to demand its return. Photo: VINO/File
In February 2025, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) confirmed that efforts to resolve the impasse surrounding Ellis Thomas Downs continue to be unsuccessful. Photo: VINO
In February 2025, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) confirmed that efforts to resolve the impasse surrounding Ellis Thomas Downs continue to be unsuccessful. Photo: VINO
The last race held on Ellis Thomas Downs was in August 2022. Photo: VINO
The last race held on Ellis Thomas Downs was in August 2022. Photo: VINO
SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI- Local businesswoman Mrs Judith E. Vanterpool has called for the return of Ellis Thomas Downs racetrack and even suggested a march be done to demand its return.

Mrs Vanterpool, Chief Operations Officer of One Mart Superstore, made this public plea on Monday, October 27, 2025, during a presentation of several cases of bottled water to Ebenezer Thomas Primary School by former Speaker Julian Willock. 

She revealed that her father, Herman Christopher, was a dedicated horse trainer and owner. 

As a child, she shared, her father, who worked on St Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), would come home on weekends. “When he would come, we would go to the racetrack right here.”

It hurts my heart

Mrs Vanterpool said it hurts her heart and pains her that there is no racetrack. 

“So we might have to do a march, and Sea Cows Bay people would have to say, ‘Racetrack, racetrack, racetrack.’ Because people came from all over, and it was a pleasure to meet up with the whole community and with all my relatives again.”

Negotiations with the Thomas family have not been successful when they have been held, as the issue surrounding the land lease has been over the price and fair market value, and what the government is willing to pay.

The last race held on Ellis Thomas Downs was in August 2022.

In February 2025, Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), confirmed that efforts to resolve the impasse surrounding Ellis Thomas Downs continue to be unsuccessful, even though robust efforts to have discussions on something mutually beneficial were made. 

Premier Wheatley also indicated then that with no immediate solution, alternative locations have been explored for a racetrack, with no suitable location having been found yet. 

61 Responses to “‘We might have to do a march’ to get the horse track back- Judith E. Vanterpool”

  • Strupps (28/10/2025, 09:17) Like (41) Dislike (7) Reply
    So gov't must give in to the one greedy land owner who want the lion share because the track is named after their father??? Tell them to be reasonable and stop trying to hold the gov't hostage for an activity that makes the gov't zero dollars and zero cents. Judith u sound real dotish allowing yourself to be used for their greedy cause.
    • Well (28/10/2025, 10:17) Like (11) Dislike (3) Reply
      Contrary to popular belief it's not that family alone who owns the land that the track is occupying and they are even more unreasonable than the Thomas family.
      • BVI ISLANDER IN THE USVI (29/10/2025, 12:28) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
        @ Well, yes, it is the Thomas family that has the racetrack held up because they are asking for more money. Our family did not have an issue because we have more of the land space. Now if they give into them, we will have to re-negotiate.
    • @ strupps (28/10/2025, 10:28) Like (9) Dislike (4) Reply
      You all set of coco roaches always trying to twist history the thomas family is the most responsible and reasonable
    • MIB (28/10/2025, 12:01) Like (25) Dislike (2) Reply
      We have so many important things that needs to be taken care of for our survival, like our bad roads and hungary families. How is horse racing helping the BVI?
      • @MIB (28/10/2025, 14:30) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        it is more important than the covid grants, ye that was done. It is also more important than those hefty raises politicians gave themselves
  • Virgin Islander (28/10/2025, 09:40) Like (41) Dislike (6) Reply
    Horse racing in Tortola has had its time. The reality is that horses are often mistreated and the sport no longer brings real economic benefit to the territory. The younger generation isn’t interested in it and the money being spent on it could be better used to build up the country’s infrastructure. Its time to leave horse racing in the past and focus on progress that truly benefits the people.
  • NONESENSE (28/10/2025, 09:43) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Horse race back what...youvguys need tive in the modern days.. but horse race..........
  • what (28/10/2025, 09:44) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
    Hurts your heart to not allow this cruelty to animals? weird.
  • who pays? (28/10/2025, 09:44) Like (26) Dislike (5) Reply
    Why should the Government (& We The People) pay for this? The horse owners should pay if they want a race track....
  • joe (28/10/2025, 09:48) Like (29) Dislike (5) Reply

    So much other important things to march for and is that you want to march from! Where iyo does find these ppl from buddy

    • @ joe (28/10/2025, 13:37) Like (5) Dislike (12) Reply
      the return of the sport is very important to our culture, way of life and the economic. We thank Ms. Vanterpool for her important voice on this matter

      When we vote out the VIP we will get our racetrack back
  • Siddung lady (28/10/2025, 09:48) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
    Please and thanks, siddung
  • Only Angels (28/10/2025, 09:49) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
    So the people of the Virgin Islands must march for and prioritize horse racing when so many schools remain unbuilt post Irma and the hospital is in need of critical care??? When the founder of OneMart does for education what the founder of RiteWay did, THEN and only then, will I consider marching for horses (can't promise I'll agree....but I would THEN consider it).
    • @ replay (28/10/2025, 12:41) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
      listen to her speech in its context she is right about the lack of the horse racing facility, the government has turned its back on the sports
  • no shame! (28/10/2025, 10:04) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
    I highly doubt Mrs. Vanterpool made any such statements. Seems to be your usual hack job at drumming up support for your upset agendas pregnant frog.

    Anywho - this ain’t happening anymore. Go find private funds for this. We need roads, schools, adequate healthcare…
  • WHAT!!! (28/10/2025, 10:21) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    Government money (our money) should not be used for horse racing.
    Not my money horse owners and supporters need to pay for the track if they want it
  • BRAD BOYNES (28/10/2025, 10:28) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    The land is not yours or the government. Freeze frame.
  • (28/10/2025, 10:32) Like (4) Dislike (11) Reply
    Thanks ms Vanterpool for being a voice on the racetrack we need it back
  • An Idea.. (28/10/2025, 10:34) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    Add put the minimum wage back to $8.25 per hr on your March list..
  • HAHA (28/10/2025, 10:35) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    It has horse races at the Downs every now and then. I see the horses galloping around that track from time to time with no jockey. It's usually a pleasure to look at and get a smile.
  • Shake my head (28/10/2025, 10:42) Like (21) Dislike (2) Reply

    We are on the brink of ECONOMIC collapse and that's the best this woman could come up with...GOD help us!!!

  • BuzzBvi (28/10/2025, 10:49) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    So we paid for HOA to get a pay rise and now we got to pay for their fancy hobbies. Why don't you rich folk pay for your own rich games and pay the poor a proper minimum wage and free yourselves from your Colonial HOA mentality.
  • okay (28/10/2025, 10:49) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
    the government should have nothing to do with this, if she wants it back so much then let the private sector, the horse owners pay for it, nothing to do with the government
  • smh (28/10/2025, 11:12) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    everything was fine up until the owners of the land say they want more money than what the government was paying all the time. I think it was 90K annually already and they wanted it increased significantly for a track we using 3 or 4 times a year. That make sense? With all the things that need money to fix in our country should we really be paying an arm and a leg to rent horse track? Let them keep it we can survive without horse racing; from reading the comments it seem like the public don't really care about it that much anyway.
  • Da dude (28/10/2025, 11:39) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    Then why don't you, Mark & CO. buy it like y'all buying everything else and privatise it and bring horse racing back to the BVI.
  • Tommy (28/10/2025, 11:51) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Horseracing has died in the bee we eye...please let it REST IN PEACE nuh
  • jack (28/10/2025, 12:09) Like (5) Dislike (7) Reply
    I ready to march with her
  • Macky (28/10/2025, 12:14) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    I love horseracing but I can barely afford to feed my family I could only imagine a horse. Besides the issues with the land horse racing can only be maintained by gambling, so we need to have that put in place to have an effective track
  • Stealth (28/10/2025, 12:27) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
    Stop it. Stop the damn nonsense. Marching for horse racing, the sport of Kings, is a recreational activity but marching for is not and should not be a top priority. There are more urgent and important things that Virgin Islanders should used their collective effort:advocacy, ie, health, education, skyrocketing cost of living, economic diversification, public safety, physical infrastructure, eg, roads, water utility( water, wastewater, drainage), etc. Re-opening the Ellis Thomas Downs must be a fair and reasonable negotiation. Hopefully, the negotiations are ongoing.
  • bvibuzz (28/10/2025, 12:35) Like (7) Dislike (15) Reply
    I AM SO PROUD OF MS V FOR STANDING UP FOR SOMETHING IN SEA COWS BAY
  • ---------------------------- (28/10/2025, 12:43) Like (4) Dislike (8) Reply
    We need fair land value from tying to take advantage of the Thomas Family then turning around and blaming them

    She is right about the march it's our national sports
  • Guest (28/10/2025, 13:22) Like (12) Dislike (6) Reply
    Where was her voice when we had more important things march for??
  • Karnage (28/10/2025, 13:35) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Put the damn track somewhere else and stop biching. leave the family down there to graze goat
    • @ karnage (28/10/2025, 18:37) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
      It’s not moving a damm where like ms v say it’s time to march sea cows bay residents
  • asura (28/10/2025, 13:39) Like (3) Dislike (7) Reply
    how can these fools say this is not important and the financial support to our economy each race day has been well documented. Thank You Judith, we love you
  • if (28/10/2025, 14:00) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
    I was the family that owns the racetrack land I will not budge. All horse racing in the BVI is going to do is attract more criminals/criminal elements.
  • IF THE 3RD DISTRICT REP (28/10/2025, 14:53) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    DID A MOONWALK ON THAT TRACK LONG TIME AGO , SO THE JUDGE WIGGIE IS CHALLENGING HIM FOR THAT POSITION , AND WOULD BE GLAD TO COME TO YHE RESCUE , WHICH HE WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO USE AS LEVERAGE AGAINST THE " SCARECROW " TO RELIEVE HIM , BECAUSE HE IS " MIA " FOR YEARS NOW • ) AND WHRN YOU..WAKE UP , TAKE A LOOK AROUND AND OBSERVE IF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY AND WHAT IS ESSENTIAL AND WHATS MORE IMPORTANT AND WHAT NEEDS URGENT (ATTENTION / AND SEE WHERE THE HORSE TRACK FITS IN ○ THEN LOOK IN YHE MIRROR AND ASK THE PERSON YOU SEE " WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING " -•
    • @ IF THE 3RD DISTRICT REP (29/10/2025, 06:38) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Ok I am confused and please keep Cindy out of this her hair is real
  • facts (28/10/2025, 16:03) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Don’t mind the haters well said ms Vanterpool
  • hog city (28/10/2025, 16:22) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    Ms Vanterpool for district 3
  • HMMM (28/10/2025, 16:39) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why not march for better roads and a cleaner BVI..
  • Yes we support (28/10/2025, 16:52) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    She is right it’s a disgrace to see the racetrack
  • women power (28/10/2025, 18:35) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    Mrs Vanterpool is such a woman of integrity and dignity I love her outfit
  • 3 horses bar (28/10/2025, 18:40) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    I must agree with Ms Vanterpool 100 %, as what has happened to horse racing should be triggering widespread condemnation from the community.
  • FOR WHAT? (28/10/2025, 22:27) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    This is cruelty and abuse to horses. You want horse race? Why not strap a saddle on you humans backs and let another get on your backs and run around the track a couple of laps while being hit with a whip. There goes your horse race.
    • Macky (29/10/2025, 11:22) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      How is horse racing abuse to animals? Horses love to run. I wonder if u think about abuse to ppl as much as you fake care for animals
  • one eye rooster (29/10/2025, 06:41) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    THANKS FOR YOUR COURAGE DR VANTERPOOL WE NEED MORE LIKE YOU TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER ON THE RACE TRACK SEGGA
  • WHY? (29/10/2025, 10:20) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why does the Territory need a horsetrack? Why not fix schools, roads, power grid, access to potable water, etc.?
  • bvi (29/10/2025, 10:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Tax money your crazy
  • donny (29/10/2025, 13:24) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Idk what the Thomas family are waiting for...Build apartments...ppl need place to live
  • Yep (29/10/2025, 13:30) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The worse thing Ralph O'Neal ever done was getting government involved in horse racing...
  • Lower Electricity (31/10/2025, 03:38) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Better use of land - Let's put a solar farm on that land to reduce the cost of electricity for everyone. The land owners will still have to be reasonable as the economics is doable. Win win for everyone. Govt are you listening?
  • Doll (31/10/2025, 18:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mrs Vanterpool, you are a very nice lady. Unfortunately, nobody studying you with this cock and bull story, bout lets go March. Na, we nar March fi da bu we gan March for the high grocery prices One Mart a ge we. Even the Sales aint sale -in! So why don't y'all fix those prices and put better options on sale so we are able to eat healthier. We could do well with some vegetables, more fruits besides Apples and Oranges, Frozen items such as Chicken, G. Turkey, Beef Liver, Snapper or Salmon, Sardines, Tuna, Turkey Sausage, Eggs, White Vinegar, Limes. Lemons, Crackers, Cereal, Milk, Dish Liquid, Detergent, Personal Hygiene Products such asBathing Soap, Deodorant, Sanitary Napkins, Pantiliners, Lotion, Shampoo & Conditioner, Pampers, Baby Food and Veggies such as Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Carrots, Cabbage/Lettuce, Sweet Potatoes and other condiments such as Ginger, Garlic, Hot Sauce, Green Seasoning. Please also include Canned Soups, Beams and Canned Veggies.
    So how about that sale? By the way, why can't you introduce a grocery box, one for single parents or single person and another for family? It can include the main staple items like Flour, Sugar, Rice, Milk, Eggs, some Fruits and Veggies and a Frozen item like Fish or Chicken, along with a case Water....for a standard price. I am sure this iniative will be greatly appreciated by most customers. Does this sound like a great idea, folks? Is there any better or add'l suggestions. Well, i hope Mrs Vanterpool will see this post and have a discussion with Uncle Mark and the Onemart Team. At least, we'll appreciate not having to pay $800 every two weeks for groceries. Its either we do that or our Children and Seniors will have to resort to OMAD.


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