Racetrack land lease still unresolved; No horse races for 70th anniversary celebration

SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI- The last race day at Ellis Thomas Downs was August Tuesday of 2022. Since then Ellis Thomas Downs has laid barren. Many horse owners have either had to let their horses out of the stables to pasture, send them to other Caribbean Islands, or find creative ways to keep feeding them.

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.