UPDATE: Horse races called off; Funday planned- Lesmore Smith

SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI- The September 18, 2022, horse races are definitely off, says President of the VI Horse Owners Association Mr Lesmore Smith.

Mr Smith said he had tried to get permission for the use of the track from the person who is the legal authority for the Thomas family; however, since the Thomas family and Government were at a stalemate, permission could not be granted for use of the land under contention.

“I was hoping that since the horses were already here from St Thomas and we went through the process of asking the local vets to get the quarantine extended and that was given to us. So, I was asking can we, since the horses are still here, just a few days to go, she said unfortunately she cannot help us,” Smith said.

Fundraising funday

He explained that having informed all the stakeholders, a decision was taken to hold an event on Sunday September 18, 2022, to raise funds to cover some of the expenses of the horse owners, especially for feed.

“We are looking to have a nice funday to raise funds, not on the track but on the area where the stadium is, as that section is owned by the government. The VI Horse Owners Association is going to have the bar. We are going to have other people with the food concession, but we are going to have the bar. That’s the way we are going to make a few dollars to help the owners of the horses to at least get some feed for the horses because they depend on the purses to help maintain their horses and with no races they are losing big time.”

Mr Smith explained that among the entertainment will be a bikini competition and a large water sport section, inclusive of large slides.

“I am reliably told that Monday will be a holiday so we don’t have to worry about going to work the next day so persons can come out in their numbers and let's have a grand time,” Mr Smith said on September 13, 2022.

He also said that he has since had a conversation with the Rotary Club of Tortola to go ahead with the drawing of their Grand Raffle of $20,000 at the event.

Meanwhile, Virgin Islands News Online will be providing an exclusive article today, giving the Thomas family’s side of the story.