SMITH: Revive horse racing or lose your seat!
After copping the 2024 Governor’s Cup in St Thomas, local horse racing veteran Lesmore Smith bragged that the BVI can draw bigger crowds than the USVI and urged the government to revive the sport or risk losing their seat.
Horse racing has been part of the BVI culture for many years but in recent times, the sport has been on pause because of an impasse between the government and the estate of Ellis Thomas who owns the racetrack in Sea Cows Bay.
Smith said he saw the excitement on the faces of Virgin Islanders who attended the event on St Thomas, adding that his District Representative Kye Rymer must do everything to help revive the sport or risk losing his seat.
“Racing in the BVI is far from over. My district representative Kye Rymer – his grandfather was one of the patriots of horseracing. And if he (Rymer) doesn’t want to lose his seat he has to work with me on this one. I’m saying this seriously because it’s not about me, I met some seniors yesterday in St. Thomas and they were so happy to see the horses racing. This is not about me, this is our culture, this is our history and the root of us as a people. We will not go to sleep on it,” Smith said in the presence of Minister Rymer and Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley.
Smith also said he is willing to lead the development of a new track if the government were to make lands available on Beef Island.
“I know the Premier is in charge of lands at Beef Island right now, that was given to investors who did nothing with it. It’s about time we invest in ourselves. All I want the Premier to do is give at least $2 million, the land, and we can build the grandstand and give him a first-class track. I did it in Sea Cow’s Bay before when it fell down and we brought it back,” stated Smith who serves as President of the BVI Horse Owners Association.
Agreeing with Smith, Premier Wheatley said horse racing isn’t over in the BVI, adding that his government is considering options to revive the sport.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, horse racing will return to the Virgin Islands because none of us want to lose our seat as Mr Lesmore Smith said. But beyond that, we want to invest in sports tourism, it’s important for the culture and the economy. When you go to the track, you see the vendors, car rentals, the ferry made money, hotels make money, barbershops and restaurants make money. It stimulates economic activity and most agree that we need some economic activity in the Virgin Islands,” Premier Wheatley said.
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The government priorities must be water, sewage system, decent schools, roads and functioning healthcare. As it is, were there a big horse racing crash, the trauma response is likely not up to it.
If these old boys want horse racing, they need to fund it.
I would want to believe we have bigger issues than horse racing…strupes
With or without the VIP losing….People will be some @sse$ to put them back in there
VIP going right back in no one wants Ronnie or Marlon as no damm premier
@ but certainly not the present clown as head honcho.
This government has no business being involved in any horse racing ventures when it can’t manage basic services properly.
…could be bulldozed and create a new horse track, because it is only serving as an eyesore for many years now
Horse Race when they can’t supply reliable water for the horse on the track? We in trouble
The government should maintain the track and sponsor some races per year with the purse prize, but we need professional track people running the track as a business and that means we need legalized betting to make it work
“Professional people running the track” . . . for 4 – 8 races a year?
Congrats to Lesmore for winning a horse race in St. Thomas, but that does not make him an expert on anything nor give him the power to vote out anyone. The land near the airport should not be part of any drag racing or horse racing discussion. It does not make common sense. The Governor needs to step in before any of these stupid ideas take root.
Lesmore just go sit down………
Raise your race horses in the BVI but race them in the USVI. Spending any money on a horse racing track in the BVI is ridiculous and a waste of money. The culture of VI horse racing will continue without a race track in the BVI. Just read the results of last weekend’s horse racing in St. Thomas.
surely there is enough drug money in horse racing so they can build their own racetrack
If this guy was a minister the BVI would be in a much deeper hole than we are in now.If Mr Smith wishes to revive horse racing, why don’t he lease the track and pay the ridiculous monthly fees while still having the responsibility of maintaining the track.
No one should lose a political seat over horse race. Get real.
Need a horse race? Next best thing is an HOA meeting. More horses asses than what a Kentucky derby loser sees.