Bring Back Ellis Thomas Downs
One Mart COO Judith E. Vanterpool has called for a public push to restore the Ellis Thomas racetrack, saying the loss of the track has wounded community life. Negotiations with the Thomas family over the land lease and fair market value remain stalled, and government efforts to find an alternative site have so far failed.
Vanterpool, Chief Operations Officer of One Mart, urged residents to consider public action to restore Ellis Thomas Downs during a presentation at Ebenezer Thomas Primary School on Monday, October 27, 2025. Vanterpool, whose father Herman Christopher was a devoted horse trainer and owner, said the racetrack was a central part of family and community life. “When he would come, we would go to the racetrack right here,” she said, adding that the absence of the track “hurts my heart and pains me.” She suggested, half-joking and half-serious, that the community “might have to do a march” with people from Sea Cows chanting “Racetrack, racetrack, racetrack.” Ellis Thomas Downs has not hosted a race since August 2022.
The dispute centres on the land lease for the facility; attempts to negotiate terms with the Thomas family have repeatedly stalled over the asking price, fair market value and what the government is prepared to pay. According to previous statements from government, robust efforts to find a mutually beneficial solution have not succeeded.
In February 2025, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon. Wheatley confirmed that talks remained deadlocked. He said the government had explored alternative locations for a racetrack but had not identified a suitable site. For many residents of the British Virgin Islands, the racetrack represented more than sport.
Races drew families and visitors from across the territory and the neighbouring United States Virgin Islands, supporting local vendors, hospitality businesses and informal community networks of relatives and friends who reunited on race days. The loss of Ellis Thomas Downs has therefore had social as well as economic consequences for communities such as Sea Cows.
Vanterpool’s public appeal reflects growing frustration among some residents who want restoration of the facility or a clear plan for a replacement site. If a public demonstration is organised, it could bring fresh attention to the stalled negotiations and the broader question of preserving community spaces that support local culture and small businesses.
At present, the main obstacles remain valuation and lease terms. The government has said it will continue discussions, while also exploring other options, but no timeline has been announced for resolving the impasse or reopening horse racing at Ellis Thomas Downs. Source: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO).
Primary source: VINO