Roadtown, Tortola - Government has announced Sunday, April 19 as the date for the official re-naming ceremony for the Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cow’s Bay.

The re-naming of the facility, formerly called the Little A Race Track, was approved during the ninth sitting of the First House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands in June last year.

The new name is in honour of Mr. Ellis Thomas, a Virgin Islander who is regarded a pioneer in the area of horse racing.

The resolution approved by the House of Assembly acknowledged that Mr. Thomas “played a key role in horse racing, horseback riding and contributed immensely to the development of sports in the Virgin Islands (British) in particular the development of the first modern racing facility in the late 1950s.”

The resolution also recognised Mr. Thomas’ contribution to “the establishment of the ‘Little A Race Track’, the improvement and promotion of horse racing as a sport, and also as a horse racing historian, race organizer and announcer, trainer and breeder.”

Member of the Committee to Rename the Little A Race Track, Mr. Keith Dawson told the Department of Information and Public Relations “Mr. Thomas can be described as the driving force behind the continuation of the cultural, sporting tradition of horse racing in the Virgin Islands.”

Mr. Dawson said “it is therefore fitting that the Government recognise him for his contributions to the sport which the Territory has enjoyed for many years and as the saying goes, give him his flowers while he is still alive, meaning we should honour him while he is alive.”

An appeal has also been issued for residents of the Territory to turn out in their numbers for the official re-naming ceremony. “All residents, especially horse racing fans are encouraged to attend what will be an historic national celebration of a man who dedicated his life to the sport of horse racing,” Mr. Dawson said.

The April 19 ceremony, scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m., will include remarks from Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE and Third District Representative Honourable Julian Fraser, RA. There will also be musical renditions from students of schools in the area and a monument depicting Mr. Ellis astride a horse will be unveiled.

The re-naming of the horse racing facility represents the ongoing commitment of Government to honour and pay tribute to those who have contributed significantly to the overall development of the Territory and who have left a legacy of which Virgin Islanders can be proud.

Residents of the sister islands who wish to attend the April 19 ceremony are being asked to contact their district officers by Wednesday, April 15.