Businessman Lesmore Smith is calling for the return of horse racing and community-based events in the British Virgin Islands, arguing that the absence of social activities since 2022 has contributed to a decline in community life across the territory.

Speaking on the Talking Points program, Smith said restoring horse racing — once a central feature of cultural and social life — would help reconnect communities following disruptions caused by hurricanes and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“When you take away the social life from people, it takes them into another dimension,” Smith said.

Horse racing in the Virgin Islands has been largely dormant since 2022, when events at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay were halted amid a dispute between the government and private landowners over lease agreements. The government issued a ban on the use of sections of the track that same year, forcing the cancellation of scheduled races and leaving the territory without an active racing venue.

The facility, long considered the territory’s primary horse racing venue, has remained closed as negotiations between the government and landowners have failed to produce an agreement. The last official race card was held on Aug. 2, 2022, before the dispute escalated.

The closure has had a ripple effect on the local racing community, with some horse owners relocating animals to neighboring jurisdictions such as St. Thomas, while others have exited the sport entirely.

Smith, who has been involved in horse racing through the Horseowners’ Association, said the sport extends beyond competition and plays a broader role in community cohesion.

“Horse racing is not just a sport for me. It’s a social event for people of all ages,” he said.

He said the loss of such events has left few opportunities for residents to gather outside of work and religious settings, particularly in the years following Hurricane Irma in 2017 and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We go to work, we go to church, and then what next?” Smith said. “We need to find a common ground.”

Smith also suggested that community-driven initiatives — including district-level events such as weekend gatherings and shared meals — could help rebuild social connections while broader efforts to restore horse racing continue.

Horse racing has historically been a major part of the territory’s cultural identity, particularly during Emancipation Festival celebrations, where events at Ellis Thomas Downs drew large crowds and regional participation.

Despite ongoing efforts by government officials to resolve the dispute and revive the facility, no timeline has been announced for the return of racing.

Smith said that whether or not he enters politics, he intends to continue advocating for initiatives that bring communities together.

“We need to bring people back together,” he said.