Legalise 'parimutuel wagering' or risk losing support of USVI horse owners- Lesmore Smith
President of the local horse owner’s association Mr Lesmore Smith, who has been collaborating with other die-hard horse racing fans to plug thousands of dollars into the sport to keep it alive in the Virgin Islands (VI), has said there is an urgent need to allow pari-mutuel wagering or betting at local horse races to generate much needed revenue.
An expensive venture
During a video interview with Cathy O. Richards on JTV, Smith insisted, “We need to bring our game up to the next level so we could be sure we that we have the transfer back and forth, among each other, and make sure we keep the sport alive in the Virgin Islands.”
Mr Smith was at the time relating plans for the sport after the Boxing Day races on December 26, 2019, were interrupted by heavy rains after just two races.
“I am hoping that our government pushes the pari-mutuel because, Cathy, this is an expensive venture for me to keep that sport alive and I don’t think that with all honesty one year after the destruction, one year bringing it back and keeping it alive, they can’t ask me for more.”
He further said, “So I am saying to my good government, push, I have been asking for the pari-mutuel for gaming bill to be passed years ago, I am hoping that they can get it through and give us a little more cushion so we can make this sport better in the BVI.”
Much needed revenue to be made
According to Mr Smith, the USVI has a promoter for the sport of horse racing- the legislation for gaming, “We don’t. So when we go on their end of the field we find that the purses are going to be more exciting and then eventually they will say we ain't coming up there because the purse is better over here [in the USVI].”
Clearing the air on his position about betting generally, Mr Smith said: “I am not saying that I am opening the BVI for a gambling situation, but also that government makes good revenue from the whole thing.”
The administrator and horse owner is convinced the gaming act will also allow a percentage of everything that is made to go to the government's coffers.
“We have NHI (National Health Insurance) that is crying four million in the red now. So we are looking at how can we bring revenue in among our people to make things happen for ourselves," Mr Smith reasoned.
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