Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Mar 30, 2023

USVI Gov't signs agreement to build horse racing facility on St Croix

USVI Gov't signs agreement to build horse racing facility on St Croix

US Virgin Islands (USVI) Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr on Thursday, September 15, 2022, signed an agreement with VIGL that clears all remaining obstacles to enable the horse racing management company to begin the reconstruction of the Randall 'Doc' James Racetrack on St Croix, Government House has announced.

As part of the agreement, VIGL agreed to a timeline of benchmarks it said it will meet to ensure that construction on the St Croix track proceeds without further delay to bring horse racing back to the island.

Track will be built in 'quick fashion'- Gov Bryan


"Four years is a very long time," Governor Albert Bryan said Thursday, referring to the length of time the horse racing industry has been offline in the territory — a protracted delay caused by a multitude of issues. While the governor spoke about the setbacks caused by the Southland Gaming lawsuit against the government and VIGL, he also mentioned the 2017 storms and more recently Covid-19 as resulting in new impediments.

Now that an agreement has been signed, the governor assured a speedy timeline. "The track is going to get built and it's going to get built in quick fashion," he said.

"We should be in construction within the next three to six months. The stuff that doesn't need permitting will begin immediately," Mr Bryan said.

The government will provide $5 million in support of building the St Croix track, according to the governor, who explained that while there is $6 million in federal funding that can be utilised, the bureaucratic hurdles involved would slowdown the project. He said the federal funds will eventually be utilised.

Governor Bryan also thanked Senator Javan E. James who he said worked with the administration in securing the deal, including sponsoring legislation to make available the $5 million from the St. Croix Infrastructure Fund.

And he thanked the VIGL team, who the governor said is a dedicated partner in reviving horse racing in the Virgin Islands, more pointedly St. Croix.

The Government of the US Virgin Islands will provide $5 million in support of building the St Croix track.


USVI Gov't will assume liability


VIGL said it will present to the governor in the next two weeks a project management plan. Once approved by the governor, the company will then seek permitting, then licensing for construction.

Relative to preparing the track to allow horses to exercise, Mr Bryan said the administration is ready to move forward, however, VIGL had concerns about liability attached to activity on a facility under construction. To allay those fears, the governor said the government of the Virgin Islands would assume liability and would also subsidise the track to include the spreading of dirt, among other work to make the track useful.

VIGL also committed to performing pre-permitting work which means there will be movement on the track soon. The company plans on meeting with the Horse Racing Commission and horsmen on St. Croix in the coming weeks.

Under the agreement, VIGL also agreed to end its involvement with the project to rebuild the Clinton Phipps Racetrack on St. Thomas, which now will be solely managed by Southland Gaming, Gov't House said. Unlike the disbanded agreement, the new deal gives VIGL the rights to video lottery terminal gaming on St. Croix and not the entire territory.

The administration said that Thursday’s contract ends the disputes and issues that plagued an initial agreement with VIGL that was signed by Governor Kenneth E. Mapp in October 2016 and ratified by the 31st Legislature. That agreement was met with a series of challenges that included appeals to the Coastal Zone Management Commission and Board of Land Use Appeal and objections by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Legal challenges


The original agreement also survived a legal challenge by Traxco, the previous leaseholder of the St Croix track, but the original agreement ultimately resulted in a lawsuit between VIGL, Southland Gaming and the Government of the Virgin Islands that stopped the reconstruction of the tracks on both islands, which were destroyed by the 2017 hurricanes.

The administration in June 2021 settled the lawsuit by bifurcating the original contract into separate agreements for each track, and in March, Governor Bryan sent down amended legislation that the 34th Legislature approved in March 2022 so construction could begin on the tracks in both districts.

While the bifurcated agreements cleared the way for VIGL to begin rebuilding the St Croix track and laid out the specific permits VIGL would need, Mr Bryan cited a number of factors that delayed VIGL’s progress.

“Critically, the cost of construction has gone up significantly while we wrestled with the challenges to this contract, and VIGL has made investments into the original deal that they will not be able to recoup,” he said. “Additionally, the Covid-related shutdowns and restrictions caused significant losses in the gaming industry and weakened the financial positions of those entities.”

The governor said the most significant element of the agreement he signed with VIGL on Thursday is the addition of a timeline of benchmarks the racing management company is required to meet.

"The signing of the amended Thursday now clears the way for all horse-racing in the territory," the administration said.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
Close
0:00
0:00
Father obliterates council members following viral TikTok of biological male masturbating in women’s bathroom..
I have a dream, MLK inspiring speech
China and Brazil have signed a new deal that will allow them to trade in their own currencies, bypassing the US dollar as an intermediary
Aretha Franklin, Marvis Staples - Oh Happy Day
Elon Musk and Others Call for Pause on A.I., Citing ‘Profound Risks to Society’
BVI Freedom Song
Nashville style execution
Billy Preston - You Can't Beat God Giving (Live)
“We've had evidence prior to the pandemic that masks were largely ineffective at preventing community transmission of influenza “
VIRGIN ISLANDS REGGAE CARIBBEAN RIDDIMZ
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz:
Oh Happy Day Edwin Hawkins - Anthony Brown w FBCG Combined Choir
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz rejects being labeled a "billionaire"
'Stand by Me' performed by Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir
Jamie Dimon is being deposed over JPMorgan Chase role in Epstein lawsuits
National Anthem of the British Virgin Islands - Oh, Beautiful Virgin
This is how an electric car saves all the energy that he would have spent if he had lived 50 years longer.
Hello Dolly
Brand new security footage has just been released to the public showing the Active shooter Audrey Elizabeth Hale drove to Covenant Church School in her Honda Fit this morning, parked, and shot her way into the building
for KING & COUNTRY - Amen (Reborn) [feat. Lecrae & The WRLDFMS Tony Wi
Social Media censoring users for saying the true
Bob Marley - Get Up Stand Up
Smart Iranian fashion designer teaching dummy TV anchors lesson about reality
Yes He Can
AMERICA, 2023
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
U.S. charges FTX's Bankman-Fried with paying $40 million bribe
Unforgettable
Fallen 'Crypto King' Who Owes Millions to Investors Was Kidnapped and Tortured
Touch The Hem Of His Garment
Regulators blame social media for SVB's rapid collapse: 'Complete game changer'
The Lord's Prayer
AOC explains why she opposes banning TikTok
THE GOD MOVEMENT...BEAUTIFUL BVI
UK: Humza Yousaf replaces Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader and first minister in Scotland
Siyahamba
In a dramatic U-turn against His Government: Judicial Reform Legislation Must Be Halted, Says Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant
Ray Charles And The Voices Of Jubilaton, Oh, Happy Day
Gordon Moore, a co-founder of Intel Corporation, died at 94
Ramblin' Rose
Powell: Silicon Valley Bank was an 'outlier'
Protoje - Who Knows ft. Chronixx
Donald Trump arrested – Twitter goes wild with doctored pictures
Pressure - Virgin Islands Nice
NYPD is setting up barricades outside Manhattan Criminal Court ahead of Trump arrest.
Phil Wickham - House Of The Lord
Credit Suisse's Scandalous History Resulted in an Obvious Collapse - It's time for regulators who fail to do their job to be held accountable and serve as an example by being behind bars.
My God Is Real (Yes, God Is Real)
Home Secretary Suella Braverman tours potential migrant housing in Rwanda as asylum deal remains mired in legal challenges
The Lion King Circle of Life by LEBO M. — LIVE at the HAVASI Symphonic
Paris Rioting vs Macron anti democratic law
Louis Armstrong - When The Saints Go Marching In
'Sexual Fantasy' Assignment At US School Outrages Parents
Kanye West Sunday Service - hallelujah, salvation, and glory
Credit Suisse to borrow $54 billion from Swiss central bank
Jonathan Nelson - I Believe (Island Medley
Russian Hackers Preparing New Cyber Assault Against Ukraine
From The Virgin Islands Sqad Up
Jeremy Hunt insists his Budget will get young parents and over-50s back into work
Common, John Legend - Glory
If this was in Tehran, Moscow or Hong Kong
Anthony Evans vs. Jesse Campbell - If I Ain't Got You
Nashville police officer, and a female driver shooting one another
I have a dream, MLK inspiring speech
TRUMP: "Standing before you today, I am the only candidate who can make this promise: I will prevent World War III."
Aretha Franklin, Marvis Staples - Oh Happy Day
Mexican President Claims Mexico is Safer than the U.S.
BVI Freedom Song
A brief banking situation report
Billy Preston - You Can't Beat God Giving (Live)
Lady bites police officer and gets instantly reaction
VIRGIN ISLANDS REGGAE CARIBBEAN RIDDIMZ
We are witnessing widespread bank fails and the president just gave a 5 min speech then walked off camera.
Oh Happy Day Edwin Hawkins - Anthony Brown w FBCG Combined Choir
Donald Trump's asked by Tucker Carlson question on if the U.S. should support regime change in Russia?.
'Stand by Me' performed by Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir
Good news: The U.S. government is now guaranteeing all deposits, held by, Silicon Valley Bank, and the funds are available as of today
National Anthem of the British Virgin Islands - Oh, Beautiful Virgin
Silicon Valley Bank exec was Lehman Brothers CFO
Hello Dolly
In a potential last-ditch effort, HSBC is considering a rescue deal to save Silicon Valley Bank UK from insolvency
for KING & COUNTRY - Amen (Reborn) [feat. Lecrae & The WRLDFMS Tony Wi
BBC Director General, Tim Davie, has apologized, but not resigned, yet, following the disruption of sports programmes over the weekend
Bob Marley - Get Up Stand Up
A Mississippian man, who was once considered a “ticking time bomb,” has lost a whopping 165 kilograms! What motivated this incredible transformation?
Yes He Can
Elon Musk Is Planning To Build A Town In Texas For His Employees
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
The Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse effect is spreading around the world, affecting startup companies across the globe
Unforgettable
City officials in Berlin announced on Thursday that all swimmers at public pools will soon be allowed to swim topless
Touch The Hem Of His Garment
Fitness scam
The Lord's Prayer
Market Chaos as USDC Loses Peg to USD after $3.3 Billion Reserves Held by Silicon Valley Bank Closed.
THE GOD MOVEMENT...BEAUTIFUL BVI
A primitive judge in Australia sparked outrage when he told a breastfeeding woman to leave his courtroom for being “a distraction"
Siyahamba
Barcelona is feeling the heat as they face corruption charges over payments to former vice-president of Spain's referees' committee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira
Ray Charles And The Voices Of Jubilaton, Oh, Happy Day
×