Bryan met with horsemen and VIGL over racetrack agreement and permitting delays

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. met on Friday, July 12, 2019, with VIGL Racing Operations, Virgin Islands Horse Racing Commission Chairman Jay Watson, and representatives of the St. Thomas and St. Croix horsemen associations to review issues affecting the return of live horse racing in the territory.

According to Government House, the meeting focused on provisions of the 2016 agreement between VIGL and the Virgin Islands government, including requirements tied to the contract's effective date. Those requirements included a racino license, permits and licenses for the facilities, and other conditions.

Government House said Bryan told VIGL it was in violation of the agreement's requirement for a project management plan, which was due 30 days after the contract was signed in 2016. The release said VIGL told the governor it had presented a plan to former Gov. Kenneth Mapp but could not produce an official submission or approval letter. Bryan gave the company 30 days to submit a project management plan for approval and a list of permits needed to begin the project's completion timeline, and VIGL and its attorney, Miles Plaskett, agreed to meet that deadline.

The administration also cited permitting delays and disruptions caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017.

Government House said work at the Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack had been halted by a Coastal Zone Management complaint pending before the Board of Land Use Appeals. The board was expected to meet in August 2019 to hear the complaint.

The group also discussed filling vacancies on the Racing Commission board and drafting new horse-racing rules and regulations by September 2019. Bryan also agreed to send a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration to seek approval needed for grandstand drawings at the Randall "Doc" James Racetrack in St. Croix.

VIGL holds the franchise agreement for the Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack on St. Thomas and the Randall "Doc" James Racetrack on St. Croix under a 20-year lease franchise agreement signed in 2016.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-meets-with-vi-horsemen-vigl/