Preliminary Work Continues at STT, STX Racetracks; VIGL and Southland Still Need CZM Approval of Modification Plans

Preliminary work activities are progressing on both horse racing tracks in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but both Southland Gaming and VIGL Operations must still receive permission from authorities to make design modifications to their respective construction projects.

Representatives from Southland and VIGL provided updates on their progress thus far to the VI Horse Racing Commission (VIHRC) at a public meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

David Edmonds, Southland’s spokesperson, said that preliminary repairs to the roofs at the Clinton E Phipps racetrack on St. Thomas have been completed, as have repairs to cisterns and above-ground water tanks at the facility. A water truck and track maintenance equipment have since been located on site, and construction fencing has been delivered and is currently being installed. The fencing, meant to separate construction areas from zones where horse operations are taking place, is expected to be completed by the end of the week, said Mr. Edmonds.

The grandstands are currently being manufactured, Mr. Edmonds said, sharing photos of metal structures neatly stacked on top of one another. And crucially, the Coastal Zone Management (CZM) division of the VI Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) had approved the extension and transfer of current permits, and are awaiting receipt of a modification proposal. Edmonds did not respond to a direct question from the press towards the end of the meeting as to whether the modifications being considered was a smaller footprint for the grandstands — two levels instead of three.