Business

Deal For Two Horse Racing Facilities In USVI Stalls As FAA Denies Permit On St. Croix

ST. CROIX -- A contract signed between the Government of the Virgin Islands and VIGL Operations, LLC during the Mapp administration and ratified by the 31st Legislature, was supposed to result in two brand new horse racing facilities in the territory, one in St. Thomas and the other on St. Croix. But even as the deal -- worth $27 million -- has not seen too many hiccups on St. Thomas relative to permitting, the St. Croix portion is now stalled, as the Federal Aviation Administration has denied an important permit for development, with the federal agency maintaining that the area of development, which is the location of the former Randall "Doc" James Race Track across the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, has been designated for aviation use and not for other activities. If the St. Croix development is denied, the entire deal would be derailed. That's according to officials of the Horse Racing Commission, who on Friday held a press conference at the Virgin Islands Port Authority conferenc...