During his 7th State of the Territory Address, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. announced that he has authorized the V.I. Department of Justice to file a lawsuit against VIGL Operations LLC in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands.
According to Mr. Bryan, the suit seeks damages and the termination of VIGL’s contracts with the Government of the Virgin Islands for failing to meet its obligations to rebuild the Randall “Doc” James Racetrack on St. Croix and resume horse racing operations.
The territory's leader outlined the chronic issues with VIGL’s handling of the racetrack redevelopment project. Despite repeated extensions and concessions, including the issuance of a Casino Control Commission license in April 2024, VIGL has failed to make meaningful progress on the project.
The company claims to have spent $11 million on the project to date, with $2 million directed toward architecture and engineering over the past two years, Mr. Bryan said. However, there has been no visible progress at the racetrack site. VIGL has also failed to meet key contractual obligations, such as posting an $8 million performance bond and adhering to construction milestones, including the missed groundbreaking deadline of May 2024.
“After eight years of delays and missed commitments, the people of St. Croix have nothing to show for it,” Governor Bryan stated. “This is unacceptable. My administration will not stand idly by while promises are broken, contracts are breached, and the community is left without the benefits it was promised.”
In May 2024, VIGL was issued a formal notice to cure its contractual defaults, which included its failure to meet construction deadlines. However, the company has made no substantive progress since then. Frustration continues to grow within the community, with residents and lawmakers demanding accountability for the lack of action, Government House made known.
Governor Bryan stressed that the GVI is prepared to take decisive action to ensure the racetrack is rebuilt and horse racing returns to St. Croix. “The Government of the Virgin Islands is fully prepared to take the necessary steps to ensure the Randall ‘Doc’ James Racetrack is rebuilt and that horse racing returns to St. Croix,” he said. “If VIGL cannot fulfill its obligations, we will move forward with a solution that puts the people of this territory first.”
