CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Horse racing in the U.S. Virgin Islands has been part of the local culture for quite some time, with racetracks on St. Thomas and St. Croix — but all of that is going to change.
As of 2025, the horse racing scene in the Virgin Islands is filled with uncertainty following the terrible 2024 racing season, and some sources suggest that this is the end of professional horse racing in our territory.
So, what is really happening, and why are racetracks closed in the Virgin Islands?
Let’s find out.
The St. Thomas Racetrack Shutdown
When it comes to horse racing, 2024 was not the season to remember, at least not for Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack on St. Thomas. It made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
According to a recent report, the track was shut down by the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks & Recreation after at least seven thoroughbreds were euthanized due to breakdowns during racing in 2024.
These numbers are devastating for the horse racing industry, and they suggest that something is wrong here. After all, horse racing has been battling for a positive ethical image for a long time, and such news is only negatively impacting the sport all over the world.
This came after the track reopened following a long hiatus caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, which destroyed the tracks completely. The racing here was paused until May 2024, but the season didn’t start well. It began with the breakdown of an 11-year-old horse named Thulean on May 5, followed by others, including a 5-year-old Axxerator, in October.
So, what is the real reason behind this controversy?
Well, the St.Thomas/St. John Horse Racing Commission highlighted serious oversight gaps in anti-doping rules, proper surface testing, and even registration checks. Two horses that were banned from Gulfstream Park slipped through and raced in December, and that isn’t a good look for the track.
So, by early 2025, pressure from figures like Senator Franklin D. Johnson and Jay Watson of the Intra-Caribbean Thoroughbred Equine Association, forced action.
The commission announced that the St. Thomas racetrack would be closed “until further notice”, and they promised transparency when it comes to resolving the problems with the racetrack. At this point, all fingers point at the race organizers and the lack of proper command and control.
Until the problems are sorted out — if you are a horse racing enthusiast — your only options are to go to online horse racing sites and follow the action of various races like the Kentucky Derby on TV.
St. Croix’s Stalled Dreams
But the Clinton Phipps racetrack isn’t the only one in the Virgin Islands. We also have the Randall N. “Doc” James Racetrack on St. Croix; but to be fair, this one isn’t doing much better, either.
A report from July 2024 V.I. Consortium noted that VIGL Operations were tasked with redeveloping the track after a 2021 agreement, and finally got Coastal Zone Management approval, but this is where the trail cools down.
The Doc James racetrack faced many permit delays with the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, and rather not surprisingly, there isn’t a date on the horizon, and it definitely won’t launch a proper racing season anytime soon.
Horsemen like Elroy Bates Jr. are vocal online, blaming VIGL for mishandling paperwork and stalling progress. X posts from locals echo the frustration, with some calling it a “lost cause” unless a new operator steps in.
VIGL’s past investments—like $1 million spent on surface upgrades years ago—haven’t translated into action, and their CEO, Jason Williams, has dodged firm timelines, pointing fingers at DPNR. Even the government sued VIGL for failure to develop and seeks transfer of permits. Still, they’re promising a modernized track with better safety if permits ever clear.
What’s The Real Problem?
So, what’s driving this mess? For St. Thomas, the 2024 disasters exposed a shaky foundation—racing restarted too soon, on a track Southland Gaming called “85% complete” but clearly wasn’t ready.
The Thoroughbred Daily News (TDN) on January 30, 2025, noted it operates outside U.S. oversight like HISA (Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority), leaving safety to local commissions that dropped the ball. St. Croix’s woes are more about red tape and broken trust—VIGL’s slow pace has locals doubting their commitment.
Both tracks are tied to a 2022 settlement splitting duties between Southland (St. Thomas) and VIGL (St. Croix), with a unified territorial racing commission meant to oversee them. Southland was steaming ahead—construction hit Phase 2 by September 2024, eyeing a Carnival 2025 opening (VI Consortium, June 2024)—until the shutdown derailed it. Now, it’s unclear if they’ll finish or pivot.
What’s Next in 2025?
Here’s the latest rundown based on fresh reports and chatter:
● St. Thomas (Clinton E. Phipps): The closure’s indefinite, but Southland’s $600,000 annual purse pledge through 2035 and grandstand work suggest they’re not out. A St. Thomas Source piece from 2024 hinted at millions in economic potential—jobs, tourism—so the government might push for a safety overhaul and relaunch by late 2025 or 2026, if they can fix the oversight mess. X posts lean hopeful but cautious, with fans begging for “racing done right.”
● St. Croix (Randall “Doc” James): It’s a waiting game. If permits drop soon, VIGL could break ground by mid-2025, aiming for a 2026 return. But if delays drag into next year, horsemen might lobby for a new deal—some online are already floating Southland as a savior. The VI Daily News suggests a unified commission could force action, but no timeline’s firm.
So, things aren’t good for the horse racing culture in the Virgin Islands, but we hope that all of the things will be sorted very soon, and the racing season will resume after constant delays.