By J.N. Campbell
The U.S. Virgin Islands's Department of Sports, Parks, & Recreation Department has formally closed the Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack on the island of St. Thomas until further notice after at least seven horses were euthanized last year, according to a press release from the agency on Friday.
In an article on Thursday, Jan. 30, the TDN reported that breakdowns occurred starting in May, but the St. Thomas/St. John Horse Racing Commission (STT/STJ HRC) was regulating cards without anti-doping laws in effect nor had the surface undergone professional testing. Alongside these major oversight issues, unregistered Thoroughbreds were also allowed to compete, plus two horses who were banned by Gulfstream Park appeared in a race at the Clinton Phipps track Dec. 22.
With pressure from several quadrants, including Virgin Islands Senator Franklin D. Johnson and Jay Watson of the Intra-Caribbean Thoroughbred Equine Association, the Department of Sports, Parks, & Recreation Department said it was committed to transparency.
“As promised, the STT/STJ HRC will investigate and assess the racing surface to ascertain whether the facility's terrain impacted the injured horses,” the department said via a spokesperson. “To do this, the surface will be inaccessible to trainers and jockeys until further notice. The stables, however, will remain accessible. The Facility will be CLOSED.”
When reached for comment about the track's closure, Jay Watson said, “Though this is a step in the right direction, there is still much to be done. The absence of any reference to anti-doping is very concerning. As if the only factor involved in these horse fatalities was the track surface? I will be paying close attention to this situation as it progresses.”
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