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Brief: Racetrack Overhaul Out of the Gates

Sept. 3, 2007 — A major overhaul of the Clinton Phipps Racetrack on St. Thomas’ East End got underway when the governor signed a $295,000 contract with Boschulte Design Studio to provide architectural and engineering services.
“When I took office in January, I made a commitment to the thousands of horse-racing fans in the territory that it was incumbent upon us to improve the facilities at Clinton Phipps, and this contract award is a step in that direction,” said Gov. John deJongh Jr.
The departments of Property and Procurement and Justice reviewed the contract “for legal sufficiency” before the governor’s ratification, according to a Government House news release. The contract requires Boschulte to provide project-administration services, develop schematic design documents, design development and construction documents, secure Coastal Zone Management major land permit and building-permit approvals, as well as construction-procurement services and contract-administration services.
The design work will include a new grandstand structure, concession spaces, covered bleachers, indoor seating area, VIP lounge, media room, judges’ room, restrooms, pari-mutuel betting, restaurant and gaming and storage. The contract also provides for the planning of site improvements, including stables, paddock, on-site parking, guardhouse and quarantine area.
“There is a definitive need for us to bring about significant improvement to the overall facilities at Phipps racetrack,” deJongh said, adding, “The sport of kings attracts large numbers of Virgin Islanders on race days, as well as visitors from the British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, and the present appearance of the track is not what it should be.”
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