Virginia Equine Alliance Praises Legislation
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The Virginia Equine Alliance Feb. 24 praised legislation that has passed the state legislature and now awaits the signature of Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
The legislation will direct money from advance deposit wagering away from Colonial Downs and to the VEA. The VEA can use the money develop new racing sites in the state following Colonial Downs' decision to not request 2015 race dates.
The VEA includes the Virginia Thoroughbred Association, the Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, the Virginia Harness Horse Association, and the Virginia Gold Cup. It was formed in November following the decision by Colonial Downs to surrender its racing license.
Under the legislation, funds from the three national ADW companies, TVG, TwinSpires.com, and XpressBet.com, will go to a non-profit stakeholders' organization, which is expected to be the VEA, to promote and sustain Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing in Virginia. Colonial Downs will keep the money from its ADW company, EZ Horseplay, to support racing at the New Kent facility should there be meets in the future.
In its release the VEA noted that an important element of the legislation is that flat and harness meets run by charitable organizations can now acquire a license for a 14-day meet, including pari-mutuel wagering, without a referendum. One option for the VEA would be to race at Colonial Downs.
"These legislative changes will help us determine the direction and future of Virginia racing, not Colonial Downs," the VEA said in its letter. "While Colonial Downs' plan for 2014 called for five to six days of high-end racing that would have had little economic benefit for Virginia, these legislative changes now create a new model for racing in the state.
"We hope racing will resume at Colonial Downs, and we will be working with track management on plans for this going forward, but we feel that the development of alternative sites is integral to the long-term growth of the sport.
"Going forward, the alliance will work closely with the horsemen's groups to develop plans to kick-start racing in the state, as well as craft robust plans for a sustainable racing program, a program that both benefits horsemen and breeders and creates an attractive, fan-friendly environment.
"While we hope to have multiple sites for racing around the state, this will not happen overnight. Sites are currently being inspected for both flat and harness racing and we will keep you informed. We will be reaching out to all of you to seek your input on how best to create new racing sites and to gather other suggestions for moving forward."