I  plea to the commission to allow horse racing back to Colonial Downs Race Track, along with the expansion needed to ensure that racing is continued and the track and racing can maintain itself year round.  I support any creative thinking that allows for growth, to include slots, instant racing, or any other revenue building plan that the is proposed- as long as its intentions allow for expansion and growth to not only Colonial Downs Race Track, but to the entire horse breeding program in Virginia.

I do express deep concern to the commission, that the horse racing be mandated as part of the agreement, and require the new owners to have a plan for expanding racing-   NOT to only have a small weekend or boutique meet to satisfy the requirement.     A plan needs to be required of the new track owners to show: 

1) how they are able to grow the number of racing days to be held at their facility, 

2) to establish strict guidelines of the amount of money going to the horsemen to help support the growth,

3) I  request  the commission to hire an unbiased review of the horsemen groups (VTA, VEA, HBPA)  - to help ensure that we do not end with the same demise  as we have at this point.    There are serious problems within these groups and I fear that they may not be in the best interest of horse racing and breeding in Virginia.  

Please ensure that the entire picture is looked at before we leap-   Lets make sure that everyone (track owners, breeders, horsemen, farm owners, and the public ) are all kept in mind as a whole,  and as we go forward the  entire program  is well established and encouraged to grow.