Members of the Virginia Racing Commission,

I want to express my concerns about the recent regulations regarding historical simulcast racing machines in Virginia.  I am a Richmond resident who has enjoyed horse races at Colonial Downs in years past and am glad that it will re-open once again. My concerns are the number of slot machines that could be placed in Richmond at current and new off-track betting parlors.  I know that 3,000 may not seem like a lot, but it is double the number of those in Kentucky.  And we are not close to the horse racing state that they are.  I worry that because Richmond has been supportive of OTB’s, that we could have too many machines---and that we would not have any input as to where they are located.  I live in the Fan District in Richmond and was not far from the downtown location, but we cannot continue to place these sites in impoverished areas that prey on the most vulnerable in our community. I urge you to slow your horses and not exceed the number of machines currently in Kentucky.  You must restrict the number further. Thanks for your consideration.

Jen Moody