To Whom It May Concern:

My wife and I have been Property Owners in New Kent County for 11 years and residents of New Kent County for 5 years.  We whole-heartedly support Revolutionary Racing, LLC and their recent purchase of Colonial Downs in New Kent County.  The reopening of Colonial Downs will bring much needed tax revenues to the Commonwealth and to New Kent County, as well as much needed jobs to New Kent County.  We respectfully urge the Virginia Racing Commission to promulgate regulations that will benefit Revolutionary Racing, LLC and the operations of Colonial Downs and their Off-Track Betting Parlors.  We would strongly urge the Virginia Racing Commission to allow Revolutionary Racing, LLC to operate as many Off-Track Betting Parlors and Historical Horse Racing Pari-Mutuel Wagering Machines as Revolutionary Racing, LLC’s Business Plan may require to make the operation of Colonial Downs and the Off-Track Betting Parlors very profitable, proving to be a benefit to the Commonwealth and New Kent County.

Given the over-whelming bi-partisan support in the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate for the passage of House Bill No. 1609 “Historical Horse Racing and Pari-Mutuel Wagering”, it is clear that a majority of the populace of the Commonwealth over-whelmingly supports the return of Thoroughbred Horse Racing to Virginia, as well as Historical Horse Racing & Pari-Mutuel Wagering.

The Virginia Racing Commission should take its lead from Revolutionary Racing, LLC in determining the final number of Off-Track Betting Parlors within the Commonwealth and the number of Historical Horse Racing / Pari-Mutuel Wagering Machines in Colonial Downs and the Off-Track Betting Parlors.  Who better to guide the Virginia Racing Commission than Revolutionary Racing, LLC to enable Colonial Downs to be an economically viable enterprise.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit my opinion and comments on this very important matter to allow for the return of Thoroughbred Horse Racing to Commonwealth.

Respectfully,

Robert W. Hopewell III

7279 Blanc Street

New Kent, VA 23124