Dear Racing Commission Members,

I write to you as a person who has lived in the horse racing business with my family and as one who believes that the horse industry needs Colonial Downs to bring back this wonderful tradition to Virginia.  However, I am very concerned that the recent regulations proposed by the Virginia Racing Commission are not appropriate for the Commonwealth.  Why would Virginia have double the number of machines that Kentucky has?  We are not close to having the racing days that Kentucky has and I don’t believe this makes any sense.  There needs to be a more balanced approach. 

I have enjoyed betting on horses for decades, but the OTB’s in Virginia need improvement.  With the new regulations, I hope you will allow local governments to have input by either ensuring that these locations don’t reopen near schools or neighborhoods.  Better yet, any placement of a new OTB should go back to a local referendum to let all citizens decide if they want to support this industry in their localities.  I believe residents would be supportive, but 3,000 machines is excessive in my opinion.

I know you have a very difficult task ahead—to balance the desires of the horsemen and women but to ensure that Virginia not become a slot machine haven.  I ask you to consider lowering the number of machines now and revisiting the issue again in years to come to ensure that Virginia can truly support the industry.

Michael W. Harris

1877 Cross County Road

Mineral, Virginia 23117