Dear Commissioners,

We have read recently that you are all contemplating adding 3,000 NEW  off-track-betting machines in Virginia to help the horse industry.  We think that it is a great idea to help the Virginia family farms and re-open Colonial Downs.  But we believe that you are moving way too quickly.  Adding 3,000 machines are extreme in our opinion. It seems to us that Colonial Downs and the horse industry are getting a little ahead of themselves and we are sure that the horse industry will do fine with 1,800 machines.  If that number is good enough for Kentucky, why would we need more?  Kentucky may be more established in the racing world, but give this time here in Virginia.  

These large betting warehouses should also be limited and placed in areas that will allow for success.  These betting locations shouldn't be placed in cities or towns without their vote or approval. Certain localities may have voted on this issue decades ago, but times have changed and there are new people here in Virginia.

 For far too long these OTB sites have been in depressed areas and the sites themselves may not have been well-managed.  These OTB sites need to be cleaner, better managed  and in areas where entertainment already lives.  There is a reason people stopped going to begin with, and it wasn’t just because Colonial Downs closed.  The sites were not supported well by the neighborhoods in which they were built.  Don’t make those mistakes again! Please do all you can not to jump the gun here and take a thorough approach so that this has a chance to be successful for Virginia.

Beth & Bill Hutchins