ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 9, 1996 TAG: 9602130004
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
State horse-racing officials tried Thursday to iron out differences between horse owners and the developer of Virginia's first pari-mutuel track.
Earlier in the day, a spurned track applicant presented arguments to an appeals court on why the operator's license should be revoked.
The Virginia Racing Commission issued a license to Ohio track operator Arnold Stansley 16 months ago. But construction on Colonial Downs in New Kent County has been delayed by an appeal by the Virginia Jockey Club, which also applied for the license.
``A horse track is a capital-intensive operation, and no one is going to put up the kind of money you need while there's a lawsuit in court,'' said Colonial Downs lawyer James L. Weinberg.
Larry Framme, attorney for the Jockey Club, told the Virginia Court of Appeals the commission had given Stansley the license improperly. A Richmond Circuit Court found in favor of the commission last year.
Framme told a three-judge panel that the commission had violated its own rules and the laws establishing it when it gave Stansley the license.
Representatives of the commission said Stansley should keep the license.
The racing commission later held a special meeting to encourage Colonial Downs and horse owners to agree on how much money from off-track betting parlors will go to a fund to build purses before live racing begins.
``Let's get this done,'' said commissioner Robin Traywick Williams.
Horse owners said the money must start going into purses to attract horses to run. ``If you don't have enough money, you won't get any horses,'' said Donna Rogers, president of the Virginia Horsemen's Association. Colonial Downs officials said they continue to negotiate with horse owners.
The track seems to have cleared one hurdle by reaching a tentative agreement with the Maryland Jockey Club on how the track and betting parlors would operate.
Under the draft agreement, Colonial Downs would control operations, with guidance from the Maryland group. The Maryland Jockey Club has agreed to suspend thoroughbred racing in that state on days when horses are running at Colonial Downs. The suspension is supposed to encourage Maryland trainers to race at Colonial Downs.
``Frankly, we are not pleased with the agreement, because our ability to get Maryland horsemen down here is constrained,'' said Joseph De Francis, whose Maryland Jockey Club owns the Pimlico and Laurel Park tracks. ``But the only result of further negotiations would be to further postpone the track opening.''
Commission officials said it could act on the agreement as soon as next week.
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines KEYWORDS: HORSE RACINGby CNB