THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 29, 1995 TAG: 9512280006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
Sen. Kenneth Stolle and other legislators are right on the mark when they say they want to see live horse racing in place before off-track betting parlors (OTB) open in Virginia. They understand how important live racing is to Virginia's horsemen. Simulcast races from other states provide no opportunities for Virginia horses to run in Virginia. And only by running, and winning, will Virginia horses bring their owners and breeders any financial success. Virginians embarked on this horse racing journey to better the state's native horse industry, not to promote gambling or enrich out-of-state businessmen.
The problem is, by virtue of a decision by the racing commission, Virginians are stuck with a race-track licensee with such limited means that he cannot construct a tract and fund a purse account without revenue from OTBs which appear to emphasize cheapness rather than showcasing the sport of horse racing. Fortunately, Senator Stolle had the foresight to amend the law such that live racing must occur within one year of the granting of an OTB license.
Now we have the licensee proposing to satisfy the one-year requirement by staging a short ``tent meet'' at his proposed track site in New Kent County. Not only is the location wrong, but so is the idea.
Senator Stolle is onto their game. He sees the danger here: Who will ensure that live racing is not forgotten or slighted while pursuing simulcasting revenues?
Virginians need to pause and get their priorities in order so as to indeed promote, sustain and grow our native horse industry by insisting on live racing first.
JAMES K. HITCH
Middleburg, Dec. 22, 1995 by CNB