For Sale sign at Colonial Downs unlikely to affect 2008 race schedule

[rrbauer]

Owner says they can't grow the business in Virginia without purse subsidies, etc.


http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-now-cdowns.0114,0,6806376.story

[Si2see]

same thing they tried to do before... I understand where he is coming from, but they have known for a long time when surrounding states were getting slots, we were not here in virginia. Bottom line is if it doesn't sell ( which it probably will not just my opinion ) then they sure won't let it sit. The otb's are ALWAYS busy at least the two here in richmond. They will be racing in 08.

[thespaah]

Owner says they can't grow the business in Virginia without purse subsidies, etc.


http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-now-cdowns.0114,0,6806376.story
Cnl's location, far flung from any major population center is a handicap.
IMO any state that does not have VLT's or the like to supplement purses is doomed to failure.
It seems to be the way the industry is going.

[alysheba88]

Why did they open the track then

[njcurveball]

He obviously bought the track for the "casino" angle. When it didn't happen, he wants to cry poor. How do the restaurants, bowling alleys, etc make it without slots in that area?

Why does racetrack management expect gambling rules to be changed quickly if they cry poor?

People in the Delaware Valley have watched our Premier tracks close (Liberty Bell, Brandywine, Garden State) and live on life support (ACRC) while their owners wanted the same things.

Colonial seems to be doing really well and many people (including me) look forward to betting their cards which are heavy on turf races.

Jim

[Si2see]

there isnt a better place to be in the summer if you are from richmond or newport news/norfolk area
Also colonial is not hurt by it's location. It is 14 miles from downtown richmond, right off interstate 64 and pretty much within an hour of anywhere in central virginia and the virginia beach area.

[GaryG]

The otb's are ALWAYS busy at least the two here in richmond. They will be racing in 08.So is my local OTB, the one in Scott County. This is by no means a horse racing hotbed but they do a good business. Very nice folks too. Try going to a big city OTB and have them call you by name and ask if you want your usual table.

[Si2see]

So is my local OTB, the one in Scott County. This is by no means a horse racing hotbed but they do a good business. Very nice folks too. Try going to a big city OTB and have them call you by name and ask if you want your usual table.

Gary I couldn't have said it better myself, call me a regular, call me whatever you want, but even with or otb's busy ( people betting ) I know of maybe one or two people in the place who may not know me by name, I don't think you could get that anywhere else.

[whiteathame]

My first wholly-owned horse, Chasen Katie, broke maiden there in 2000. I go back every summer. Maybe the best turf in NA. I don't see Colonial going down the tubes but I don't see a groundswell of support for slots, either.

[Robert Fischer]

just keep that For Sale sign off the lawn!


the totally undeveloped market of horseracing causes the industry to look so pathetic when little fractions are crying for slots like this. Colonial is in no way unique. The industry of horse racing is like what? 40% developed to its potential ? if that. Sell it. Sell it all.
get somebody who knows business and actually has intentions on profiting in the horse racing business, by innovation and hard work - not these retards who want to make little side deals , and think that racing is less important than some kind of real estate/racino move