The following piece appeared on Fauquier.com and was written by Besty Burke Parker.

Virginia’s thoroughbred industry is embracing the 2019 reopening of Colonial Downs.

Now the steeplechase community has an exciting development to fuel their sport.

On Monday, the Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) unveiled plans to reward point-to-point and steeplechase owners and trainers with cash payments, a plan aimed at increasing participation, officials say.

According to the system, every time a Virginia-owned or -trained horse makes a start in a point-to-point race the owner will receive a $200 “starter reward.”

The bonus is designed to encourage steeplechase participation at all levels, from the limited “owner-rider” divisions to the open hurdle and timber divisions.

The account will be funded by off-track wagering profits from the VEA, a group comprised of Virginia’s standardbred, thoroughbred and steeplechase horsemen.

“VEA recognizes the important role local point-to-points play in preparing horses for the sanctioned meets and for developing young riders,” explained VEA executive director Jeb Hannum.

With up to eight races at each of seven point-to-points, that’s a lot of incentive, say horsemen.

“Wow, that’s great,” said former circuit champion rider, now trainer, Jeff Murphy, when told of the new program. “That may not sound like a lot of money, $200, but it means a lot to working horsemen, and new owners.”

Photo by Tod Marks.

“I have a group of people I want to bring in on a syndicate,” added owner-rider Sam Cockburn. “This gives me something to bring to the table. We’re looking for a horse for them right now.”

“We hope this program entices people to get a (race)horse, or to put a partnership together and have some fun,” said Hannum.
VEA will also give $25,000 to each of Virginia’s seven National Steeplechase Association-sanctioned meets, and donate $10,000 to the Virginia Point-to-Point Foundation. The popular Virginia-bred turf championship series also continues – $2,000 purses in a half-dozen qualifying races, leading up to a $25,000 autumn championship.

Colonial Downs will open a 600unit historic horse racing operation in New Kent County in April. The track, which features the nation’s largest turf course, opens for live racing Aug. 8-Sept. 7, with 15 weekend dates planned. The Virginia Derby, a 1 ¼-mile race on the turf – is scheduled Aug. 31. Jump races could be carded each week, according to steeplechase officials.

Colonial expects to produce more than 800 new jobs, $25 million in state tax revenues, $17 million in local tax revenues and $25 million annually to Virginia’s horse industry.

VEA took over running four OTBs, and handling the purse account that accrues from wager takeout, when Colonial’s former owners stopped live racing after the 2013 season due to contract differences with horsemen. OTB operational control will transition to Colonial later this year, Hannum explained, but VEA will continue to promote programs that help racing and breeding from a percentage payout from HHR revenues.

Virginia business owner Kaleen Shah’s Bellafina scored a big Grade 2 win January 6th at Santa Anita. Her 2019 travels could now include the May 3rd Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. This piece was written by Kelly Reilley for Brisnet.com.

Kaleem Shah’s Bellafina is back. Turning the page on her subpar effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), the Simon Callaghan trainee romped in Sunday’s $200,000 Santa Ynez S. (G2) by 8 1/2 lengths. That’s almost as many as the number of points (10) she added to her total toward the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

The real Bellafina was on display here, the budding star who’d crushed last year’s Chandelier (G1), Del Mar Debutante (G1), and Sorrento (G2). Her hat trick of graded wins, by a combined total of 15 lengths, made her the 9-5 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. But we did not see the real Bellafina at Churchill Downs, where she wound up a well-beaten fourth to Jaywalk.

Bellafina captured the Santa Ynez stakes by 8 1/2 lengths on January 6th. Photo courtesy of Benoit Photography.

Bettors kept faith with Bellafina in her Sunday comeback, sending her off as the 2-5 choice in a five-horse field, and she delivered. Although not quick into stride, the strapping daughter of Quality Road soon advanced to track the Bob Baffert-trained Mother Mother. The two raced alongside rounding the far turn, but Bellafina was going much the better, and she kicked clear swinging for home.

With jockey Flavien Prat enjoying an armchair ride, Bellafina widened her advantage down the stretch. She appeared to be no more than coasting as she finished seven furlongs in 1:22.00.

Bellafina sports 22 Oaks points, reflecting her 10-point scores in both the Santa Ynez and Chandelier, plus 2 points from the Breeders’ Cup. She ranks third on the leaderboard to Jaywalk and Restless Rider.

Mother Mother, second in the Del Mar Debutante, was an even more distant runner-up this time. She added 4 points, to the 2 from her Starlet (G1) third, for a total of 6. Tomlin rallied for third here and opened her account with 2 points. Fourth-placer Reflect earned 1 point, and with her previous 4 as the Alcibiades (G1) runner-up, her total stands at 5.

An $800,000 two-year-old purchase at Fasig-Tipton’s Gulfstream Sale, Bellafina has bankrolled $708,000 from her 6-4-1-0 record. The Kentucky Oaks contender is worth a lot more than that now.

A total of $5,000 in bonus monies were awarded to the top four money earning three year old horses that participated in the 2016 Virginia Yearling Futurity. Determined Vision, who was both the Champion colt and overall Grand Champion that year, earned a $3,000 first place bonus. What the Beep finished second and was awarded $1,000. Virginia Fable and Blushing Justine were third and fourth respectively and each collected awards of $700 and $300.

Determined Vision holds off Available (outside) approaching the wire in the June 23rd White Oak Farm Stakes. Photo by Jim McCue.

Determined Vision, a now 4-year-old Jump Start gelding bred by Althea Richards, captured the White Oak Farm Stakes in 2018 and finished second in the Meadow Stable Stakes. He also scored in a maiden special weight race May 4th at Laurel. The Phil Schoenthal trainee is a full brother to Just Call Kenny, a Grade 3 stakes winner who has bankrolled $483,770. Determined Vision made one start as a 2-year-old and seven this past year. Out of the Green Dancer mare, Green Jeans, he has earned $88,690 thus far. The top bonus earner is owned by D. Hatman Thoroughbreds and Kingdom Bloodstock Inc.

Eagle Point Farm’s What the Beep wins an allowance race over Laurel’s turf June 8, 2018. Photo by Jim McCue.

What the Beep, a Great Nation filly bred and owned by the Eagle Point in Ashland, is out of Toccoa by Purple Comet. The Rob Bailes trainee won back to back starts at Laurel last year — a waiver maiden claimer May 5th and an allowance race on June 8th. What the Beep also finished second to Altamura in the Camptown Stakes August 4th. Overall in ten career starts, she has earned $76,253 and has finished “in the money” in half those efforts. Toccoa was the first horse Karen Godsey won with as a trainer, and she went on to win five times at Colonial Downs in 2001.

Altamura (#6) edges Virginia Fable (#5) in the Tyson Gilpin Stakes. Photo by Jim McCue.

Virginia Fable is a Swagger Jack filly that won her first race July 14th last year in a maiden special weight race at Laurel. The Susan Cooney trainee was bred by Becky Lavin and has six top three finishes from a dozen starts. She was runner-up in the 2018 Tyson Gilpin Stakes and finished third in the Oakley Stakes. Virginia Fable, out of Falsehood by Awesome Again, has bankrolled $71,902. She is co-owned by Andrew Lavin and Becky Lavin.

Blushing Justine was successful in her first career start — a $41,000 maiden claimer at Aqueduct on November 10th, 2017. Photo courtesy of Adam Coglianese.

Blushing Justine was bred by Nellie Mae Cox and Rose Retreat Farm and is currently trained by Carlos Martin. She was victorious in her career bow at Aqueduct in November, 2017. The filly is by Justin Phillip out of Fiona by Cuvee. Blushing Justine has earned $56,393 from twelve starts and is owned by Matthew Kilstein and Nat Krohn.

At its December monthly meeting, the Virginia Racing Commission approved a lower licensing rate structure for horsemen, employees and vendors across the board beginning in 2019! More details are available at www.vrc.virginia.gov. Here are the new rates:

Thoroughbred

•Owner $25

•Trainer $25

•Assistant Trainer $25

•Authorized Agent $25

•Jockey $25

•Jockey Agent $25

•Blacksmith $25

•Veterinarian $25

•Groom $10

•Pony Rider $25

•Exercise Rider $25

•Stables/LLC $25

•All others $25

**************************
Fingerprint Processing Fee

$25 Fingerprints are required for new applicants between 18 and 69 years of age and every five years thereafter.

**************************

Harness

•Owner $25

•Trainer $25

•Driver $25

•Trainer/Driver $25

•Owner/Trainer/Driver $50

************************

Licensee Employees

•Seasonal Employees $25

•Full Time Employees $25

•Mutuel Teller $25

•Backside Employee $25

***********************

Vendors

•Vendor $25

•Vendor Employee $25

With thoroughbred racing returning to Colonial Downs in 2019, here are scenes from in-progress construction goings on at the New Kent track. Here are some shots from December 13th.

The entrance area leading up to the Colonial Downs front pillars will look quite different when it reopens in 2019. A circular road will allow vehicles close access to the doors.

Here’s a shot looking out over what used to be the main walkway leading to the front entrance.

Looking out from the top tier of the third floor Jockey Club. The former lounge will be a simulcast area where horseplayers can bet live races from tracks around the country.

The first floor will house over 500 historical horse racing terminals.

Work on an enhanced paddock is already underway.

First floor construction is in high gear with an anticpated opening date of April 15th.

A former outside bar/concession area heading toward the Green is being enclosed.

First floor preparations continue. The 2019 season will feature 15 race days. The Virginia Derby is August 31st.

The Green side of the third floor Jockey Club is being renovated to a higher level Historical Horse Racing area that will feature 92 terminals.

The following appeared in The Paulick Report and is a press release from Colonial Downs 

Colonial Downs Group is pleased to announce licensing today by the Virginia Racing Commission to return live racing to the Commonwealth along with approval to open a 600-unit historic horse racing (HHR) operation in New Kent County. “Rosie’s” at Colonial Downs anticipates opening in mid-April, while Colonial Downs in conjunction with the Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) plans to operate 15 thoroughbred racing dates in 2019. Live racing begins August 8 through September 7, with the stable area consisting of 1000 stalls, to open July 25. Further updates on “Rosie’s”, race conditions and purse levels for Colonial Downs will soon follow.

“This is an exciting step for everyone impassioned by the rebirth of live racing in Virginia and for our team delivering on our promise to revitalize horse racing in the Commonwealth,” said Colonial Downs Group senior vice-president and general manager John Marshall. “We are already making significant progress preparing Colonial Downs to evolve into one of the country’s premier race meets.”

“It has been a long four years waiting for this day,” added VEA president Debbie Easter. “Our owners, breeders, trainers, veterinarians and everyone else associated with horse racing in Virginia have much anticipated the return of live racing at Colonial Downs and the resurgence in our industry that we know will come with it.”

Colonial Downs stopped operating under previous ownership in 2014. The new Colonial Downs Group will re-introduce the facility in New Kent County in April 2019 offering the newly approved historical horse racing machines as well as satellite wagering on live horse racing across North America. A variety of dining services will also be available. Eventually, Colonial Downs Group plans several special events at the venue, but the return of live thoroughbred horse racing in August is the priority for 2019 with plans under way for an exciting opening day including the return of the Virginia Derby on August 31. The rebirth of racing at Colonial Downs powered by innovative technology at “Rosie’s” positions the Commonwealth of Virginia, home of the famed Triple Crown Champion Secretariat, to re-emerge to relevance within the racing industry.

Colonial Downs Group is making a $300 million investment in the Commonwealth of Virginia creating 800 new jobs by the end of 2019. This effort will generate $25 million annually in state tax revenues, $17 million annually in local tax revenues and $25 million annually to Virginia’s horse industry. The project is not receiving any tax credits or government incentives.

With one month to go in calendar year 2019, all source wagering handle from pari-mutuel activity in Virginia continues to trend ahead of last year. Through November, a total of $108,878,114 has been bet on horse racing on track, at the four in-state Off Track Betting (OTB) Centers and via four partner on line betting companies that operate in the Commonwealth. The eleven month handle figure in 2017 was $93,980,969.

2018 handle at the Breakers Sports Grille OTB in Henrico is almost $9 million thru November.

Combined OTB handle from the four in-state sites in Henrico (Breakers Sports Grille), Richmond (Ponies & Pints), Chesapeake (Buckets Bar & Grill) and Collinsville (The Windmill OTB Sports Grill) is $30,121,428. OTB handle at the same point a year ago was $18,444,183. Buckets opened in mid-November last year and The Windmill opened this past March.

Harness racing fans in Woodstock bet $120,000 on the Shenandoah Downs races this fall.

Even with more OTBs open in 2018, on line wagering has still risen an impressive 4.26%. Twin Spires handle of $29,593,607 is nearly 10% above its 2017 figure. TVG, top Virginia performer of the four, has handled $35,610,954, up 2.21%. NYRA Bets, the newest partner company, is up 15% this year with a handle of $1,892,933. XpressBet is off nearly 4% but has still handled $11,659,191. Total combined on line wagering for the year so far is $78,756,685, up over $3 million from 2017’s $75,536,785 figure.

The following appeared in Thoroughbred Daily News December 7th.

Grade I-winning millionaire Long On Value (Value Plus–Long Message, by Orientate) will stand in Florida at Pleasant Acres Stallions for $2,500 for the 2019 breeding season.

Long On Value won the Jamestown Stakes at Colonial Downs in 2013. Courtesy of Coady Photography.

“Helen and I are excited to have the millionaire, Long On Value, join our roster here at Pleasant Acres Stallions, said Pleasant Acres’ owner Joe Barbazon. “He brings stamina and resilience on dirt or turf–going short or long. Breeders should find a lot to like about Long on Value.”

Long On Value is shown winning the Grade II Twilight Derby at the 2014 Breeders’ Cup. Photo Courtesy Benoit Photo.

Winner of the 2014 GII Twilight Derby and 2015 GIII Canadian Turf S. during his tenure for Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Long On Value finished second in the 2017 G1 Al Quoz Sprint and third in that year’s GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile. Purchased by trainer Brad Cox for $100,000 at that term’s Keeneland November Sale, the 7-year-old made just two starts for his new conditioner, winning the Might Beau Overnight S. at Churchill June 2 and closing out his career on a high note in the GI Highlander S. at Woodbine June 30. The bay retires with a record or 32-9-5-5 and earnings of $1,136,253.

Racing fans are invited to celebrate the first anniversary of the Virginia Bets Off Track Betting Center at Buckets Bar & Grill on Friday December 7th and Saturday December 8th. The event will feature $500 in prize drawings, free programs, a free buffet and a free handicapping contest with $1,000 in cash prizes up for grabs.

On Friday, enjoy a free appetizer buffet from 4-7 PM as a thank you to both racing fans and restaurant/bar patrons for making Buckets a great success. There will be hourly prize drawings for $50 betting vouchers from 1-10 PM and past performance programs will be available for free all day and evening.

The OTB at Buckets is open seven days a week from 11 AM – 11 PM.

On Saturday, play a free “Pick The Horses” handicapping contest with $1,000 in cash prizes on the line. The five contestants that accumulate the highest mythical bankrolls will share the $1,000 ($500-$250-$125-$75-$50).

The contest will include races from Gulfstream’s Caribbean Classic program, a stakes filled card on what looks to be December’s biggest pre-Christmas racing event. Stop by Buckets between 11 AM and 2:30 PM to fill out a free contest entry. The first contest race begins shortly after 2:30 PM. Participants will be asked to select one horse in each of the contest races. They will receive a mythical $2 win/place bet on each selection and accumulate mythical bankrolls accordingly.

A free appetizer buffet wil be offered at Buckets on Friday December 7th.

Buckets is located in the Battlefield Shopping Center at 228 N. Battlefield Blvd. in the Great Bridge section of Chesapeake, just before the drawbridge

The following appeared in The Daily Racing Form and wax written by Matt Hegarty.

In 2013, Colonial Downs, Virginia’s only Thoroughbred track, went out with a whimper.

In 2019, the track plans to come back with a bang.

Buoyed by new ownership and the prospect of tens of millions of dollars of annual revenue from an exclusive license to operate devices similar to slot machines in the state, the track is planning to hold 15 days of live racing next fall, with the potential to offer as much as $500,000 a day in purses. The next year, the track is planning a 30-day meet stretched over 10 weeks in the fall, with purses of $600,000 a day, which would place Colonial among the top tier of tracks in the U.S. by purse distribution.

“I think it’s fair to say that ownership has been very bullish about this project of revitalizing horseracing in Virginia,” said John Marshall, a veteran racing executive who has been installed as general manager of the track by the partnership that purchased Colonial earlier this year.

The plans for the track and its gambling parlors are a stark turnaround from six years ago, when the track’s previous owner, Jacobs Entertainment, surrendered its operating license after its deteriorating relationship with the state’s horsemen cost the track an agreement over live racing dates. Colonial Downs has not held a live race since then.

But earlier this year, the Virginia legislature passed a bill allowing the new owners to operate historical horseracing machines, devices similar to slot machines that use the results of previously run races to determine payouts to winners. Under rules approved by the racing commission, Colonial’s owners will be able to operate a maximum of 3,000 machines at Colonial and as many as 10 off-track betting facilities, a lucrative license for a state whose neighbors that have limited gambling options.

The first machines are expected to be operational in mid-April, when the track’s owners debut 600 of them at Colonial Downs, located in sparsely populated New Kent County. But three other gambling parlors are expected to open throughout the year, according to Marshall, in three of the state’s most populous areas: Richmond, Hampton, and Chesapeake, each with 700 machines.

“We’re optimistic – I hope not too optimistic – about historical horseracing,” said Frank Petramalo, the executive director of the Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. “Those are big population centers, and we expect them to do very well.”

Up first is the partnership’s two license applications, one to operate the gambling devices and the other to operate the track and its OTBs. The Virginia Racing Commission is expected to take up both license applications at a meeting scheduled for Dec. 13, according to Dave Lermond, the executive director of the commission.

During Colonial’s dormancy, four off-track betting parlors continued to operate, owned by a consortium of horsemen’s groups that banded together under the name of the Virginia Equine Alliance. Those four locations are being surrendered to Colonial’s new owners next year, which is rebranding all of the off-site gambling parlors as Rosie’s, Marshall said.

Because of those off-track betting operations and revenue built up through account-wagering in the state over the past five years, horsemen have a rich pool of money to draw on for the track’s first meet, according to Petramalo. Virginia has one of the most generous laws on the books in regard to guaranteed revenue to horsemen from account-wagering, with all bets in the state requiring a 5 percent source-market fee. In 2018 alone, account-wagering revenues to horsemen are expected to total $3.5 million, Petramalo said.

“We have a good bit of flexibility for the first couple of meets,” Petramalo said.

The plans for 2019 would have Colonial race 15 dates over a stretch of five weeks from August to September, running on a Thursday-through-Saturday schedule. Both Marshall and Petramalo said that the track’s turf course, which received high grades throughout its history, would be the focus of the live racing cards. The track plans to run as many as 90 percent of the races on grass, a strategy that would seem to position the track well in an era when turf racing generates the biggest fields in U.S. racing.

The meet would be expanded in 2020 to 30 dates stretched over 10 weeks, but that’s when things may get a little tricky. Petramalo said the ideal dates for the meet would run from early September to late October, but officials also said that they need to reach out to their racing counterparts in Maryland to reach an agreement that avoids any toe-stepping.

“We’re going to have to come to some sort of arrangement in the Mid-Atlantic, to at the very least coordinate the types of races we are going to put on,” Petramalo said.