The following appeared in The Paulick Report January 9th.
The Colonial Downs Group today announced that it will donate $500,000 over the first five years of its active operations in the city of Richmond to Miles Jones Elementary School. The school is located near the soon to open Rosie’s Gaming Emporium on Midlothian Turnpike. As a symbol of this new relationship, representatives of the Colonial Downs Group presented school leaders with a $20,000 contribution at a ceremony at the school today attended by Colonial Downs Group representatives, 9th District City Councilman Michael Jones, school administrators, teachers and students, and miniature horses that participated in the first ever “horse race” held at a Richmond elementary school.
Racegoers file into Colonial Downs in 2013, the last year thoroughbred racing was conducted.
John Marshall, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Colonial Downs Group, remarked, “We believe strongly in being a full and positive partner in the communities in which we operate. This relationship will help ensure the students of Miles Jones Elementary gain access to even more innovative and dynamic learning opportunities in the years ahead. We are honored to begin this partnership with Principal Sonya Shaw, her wonderful staff and teachers, and the entire Jaguars student body.”
Speaking about the contribution, and the partnership between Colonial Downs and Miles Jones Elementary, City Councilman Michael Jones noted, “You’ve heard it said that the children are our future, but this partnership shows that the children are our present. As city councilman of the ninth district I am committed to finding resources and opportunities for the children that I represent. I’m excited about this partnership with Miles Jones Elementary school and the possibilities in learning that lie ahead.”
Colonial Downs’ bright future features the return of live Thoroughbred racing and full card simulcasting with the excitement of innovative historic horse racing (HHR) gaming technology. In collaboration with the Virginia Racing Commission (VRC) and Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA), Colonial Downs is set to bring competitive horse racing back to New Kent County and the Commonwealth with the re-opening of the best turf track in the country and a future network of satellite HHR facilities branded as “Rosie’s”.
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.