January 2009 Minutes

VIRGINIA RACING COMMISSION

Minutes Of The Commission Meeting

January 16, 2008

HORSEMEN’S BUILDING
COLONIAL DOWNS
10700 HORSEMEN’S ROAD
NEW KENT, VA

In Attendance
Commission Members:
Peter C. Burnett, Chairman
Mark Brown, Vice Chairman
William H. (Trip) Ferguson
I. Clinton Miller
David C. Reynolds

Commission Staff:
Stanley K. Bowker, Executive Secretary
Kimberly M. Carter, Office Administrator
David Lermond, Jr., Director of Pari-mutuels
Joseph M. Roney, Director of Operations & Enforcement
Marvin A. Sniegon, Director of Financial Management & Planning
Dennis E. West, Director of Operations

Attorney General’s Office:
Amy K. Dilworth

________________________

At 9:34 a.m., Chairman Burnett called the regular monthly meeting of the Commission to order.

Commissioner Burnett said the floor was open for nominations for Commission Chairman for 2008. Commissioner Brown nominated Commissioner Burnett. There being no further nominations, Commissioner Burnett was unanimously re-elected Chairman.

Commissioner Burnett assumed the chair and asked for nominations for Vice Chairman. Commissioner Brown was nominated for Vice Chairman and was unanimously elected.

The minutes of the December 19, 2007 meeting were approved.

Chairman Burnett reported on several national issues and asked Mr. Bowker for an update on progress in the Mid-Atlantic region on the regulation of anabolic steroids.

Mr. Bowker reported that all states in the Mid-Atlantic region were moving forward and that Pennsylvania would be the first with an April 1 implementation date.

Commissioner Reynolds, Chairman of the Marketing and Promotion Committee introduced Amy Kaloski of CRT/tanaka who explained that the Virginia Equine Ambassadors would be participating in an Equine Day at the General Assembly on Thursday, January 24.

Acting on the recommendation from Mr. Bowker, the Commission approved Colonial Downs’ February simulcasting schedule.

Mr. Bowker also reported that for the first time pari-mutuel handle in Virginia had exceeded 200 million dollars in 2007. He added there are some concerns however because handle at the satellite wagering facilities was down considerably since September.

Mr. Bowker also discussed the past posting issues that had surfaced at several tracks in the past two months. He said the Commission has reviewed its regulations and procedures and believes that there are sufficient safe guards in place. However they all rely on humans doing their jobs so it is not 100% fool proof.

Mr. Bowker concluded with a discussion on H2B visas and reminded the horsemen that they needed to be working now to make certain that all immigrants have the required documentation before racing resumes in June.

Representatives of Colonial Downs and the VaHBPA reported that they were near agreement on a one-year contract for 2008. The Commission approved an extension to the previous contract until February 20, 2008 and asked that the revised contract be in the hands of the Commission in time for review before the next meeting.

Colonial Downs reported that it would open the 2008 Thoroughbred meeting on Monday, June 9 and closing day would be Wednesday, August 6.

Chairman Burnett asked all stakeholders to submit their nominations to the staff for people to serve on the special Task Force that is being formed to review ideas for the future of racing in Virginia.

Several bills affecting racing in Virginia have been introduced in the General Assembly. In addition, Glenn Petty, Executive Director of the Virginia Thoroughbred Association, reported that Sen. Kenneth Stolle is proposing a budget amendment that would eliminate the $815,000 Commission budget surplus that goes to the General Fund and retain it for the Commission to use in support of the racing industry.

The next meeting of the Commission was scheduled for February 20, 2008. It will be held in the Horsemen’s Building at Colonial Downs and will be followed by a working session of the Commission.

There being no further business, the monthly meeting was adjourned.