Agency
April 2010 Minutes
Virginia Racing Commission
MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING
April 27, 2010
HORSEMEN’S BUILDING
COLONIAL DOWNS
10700 HORSEMEN’S ROAD
NEW KENT, VA
In Attendance
Commission Members:
Peter C. Burnett, Chairman
Mark Brown
David C. Reynolds
Stuart Siegel
Commission Staff:
Victor I. Harrison, Executive Secretary
David S. Lermond, Jr., Deputy Executive Secretary
Kimberly M. Carter, Office Administrator
Charles Harden, Equine Medical Director
Attorney General’s Office:
Amy K. Dilworth
__________________________
At 9:40 a.m., the monthly meeting of the Commission was called to order by Chairman Burnett.
Commissioner Siegel moved to approve the minutes of March 17, 2010, seconded by Commissioner Brown. The motion carried; four for, none opposed.
Chairman Burnett led a discussion on the Code Revision and Rules Committee recommendations to the proposed changes to Chapters 60, 110, 140, and 180. Commissioner Brown moved to accept the recommendations of the Rules Committee including amendments, seconded by Commissioner Siegel. The motion carried; four for, none opposed.
Executive Secretary Harrison gave a brief overview of the ARCI Annual Conference. There were two primary topics. The first was the use of medications in North America versus the zero-tolerance, hay, oats, and water racing elsewhere. The other was a proposed broader national racing compact (NRC) that would expand the compact’s focus beyond licensing.
Acting on the recommendation of Mr. Harrison, the Commission approved the list of racing officials for Colonial Downs for the 2010 Thoroughbred race meet.
Acting on the recommendation of Mr. Harrison, the Commission approved the 2010 Wagering Format for Colonial Downs for the 2010 Thoroughbred race meet. The wagering menu includes an all-stakes Pick-5 on VA Derby Day and $.50 trifecta’s, Pick 3’s and 4’s.
Acting on a recommendation of Mr. Harrison, a motion was passed to approve all but 2 of the guest sites submitted by Colonial Downs and that the Executive Secretary, at his discretion, may approve the additional guest sites upon satisfaction of the VRC’s due diligence.
Acting on the recommendation of Mr. Harrison, the Commission approved the Stewards/Judges for the 2010 Thoroughbred Meet. Jean Chalk will be the Chief Steward and will be joined in the stand by Philip Grove and Adam Campola. All are former riders with prior stewarding experience. Dave Lermond will be the first alternate.
Mr. Harrison commented that the Final Order for the 2010 thoroughbred racing days was completed but, with respect to the 2010 standardbred meet, Colonial Downs and the VHHA, while they agree on the 28 days, are still not in agreement on the starting date, ending date and the days of the week.
There was a brief discussion of the Magna reorganization plan. XpressBet’s Gregg Scoggins stated that the DE judge had approved the plan the day before.
The harness and thoroughbred representatives are not yet in agreement on how to divide up the Benevolence Fund among the two breeds. Chairman Burnett, after asking if the basic needs of the thoroughbred backstretch workers would be satisfied prior to the start of the meet, suggested that the approval of the Benevolence Fund be moved to the May meeting.
Commissioner Brown moved to approve the VTA Management Contract. This was seconded by Commissioner Siegel and carried unanimously.
There being no further business, Tuesday, May 25th was set as the date of the next meeting to be held at the Horsemen’s Building, Colonial Downs, 10700 Horsemen’s Road, New Kent, VA. It was moved, seconded, and carried to adjourn the April, 2010 monthly meeting of the Commission.
Following the regular monthly meeting, an Informal Fact Finding Conference was held on the subject of the proposed Finn McCool’s Satellite Wagering Facility. Following the discussion, Commissioner Reynolds made the motion to approve. Seconded by Commissioner Brown. The motion carried three for, none opposed.