Agency
July 20, 2010 Minutes
Virginia Racing Commission
MINUTES
OF THE
COMMISSION MEETING
July 20, 2010
HORSEMEN’S BUILDING
COLONIAL DOWNS
10700 HORSEMEN’S ROAD
NEW KENT, VA
In Attendance
Commission Members:
Peter C. Burnett, Chairman
Clinton Miller, Vice Chairman
Mark Brown
Commission Staff:
Victor I. Harrison, Executive Secretary
David S. Lermond, Jr., Deputy Executive Secretary
Kimberly M. Carter, Office Administrator
C. Richard Harden, DVM, Equine Medical Director
Joseph Roney, Director of Security & Enforcement
Peggy E. Mason, Permitting Manager
Jean Chalk, Thoroughbred Steward
Philip Grove, Commission Steward
Adam Campola, Commission Steward
Attorney General’s Office:
Amy K. Dilworth
__________________________
At 9:43 a.m., the monthly meeting of the Commission was called to order by Chairman Burnett.
Vice-Chairman Miller moved to approve the minutes of the May 25, 2010 VRC meeting - seconded by Commissioner Brown. The motion carried; three for, none opposed.
Commissioner Brown moved to accept the recommendation of the Standardbred Breeders Fund Subcommittee to allocate $150,000 towards the purses of the VA Bred Stakes races to be held at Colonial Downs in early November and approximately $15,000 for the 2010 Breeders’ Awards, leaving a reserve of approximately $50,000. The motion was seconded by Chairman Burnett and carried unanimously.
Acting on the recommendation of Mr. Harrison, the Commission unanimously approved the revised list of racing officials for Colonial Downs for the 2010 Thoroughbred race meet – motion by Commission Brown, second by Vice-chair Miller.
Acting on the recommendation of Mr. Harrison and after a motion by Commissioner Brown, the Commission approved the list of racing officials for Colonial Downs for the 2010 Standardbred race meet. The motion was seconded by Vice-Chairman Miller and passed unanimously.
There ensued a discussion of the Final Order of the 2010 Standardbred race dates. The 28-day meet will begin on Friday, September 17th and end Saturday, November 6th.
Colonial Downs President, Ian Stewart, gave an update of the initial 38 days of the 2010 Thoroughbred race meet which included a 12% drop in live attendance but also an overall increase in handle from 2009 levels due in part to the TrackNet Media boycott that was in place during the 2009 thoroughbred race meet.
Chairman Burnett then read the following motion, “Pursuant to Virginia Code section 2.2-3711(A)(1), I move that the Commission convene a closed meeting for the purpose of the discussion and consideration of the performance of specific employees of the Commission.” This was seconded by Commissioner Brown. All were in favor, saying, “Aye”.
Returning from closed meeting, Chairman Burnett resumed as follows, “I hereby certify, pursuant to Virginia Code section 2.2-3712, that to the best of each member's knowledge, (i) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under this chapter, and (ii) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened, were heard, discussed or considered in the meeting by the Commission. All were in favor, saying, “Aye”.
There being no further business, Tuesday, August 24th 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 July, 2010 monthly meeting of the Commission.