Virginia OKs Parlors in Four of Five Communities

Referendums on off-track betting passed in four of five Virginia communities Nov. 2. Should the facilities all be licensed, Colonial Downs would have 10 OTB parlors, the maximum allowed by law.

Voters approved ballot measures in Scott County (near Bristol), Greene County (near Charlottesville), Henry County (near Martinsville), and Westmoreland County (Northern Neck), all of which are located in the southern part of the state. A measure in Manassas Park in northern Virginia was defeated.

Colonial Downs currently operates six OTB parlors. The newest one, in Vinton near Roanoke, was approved by voters in 2003 and opened in September.

The last year Colonial Downs sought voter approval for multiple parlors was 1997, when three ballots measures were soundly defeated.

Had all five measures been approved this year, Colonial Downs planned to invest $10 million to generate $200 million in handle per year.

Chris Bridge, campaign director for Colonial Downs, said the results were reflective of the initial polling performed and that the approvals were a "tremendous demonstration" of the partnership between Colonial Downs, the Virginia Thoroughbred Association, and the Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.