And they're off! Horse racing returns to Colonial Downs after 6-year drought

NEW KENT COUNTY

Three reasons to care — one way or the other — about the rebirth of Colonial Downs, which officially happened Thursday when the first bugle call in nearly six years summoned long-legged thoroughbreds to the starting gate:

• Taxes and jobs: Current projections have the state’s premier horse track providing $42 million to the state and localities annually, plus 800 jobs.
• Gambling: Colonial Downs, where Virginia long ago cracked the door on wagering, is now ground zero for an army of slot-like machines, greasing the wheels for gaming advocates who want full-throttle casinos in the commonwealth.
• Horse racing: Gaming revenue helps fatten purses, attracting a higher caliber of competitors along with more fans. That pumps up the slice of proceeds going to support the state’s ailing horse-breeding industry, which gave the world Secretariat, the greatest thoroughbred in history.

Not familiar? Just look him up. Born and raised near Fredericksburg, Secretariat not only won the Triple Crown in 1973, but set records in all three of its races — records that still stand. His blazing run in the Belmont is considered one of the most iconic moments in sports. Watch the old video. It's impossible not to be moved.

But while his speed remains the stuff of legends, Secretariat's universe has greatly changed. The popularity of horse racing peaked decades ago, with tracks across the country closing on the downslope.

Colonial Downs, opened in 1997 amid much angst over the state's first foray into legalized gambling, has been pretty much shuttered since 2014, a washout in full view of I-64, halfway between Williamsburg and Richmond.

The scene there Thursday told the tale of a path many tracks have taken to survive.

Outside in the heat and daylight: prancing horses and cheering fans.

Inside in the cool and dark: people hunkered down in a casino atmosphere, entranced by whirling reels, flashing lights and tinkling tunes.

In Virginia, the combo came together courtesy of legislation passed last year. While casinos remain illegal, lawmakers gave Colonial Downs exclusive permission to offer a certain type of slot machine known as Historic Horse Racing, or HHR. That led to a new owner, Chicago-based Revolutionary Racing, which bought the track and sank $300 million into renovations.

Barry Knight, a delegate representing Virginia Beach, supported the HHR bill.

"We did it because the track is an economic engine," Knight said, "and to try to save horse racing in Virginia, which is a component of agriculture, the biggest industry in the state."

Knight, however, said he does feel a bit misled now. He figures casinos are inevitable in the commonwealth — most other states allow some form — but until then, such gambling is banned, particularly "games of chance."

HHR was marketed to legislators as an easier-to-accept "game of skill." The reels are controlled by an algorithm based on a database of results from thousands of anonymous races, but players can access a side-screen on machines to move animated horses into positions — predictions that can improve odds.

Few bother. Most players simply put in money, push a button, watch reels spin and hope for luck, just like with regular slot machines.

"From what I'm hearing now," Knight said, "there's not as much skill involved as we were told when we passed the legislation. But it was kind of a trade-off. I just hope it was worth it. I personally told Colonial Downs that if I was them, I'd try to make as much money as possible before the casinos start giving them competition."

Toward that end, HRR, operating under the marquee of Rosie's Gaming Emporium, kicked off months before live racing resumed. Machines opened for business at the track in mid-April and expanded to parlors near Roanoke and in Richmond. A Rosie's is under construction in Hampton. A site is being scouted in Chesapeake.

By the end of July, players had fed $317 million into the machines.

HHR wagering figures weren't available for the day live racing returned to Colonial Downs, but there's little doubt the machines helped boost attendance. An estimated 3,500 people showed up — impressive for a Thursday at a track chronically described as located in the middle of nowhere, and had trouble filling seats when the only entertainment was horses.

"It's been a long time since I've seen the parking lot this full," said Ron Stiers, a New Kent County supervisor.

Denise Walker, a nurse from Gloucester, and her mother, Jody Sadler from Tennessee, were the perfect pairing.

"My mom loves the machines," Walker said, "and I love the horses."

Her mother smiled. "I am lucky at the machines," she said.

Walker said a minimum bet on a horse is the "fun-est $2 you'll ever spend. You might only win $2.10, but you'll be hooting and hollering."

Debbie Easter, president of the Virginia Equine Alliance, was wearing a big grin herself. Easter has become a voice for the state's breeders and trainers, who've struggled through the track's ups and downs.

"I've been worrying about all this for so long," she said, "I'm not sure what to do with myself now."

Also ticked off her wish-list Thursday: Win one of the races.

Easter's hopes were riding on a dark, Virginia-bred named Speed App. To buy and train him, she cobbled together 20 investors, who put in a few thousand bucks each.

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When Speed App thundered across the finish line first, the whole gang flooded the winners circle.

"Can you believe this?" Easter exclaimed between hugs and handshakes.

Horse racing — like gambling — has plenty of critics. Animal rights activists have called for an end to the sport, especially after a recent spike in injuries led to the deaths of more than two dozen horses at California's Santa Anita track.

In response, the industry has pledged to improve its standards.

This year's racing season at Colonial Downs will only last 15 days, stretched across five weeks. Next year, Easter said, they're hoping for 30 days if enough purse money is available.

In the meantime, the HHR machines will keep cranking. Rosie's parlors are open at least 18 hours a day, 365 days a year.

​Joanne Kimberlin, 757-446-2338, joanne.kimberlin@pilotonline.com