Colonial Downs breaks off negotiations, relationship with VHBPA; seeks to host thoroughbred racing with new horsemen’s group; VHBPA indicates willingness to oppose racetrack’s action

Colonial Downs is breaking off negotiations as well as its relationship with a Virginia horsemen’s group that has contracted with the New Kent County racetrack to conduct the annual thoroughbred racing meet at the facility.

In a press release issued early Tuesday afternoon, Colonial Downs’ owner Jeffrey Jacobs and president Ian Stewart announced the move, which will more than likely cancel this summer’s thoroughbred racing season. For now, track officials say they plan to host a shortened thoroughbred meet in September, perhaps involving another horsemen’s group.

Standardbred (harness) racing is not affected by the decision.

Colonial Downs officials also took a parting shot at the Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (VHBPA), the group that has contracted with the track, assigning blame solely to the horsemen’s group for the negotiation stalemate that has existed since the last contract expired in January.

VHBPA, however, is urging horsemen not to break ranks and side with Colonial Downs. The group plans to contest any action by track officials’ to remove them and bring in a rival association.

In the Colonial Downs’ press release, Stewart said the racetrack’s eventual goal is to establish nationally recognized, high quality thoroughbred racing at the facility.

“Colonial Downs is recognized as having one of the finest turf courses in North America,” he said. “We are now going to implement our vision of creating one of the highest caliber thoroughbred race meets in the country.”

Colonial Downs now plans to host a six-day Virginia Derby Festival every September with purses averaging over $500,000 a day. Sponsored by Jacobs Investments, the Grade II Virginia Derby will return to national broadcast television.

“These purses, combined with national exposure, will allow us to build a universally recognized brand where Colonial Downs becomes a much anticipated destination on the national calendar for quality thoroughbred racing,” said Stewart.

Colonial Downs expects to move from a race meet averaging purses of $200,000 a day over multiple summer weeks to an annual fall turf festival offering some of the largest daily thoroughbred purses in the country. Reinforcing Colonial Downs’ commitment to the Virginia thoroughbred industry, the annual racing schedule also will include additional days of thoroughbred racing earlier in the year written with conditions attractive to Virginia thoroughbred horsemen, according to the press release.

“Unfortunately, this bold paradigm change to high-quality thoroughbred racing in Virginia is not shared by the Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (VHBPA),” Stewart said.

Colonial Downs’ officials charge that over the past six months the VHBPA has rejected all proposals they have placed on the negotiating table. Track officials claim the VHBPA’s refusal to extend the thoroughbred horsemen’s agreement led to state law being enforced to shut down thoroughbred betting at Colonial Downs’ OTBs.

“The consequences of the VHBPA’s unilateral decision have caused significant harm to Virginia thoroughbred racing, including owners, breeders, Colonial Downs, its customers and employees,” Stewart said.

Jacobs, the track’s owner, also weighed in on the matter.

“Virginia’s pledge in its Racing Act is to ‘maintain horse racing of the highest quality.’ We are not achieving that goal,” he said in the press release.

Spreading racing out over eight to 10 weeks with daily purses that are no longer competitive has resulted in a steady decline in the quality of racing, significantly lower foal production in Virginia, and an unsustainable racing model for all stakeholders, Jacobs said.

“We want to be part of the success story of thoroughbred racing and find our niche in the national racing scene,” he said. “We recognize that creating a new direction in Virginia thoroughbred racing without a horsemen’s contract and without the ability to send and receive a racing signal is an uphill battle, but is a battle worth fighting. The end result will be long-term, high-quality racing of which all Virginians will be proud.”

Colonial Downs officials say they are in the process of identifying a group of horsemen who share their vision for thoroughbred racing in Virginia and who want to implement that vision by entering into a new horsemen’s agreement with the racetrack.

“In light of the damage done to Virginia racing by the VHBPA’s unilateral actions, Colonial Downs realizes that, unfortunately, there may be no thoroughbred racing in Virginia this year,” quoting the press release.

“There may be no thoroughbred racing in Virginia for several years,” Jacobs said. “Nevertheless, I bet you even money that when Colonial Downs brings thoroughbred racing back to Virginia, it will be the beginning of a new era of stability, growth, and pride. On the turf, the great thoroughbreds often come from behind to win. That is exactly what Colonial Downs will do.”

As of the posting time for this story, the VHBPA, which represents owners and trainers that race their horses at Colonial Downs, had not responded specifically to action taken Tuesday by racetrack officials. But apparently the group learned racetrack officials’ intentions at least a week ago.

In an April 1 letter posted on the VHBPA web site, the association accuses track officials of working “behind our back” to contract with a rival horsemen’s group. Colonial Downs’ goal, they say, is to “negotiate a sweetheart deal” that could reduce or even eliminate live thoroughbred racing.

The VHBPA is urging horsemen to reject any overtures from Colonial Downs and vows “not to give up live racing without a fight.”