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2008 Minutes

VIRGINIA RACING COMMISSION

Minutes Of The Commission Meeting

September 17 , 2008
9:30 a.m.

HORSEMEN’S BUILDING
COLONIAL DOWNS
10700 HORSEMEN’S ROAD
NEW KENT, VA

In Attendance
Commission Members:
Peter C. Burnett, Chairman
William H. (Trip) Ferguson
I. Clinton Miller
David C. Reynolds

Commission Staff:
Victor I. Harrison, Executive Secretary
David S. Lermond, Jr., Deputy Executive Secretary
Kimberly M. Carter, Office Administrator
C. Richard Harden, DVM, Commission Veterinarian
Joseph M. Roney, Director of Operations & Enforcement
Dennis E. West, Director of Operations

Attorney General’s Office:
Amy K. Dilworth
________________________

At 9:30 a.m., Chairman Burnett called the regular monthly meeting of the Commission to order.

The minutes of the August 20, 2008 meeting were approved.

During Commissioners Comments, Chairman Burnett expressed his enthusiasm with the fact that he was planning to distribute the educational materials for Project Hoofbeats to fifty (50) schools in Loudoun County. Plans are being made to use Zoomerang, a web-based survey tool to measure results in the county. Iain Woolnough commented that hosting the New Kent County Fair was a success but not so financially. Frank Petramalo thanked Iain for his help with allowing the steeplechase races to be held alongside the Standardbreds and that, due to fairness issues – the lack of certain past performance info, not all of the steeplechase races had pari-mutuel betting.

Commissioner Reynolds, Chairman of the Marketing and Promotion Committee, introduced Julie McCracken of CRT/tanaka who provided an update on the marketing activities to date. He added that the dollar amount budgeted for marketing for the six-month period 7/1 though 12/31 will now be spread out over the 12-month period 7/1/08 through 6/30/09 due to budgetary and economic constraints. Ms. McCracken added that she is looking for help with Ambassadors to represent the Commission at some upcoming events in the Commonwealth.

Acting on the recommendation from Mr. Harrison, the Commission approved Colonial Downs’ October simulcast schedule including the additions of: Turf Paradise, Portland Meadows, Beulah Park, Churchill Downs, Aqueduct, Hollywood Park, and Delta Downs, Northville Downs, and Dover Downs.

Acting on the recommendation from Mr. Harrison, the Commission approved the Model Public Participation Guidelines.

Colonial Downs’ representatives, Counsel Jim Weinberg, President Ian Stewart and Iain Woolnough, General Manager of Colonial Downs, gave an update on the harness meet.

There was a discussion on the Racing Summit. Commissioner Reynolds asked what the objective would be for having a Racing Summit and suggested we have a mission statement for the event. Commissioner Burnett raised the issue of corporate sponsorship for the event. Commissioner Miller added that the corporate sponsorship should likely come from non-equine sponsors. Counselor Dilworth suggested, at a minimum, that the sponsor not be a licensee. It was stated that the specifics of the Summit will be further discussed during the Working Group which was scheduled to begin immediately following the Commission Meeting.

The next meeting was set for Wednesday, October 15, 2008.

There being no further business, the monthly meeting was adjourned at 10:07 p.m.
____________________________________________

Prior to the regular monthly meeting, an appeal In the Matter of Trainer W. Robert Bailes/Fine for Entering Ineligible horse was scheduled. Because no one was present for the appellant, a motion to dismiss because of failure to appear was unanimously approved.