THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 25, 1997 TAG: 9701250343
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: 28 lines
A legislative subcommittee has decided that Colonial Downs needs more time to build and will recommend that the full Senate General Laws subcommittee reject a bill forcing the track to open by July 1.
The General Assembly last year imposed the July 1 deadline on the track, now under construction in New Kent County. One of the stipulations of the deadline was that off-track betting parlors operating in Chesapeake and Richmond would have to close if the track didn't meet the deadline for opening. The betting parlors are considered crucial to the track's success.
Track officials say poor weather has cost builders about 25 days.
A bill before the General Assembly would give the track until Sept. 1 to start racing, a 60-day extension.
Sen. Charles R. Hawkins, R-Pittsylvania and chairman of the subcommittee, said members were convinced the track has made an effort to meet the deadline.
``But I will tell everyone that if in fact the track is not completed within the time frame allotted, I will be the first one on the bandwagon to make sure that they come to a screeching halt - period,'' he said.
The General Laws committee will meet next week.
KEYWORDS: BETTING PARLORS RACETRACK GENERAL ASSEMBLY