ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 18, 1996 TAG: 9602190069
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE
About 100 horse racing fans and curious onlookers turned out for the opening of Virginia's first off-track betting parlor Saturday, and by the first official post time, the place was packed.
``I think it's really wonderful to have a place like this here,'' Alice Phillips said before placing the first horse racing bets of her life.
Arnold Stansley, president of the company licensed to build Colonial Downs, heralded the occasion as a happy day that was a long time coming.
``Now we can create revenue, create a purse account and get the state their tax revenue,'' said Stansley, whose company still faces at least one legal battle before it can build the track.
A tract of land near Interstate 64 in New Kent County is the proposed site for the $46 million project. Work has been crippled by legal wrangling, which Stansley said he's grown weary of after two years.
``It's a frivolous appeal,'' Stansley said of an effort by Jim Wilson of Northern Virginia to have the license awarded to a group from that area.
The 15,000-square-foot parlor, which has undergone more that $1 million in renovations and improvements since its days as a supermarket, features two restaurants, a bar, 200 television sets and 38 betting terminals.
LENGTH: Short : 32 linesby CNB