THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 20, 1994 TAG: 9407200433
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: NEWPORT NEWS DAILY PRESS
DATELINE: NEW KENT, VA. LENGTH: Short : 28 lines
New Kent County voters endorsed their county's five-year campaign for a pari-mutuel horse track Tuesday by almost 3-1.
Voters renewed their support 1,468 to 560, according to unofficial results from Registrar Gwen Ellyson. There was a 33 percent voter turnout, she said.
``This says New Kent wants a race track and wants it desperately,'' said Pete Johns, the Chesapeake Corp. consultant who has worked for five years to lure a developer to New Kent.
After Virginia voters approved horse racing in 1988, New Kent voters endorsed racing locally by a 2-1 margin in July 1989. New Kent voters were the first in the state to approve pari-mutuel wagering, and by law they had to renew their support. They renewed their support on the eve of the state's decision on where to locate a track. The Virginia Racing Commission expects to choose one of five sites by September. by CNB