THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, September 25, 1994             TAG: 9409230211
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS      PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Editorial 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   38 lines

TRACK DECISION AWAITED TOO MUCH ON HOLD

Whether or not, Portsmouth is chosen as the site of the state's only horse racing track, the city needs to get the decision behind it and get on with something else.

Unfortunately, the decision of the Virginia Racing Commission on the location of the track, originally scheduled for the coming week, has been delayed until the middle of October or later.

For a long time, many city employees have thought of little else. Even after the final presentation was made last spring, emphasis on the race track has continued.

Some people seem to feel that having the race track here would solve Portsmouth's ills. They have justified the cost of competing for the site designation as well as millions the city will spend if the track is built here.

A variety of entities in the city worked to make Portsmouth's presentation the best. That cooperation probably was the best thing to come out of the project, whether we get the track or not.

We need to move soon to harness that same energy and cooperation on other projects to make the city healthier, both physically and spiritually. Over the past two years, too much has been left on hold while the city pursued the track. It's time to move on.

KEYWORDS: HORSE RACING HORSE RACE TRACK

VIRGINIA RACING COMMISSION

by CNB