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

DATE: Sunday, October 9, 1994                TAG: 9410080402
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: SPECIAL REPORT
HORSE RACING IN VIRGINIA
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   56 lines

HEADING FOR THE FINISH LINE FIVE GROUPS, FOUR SITES, ONE RACE TRACK. IT'S THAT SIMPLE AS THE VIRGINIA RACING COMMISSION VOTES THIS WEEK TO AWARD THE STATE'S LONG HORSE RACING FACILITY. HEREWITH IS A LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES...

ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

Photos

MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/Staff

PORTSMOUTH

A name for a Portsmouth track has not been determined, but it

would be located in the Fairwood Homes neighborhood, a housing

complex built during World War II and formerly known as Academy

Park.

VIRGINIA BEACH

Princess Anne Downs, proposed for a 245-acre site off Dam Neck

and London Bridge roads, would be operated by Churchill Downs Inc.,

owner of the home of the Kentucky Derby.

NORM SHAFER/Photo

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY

Dominion Downs, operated by the The Virginia Jockey Club Inc.,

would be located south of Interstate 66, less than a mile from

Disney's abandoned site for a history-based theme park.

MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/Staff

NEW KENT COUNTY

Two competing groups are bidding for a track - Virginia Downs or

Colonial Downs - on the same 345-acre site to be donated by the

Chesapeake Corp. and located at the intersection of Interstate 64

and State Route 155.

NEW KENT COUNTY

New Kent County and the state would pick up the $1 million tab

for widening the road which would connect the track to Interstate

64.

[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]

KEYWORDS: HORSE RACING RACE TRACKS by CNB