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

DATE: Sunday, October 16, 1994               TAG: 9410140220
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS      PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Editorial 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   40 lines

RACE TRACK WENT ELSEWHERE LET'S MOVE ON

So Portsmouth didn't get the horse racetrack.

Now we can concentrate on something else.

Most Portsmouth people who spoke with reporters from this newspaper on Thursday did not seem to feel a great loss, although many of them said they would have been excited if the Virginia Racing Commission had picked Portsmouth.

That, said one, is because of pride in the city's fine proposal that came from widespread cooperation within the community.

The attitudes of the public following the announcement that the track will go to New Kent County reflect the public understanding that the future of Portsmouth does not hinge on one project.

The people understand that the city must work deliberately on a plan to revitalize the city, piece by piece in a variety of ways.

The racetrack could have been a piece of the plan, but all is not lost without it.

In fact, the land marked for the track may be more productive in the long run if it is used for light industry and middle-income housing.

A quick fix in the form of a racetrack would have been nice, but it was not all the city needed. And the city's commitment of $15 million cash to the racetrack would have slowed other projects vital to future fiscal health.

Now that the racetrack decision has been made, the city can move along with plans that may have been put on hold by that financial commitment.

It's a new day in Portsmouth with everything to gain and nothing to lose.

KEYWORDS: HORSE RACING RACE TRACK

by CNB