THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 16, 1996 TAG: 9602160489
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
After a series of delays, the state's first horse-race betting parlor is slated to open here Saturday.
``We're ready to go,'' said Bill V. Crawford, director of satellite wagering facilities for Colonial Downs, the group that has been given licenses to open six parlors across the state to accompany a planned horse-race track in New Kent County. ``It's a definite,'' Crawford said.
The facility originally was scheduled to open in late January.
However, bad weather and troubles with city inspections delayed the completion of renovations to the old Earle's Supermarket building that houses the parlor on the corner of South Military Highway and George Washington Highway in the Deep Creek section of the city.
As of earlier this week, Colonial Downs representatives still had not secured from the city an occupancy permit or a health certificate for the building.
Crawford said Thursday he has received all permits.
The parlor will be open from 11 a.m. to midnight seven days a week and will have a cover charge of $1.
The facility, decorated like an upscale sports bar, will have a restaurant, lounge, deli and more than 200 television sets broadcasting live horse races from around the country. Patrons will be able to place bets at manned windows or on computers. by CNB