THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 11, 1996 TAG: 9610110531
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Briefs
LENGTH: 64 lines
NEW KENT - Colonial Downs and a group representing Virginia's thoroughbred horsemen have signed a $4.5 million purse account contract to govern the first two years of racing in New Kent County.
Approval of the contract between Colonial Downs and the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association was delayed for about a month by a lawsuit filed by two northern Virginia horsemen.
A judge on Oct. 2 denied the request from horsemen James Casey and Hazel Marsh for a temporary injunction to block the contract, rejecting their argument that it would hurt them financially.
Prior to the legal action, the board of the association had agreed to sign the contract. The deal calls for ``no less than 30 days'' of live thoroughbred racing during the track's first two seasons.
``This contract is a win-win for both parties,'' Jeffrey Jacobs, principal owner of Colonial Downs, said Thursday. ``It creates a true economic partnership between horsemen and Colonial Downs.''
Colonial Downs has requested a 40-day season beginning next June 15. That request likely will come before the Virginia Racing Commission next week. U.Va.: Med students need AIDS coverage
Medical students should be covered by workers' compensation because they could contract AIDS and hepatitis through needle sticks, University of Virginia researchers said Thursday.
Their concern about the financial security of medical students follows increased awareness of dangers hospital workers face from accidental needle sticks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 51 cases of job-related transmissions of HIV in health care workers through June 1996.
Driver actions suspicious
MADISON - Two women motorists have told police that another driver tried to flag them down in circumstances similar to those in which Alicia Reynolds was slain this year.
The two reports were turned over to state police, who are investigating Reynolds' slaying.
In one incident last week, a woman driving along a county road just off U.S. 29 reported that the driver tried to flag her down just before daylight. The second woman was approached by a vehicle with flashing headlights.
After Reynolds' disappearance was publicized, more than 20 women told police a man in a dark-colored pickup truck had flagged them down along U.S. 29, offering to help them with car trouble.
Also . . . SALUDA - A judge set an Oct. 23 execution date for Chris Thomas, convicted in the 1990 slayings of his girlfriend's parents when he was 17. Attorneys are expected to ask for a stay so he can continue his appeals.
STAUNTON - The preliminary hearing for former soap opera actress Catherine Ann Christianson, who was accused of hiring a man to kill her husband, was postponed when the state's chief witness did not appear. He showed up about two hours late because he was confused about the time of the hearing. MEMO: From Associated Press reports by CNB