by Nick Hahn
Mediation sounds like a relaxed, conciliatory process that leads toward the resolution of differences. It just doesn’t sound like that’s what happened this morning in a meeting held at the Patrick Henry Building in Richmond.
In the ongoing dispute over the number and format of racing days at this summer’s meet at Colonial Downs, it appears both sides took a step farther apart.
“It proved not to be successful at all,” Bernie Hettel, executive secretary of the Virginia Racing Commission, said of the mediation process. “There’s a huge difference between the two sides.”
It appears that Colonial Downs came into the meeting with a proposal to offer 6 days of racing with $500,000 in average daily purses, which surprised representatives of the Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA), negotiating on behalf of horsemen. That offer represented a backtrack from Colonial’s original proposal of a 12-day meet, and a step away from the eight-week, 32-day meet with average daily purses in the $200,000 range.
At its December meeting, the Commission — faced with the two widely varying proposals — had approved a five-week, 25-day meet identical to that run in 2013. In subsequent negotiations, a seven-week meet proposal has also been discussed.
Both sides had provided briefing materials at a pre-mediation conference last week. Today, after about an hour of sometimes heated discussion, the two sides broke into separate rooms as mediator Dennis Dohnal, a retired federal magistrate judge, attempted to work between the groups “to encourage new thought and compromise,” according to Hettel. When that failed, Dohnal ended the session.
After the meeting, Colonial Downs’ President and CFO Ian Stewart didn’t offer any comments, citing a non-disclosure agreement. Virginia HBPA executive director Frank Petramalo was not immediately available for comment, if he is allowed to provide any, on Wednesday afternoon.
Hettel , who has assembled the two sides in 14 different meetings either in-person or via teleconference, said he understands both sides of the dispute, as the track operator seeks to generate profit and the horsemen look for more opportunities to run in Virginia.
Anonymous sources suggest that Colonial Downs may ask Virginia’s Racing Commission to designate a group other than the HBPA — either a steeplechase association or a newly formed group — to represent horsemen in Virginia on future contractual matters.
Virginia horsemen have issued a call to arms to attend the upcoming Virginia Racing Commission meeting next Monday morning, March 17th to be held at the horsemen’s building located across from the grandstand at Colonial Downs.
Have either sides ever seriously considered the long term implications of this “pissing match”? If a meet is conducted, it will definitely not be successful. Is this what they want? Owners and trainers are making arrangements to race elsewhere. Customers and employees alike are soured. With the Belmont Derby Invitational scheduled for July 5, the VA Derby is sunk.
It seems to me neither side minds or cares if horse racing in Virginia ends. It’s almost as if they are pushing to kill it.
Fans, employees and customers feel totally disrespected by this dispute. Colonial Downs would be best served by a change in ownership. Colonial Downs does no promoting and they cannot do any more fine tuning or cutting to what they call a bottom-line. New Kent is a gorgeous track, particularly for turf racing. It would be nice to see someone promote the grandeur of it all. OTBs are mere shells of what they used to be. Their current concept of quality racing is EZ Horse Play because it involves no overhead on their part other than placing betting kiosks in dingy little bars and restaurants. Please, someone, rescue horse racing in Virginia from this abyss!
Can’t blame either of you for being upset — it’s a bad situation and one in which the fans (and as we outlined earlier, the workers) are taking a big hit. Let’s hope for some kind of speedy resolution…
Is it OK that I can only race my horse twice a year in Virginia? What we have here is mostly a lack of leadership both in the Virginia legislature and in the Virginia Racing Commission. Look at the surrounding states: Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania…. these states support both the track owner and horsemen with gambling revenue. Why hasn’t there been a bill introduced in the Virginia legislature to remedy this situation. I don’t know who’s responsibility it is to promote racing in Virginia, but whoever it is, they don’t have a clue. If it is important to have horse racing in Virginia, we need help. Sorry, no leadership here!
It is great to see more and more horse racing enthusiasts express anger and concern over this ongoing dispute. But you know what happens. People like myself end up travelling to other tracks to enjoy the sport we love so dearly. Yesterday, the wife and I travelled to Laurel Park to wager on live and simulcast racing. Two weeks prior, we went to Charlestown. We had a great time at both venues. Hey, if Colonial doesn’t want our money, we will gladly spend it and enjoy ourselves elsewhere. Apparently, money lost in Virginia does not concern them! Very sad indeed! Horse racing fans in Virginia deserve much better.
Do Virginia horsemen know who funds their sport? I am usually on their side in these arguements but not in this case. The horsemen could have kept the OTB’s open and let an independent accounting firm appointed by the state keep track of the funds until an agreement was reached. Instead you flipped the bird at the people who make your sport work! I enjoy playing at the OTB, I am not interested in sitting at home playing horses alone. The way the employees of the OTB’s have been treated is disgusting! On this end of the state jobs are few and far between. These people being out of work is not the fault of Colonial Downs. HBC
Colonial Downs as license holder should collaborate to higher degree as live racing was thrust of initial acquisition of sole horse track operations back in 90s. Legislature should work to help and collaborate and benefit both CD and HBPA as Va. Needs every agricultural industry to flourish! Be responsible and realize that every horse participating in a live meet creates jobs on many plateaus. Grooms,veterinarians,farm machinery sales,repairmen,painters,accountants,drivers,ag product vendors, advertising,media, and on and on and on. TAX BASE coming in lawmakers! Wake up! Be creative, get media programming for TV free I return for airing the activities at the meet. Let political candidates hold rallies at track! Sell advertising by painting turf with special effect imagery on TV feed. Wake up, you all have bloody noses and nothing to show for it!