Virginia horsemen's groups to get share of offtrack, online bets

Control of up to $15 million in bets made offtrack and online is now under the control of three horsemen’s groups following a Virginia Racing Commission meeting held Wednesday.

The Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and Virginia Harness Horse Association were recognized as the state’s official horsemen’s groups for Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, respectively. This entitles the groups to up to 5 percent of offtrack and online bets if offtrack-betting facilities open under new legislation.

The commission recognized the Virginia Equine Alliance as a nonprofit industry group, allowing it to collect 8 to 10 percent of offtrack bets and 4 percent of online bets. That money used to go to Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., before owner Jeff Jacobs surrendered the track’s racing license during a dispute with horsemen over dates.

Colonial Downs, which closed last October, laid off its 32 remaining employees and closed all of its offtrack-betting operations this year.