***Company Also Announces Initiative to Provide 20,000 Free Meals to Virginia’s Community Heroes in the Fight Against the Coronavirus***

Rosie’s Kitchens Will Prepare 20,000 “Grab and Go” Meals for Public Safety, Health Care Professionals, and All Other Essential Personnel Required to Work During This Unprecedented Time

Details: www.rosiesgaming.com/rosiesgivesback 

Richmond, VA – March 25, 2020 – Colonial Downs Group, which operates Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums in Richmond, Hampton, New Kent County and Vinton, and the Colonial Downs Racetrack also in New Kent County, announced this morning that they will continue to pay all company employees through the end of April. This continues a policy first announced on March 15^th when the company initially closed its facilities in the Commonwealth. In addition the company will now transition its Rosie’s Kitchens and kitchen staff to providing 20,000 free “grab and go” meals for Virginia’s community heroes serving on the front lines of the state’s ongoing response to the coronavirus pandemic. Meals will be provided in each region in which the company has a facility, in consultation with local officials and businesses serving the public during this period.

Speaking about these announcements, Aaron Gomes, Chief Operating Officer for Colonial Downs Group, remarked, “Like all Virginians, we are trying to navigate through an incredibly stressful and difficult time. We want our employees to know we are taking every step possible to get them through this period, and that we value their service. That’s why we raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour last year at all of our facilities, and it’s why we are taking this action today. We hope this announcement provides the men and women who work at Rosie’s with some peace of mind in this challenging moment.”

Gomes continued, adding, “At the same time we know that so many of our friends, family and neighbors have to be out there every day on the front line of this fight against the coronavirus. With our facilities closed we have the capacity to help them, in our own small way, by using our kitchens to provide free meals to Virginia’s community heroes: the police officers, doctors, nurses, firefighters, grocery store employees and all those who are stepping up to serve their fellow Virginians. We will work with local leaders and businesses in the localities in which we operate to identify where we can be most helpful in this effort. We hope this partnership helps make a positive difference in the weeks ahead.”

Rosie’s will offer the meals effective April 1 and will starting taking orders for pick up on March 30.

Rosie’s employees will be paid in full for this one-month period. Employee paychecks, paid time off and benefits will not be affected. Rosie’s employees have been encouraged to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Colonial Downs Group has said any time spent away from work as a result of COVID-19 will not impact employees.

Rosie’s to Temporarily Close All Locations in Response to COVID-19

Gaming Emporiums to Reopen March 30

Richmond, VA – March 15, 2020 – Colonial Downs Group is announcing it will temporarily close its Rosie’s locations in Richmond, Hampton, New Kent & Vinton at the end of business today until Monday, March 30. The health and safety of our employees and customers is our top priority and we are taking this action out of an abundance of caution as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to elevate concerns across the nation and around the world. In taking this action, Colonial Downs Group is following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for social distancing as well as following directives made for the health and welfare of all Virginians by Governor Ralph Northam.

“While there are no known COVID-19 cases impacting anyone associated with any Rosie’s location, the safety of our team and our customers is our top priority,” said Aaron Gomes, Chief Operating Officer for Colonial Downs Group. “As we have continued to monitor the situation, our action complies with federal and state guidance and is the right thing to do as a preventative measure.”

Rosie’s employees will be paid in full for this two-week period. Employee paychecks, paid time off and benefits will not be affected. Rosie’s employees have been encouraged to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Colonial Downs Group has said any time spent away from work as a result of COVID-19 will not impact employees.

“We strongly value our employees and customers and the contributions they make in the communities where we operate. We will continue to encourage everyone to follow the guidelines established by the CDC and our state of Virginia to protect themselves, loved ones and families to reduce health risks,” said Gomes. “We look forward to seeing our guests and team members again when we reopen Rosie’s.”

A local man won the largest jackpot in Rosie’s history on a $25 spin at the Richmond Rosie’s on Thursday afternoon. Baron Rene Diaz-Reyez celebrated with his family, who joined him at Rosie’s after hearing about his good fortune. The previous record Rosie’s jackpot of $146,206.85 was won in New Kent County on May 28, 2019. Rosie’s has paid out over $50 million in jackpots since first opening 9 months ago.

Tickets Now on Sale for Meet Beginning July 23
General Admission Remains Free

Live racing returns to Colonial Downs in New Kent County in July and August with premium tickets going on sale today. General admission and parking are free. The best thoroughbred horses from around the country will run every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from July 23 through August 29. Premium tickets and full racing schedule are available at www.colonialdowns.com.

Colonial Downs’ second season since the return and revitalization of thoroughbred horse racing in Virginia offers a family friendly atmosphere for everyone: fine dining in the Jockey Club and Turf Club, private suites for larger parties, outdoor clubhouse boxes, reserved grandstand seating and a new hospitality tent trackside open to everyone.

Other race meet highlights include:

• Approximately $500,000 in daily purses and over $2.8 million in total stakes, including a robust Virginia bred and certified schedule during the 18 day meet will attract the best horses and jockeys from around the country to compete over the renowned Secretariat turf course, and second largest dirt track in North America.
• July 23-25 opening weekend kicks off with over $700,000 in VA bred and restricted stakes races.
• August 15 – MATCH Series, featuring $500,000 in stakes races.
• August 28-29 – closing weekend offering over $1.2 million in stakes races highlighted by the G-3 VA Derby on Saturday night with the VA Oaks, Rosie’s and Kitten’s Joy Stakes. (Last year’s Rosie’s Stakes winner, Four Wheel Drive, went on to capture the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.)

“We are looking forward to an expanded race meet this year offering one of the highest purse structures in the country”, said Jill Byrne, Vice President of Racing at Colonial Downs. “The 2019 season was a very successful return to live thoroughbred racing at Colonial Downs and incredible support from horsemen and women, and fans and patrons from around the country. I love seeing families and guests out on the track apron where they can get close up to the horses and jockeys and watch the action from rail side.”

John Marshall, Executive Vice President of Operations at Colonial Downs Group added, “With a variety of ticketing and dining options as well as free general admission, it makes for an entertaining night out for everyone. Our motto is to add life, and we are adding life to New Kent County and Virginia during racing season and all year round.”

Colonial Downs Racetrack and Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums Poised to Spur $445 Million in Combined Economic Activity Statewide This Year

A new economic study has found that the investment in Virginia by the Colonial Downs Group, consisting of the Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent County and Rosie’s gaming facilities statewide, will support thousands of new jobs and generate millions in additional tax revenue to the Commonwealth and host localities over the upcoming year. That’s in addition to the cumulative $445 million in combined economic activity the locations will produce statewide. The study, conducted by Dr. Terry Clower, Northern Virginia Chair and Professor of Public Policy at George Mason University, specifically projects that company operations in 2020 will:

• Be responsible for the creation of 4,232 direct, indirect and induced permanent jobs
• Generate $26.1 million in new tax revenue for the Commonwealth
• Produce $17.9 million in new tax revenue for host localities
• Create $445 million in combined economic activity statewide

Speaking about the study Aaron Gomes, Chief Operating Officer of the Colonial Downs Group, noted, “We are proud of our investment in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the good jobs, tax revenue and economic development that have resulted. This year our facilities will mean thousands of good jobs, $26.1 million in state tax revenue, $17.9 million in local tax revenue, and $445 million in overall economic activity in Virginia. That’s great news for our employees, our host localities and all of Virginia.”

Gomes continued, remarking, “In 2019 we focused on getting our facilities up and running and bringing live horse racing back to Virginia.  We were thrilled to end the year by announcing we were raising the minimum wage for our employees to $15 an hour. Now, I have no doubt that 2020 will be an even more exciting year as we not only continue to build on our existing success in New Kent County, Vinton, Richmond and Hampton, but also add an additional three racing days at Colonial Downs Racetrack. When we came to Virginia, our promise was everyone would win with Colonial Downs and Rosie’s. This study proves it, and we are still just getting started!”

A copy of the full report is available upon request.

NOTE: This study produced by Dr. Terry Clower does not reflect the views or opinions of George Mason University or its Board of Visitors.

On most days, Rosie’s Gaming Emporium is alive with people placing their bets and taking their chances on electronic horses racing across their screens. In the off-season, the barns outside the Colonial Downs’ track are empty.

However, on Jan. 18 the barn was filled with the sounds of power saws, drills and volunteers hard at work.

Teaming up with Henrico’s Sleeping in Heavenly Peace chapter, a national organization aimed at building beds for children in need, Colonial Downs volunteers were hard at work helping the cause.

Colonial Downs Vice President of Safety and Security and Henrico chapter founder Curtis Marshall spent 27 years working in law enforcement and said it is common to see kids in need of beds. Often, he saw kids sleeping on the floor, on outgrown crib mattresses or sharing a mattress.

“Anyone in law enforcement can tell you about the need for beds for kids in troubled areas,” Marshall said. “When I heard of about this program, I immediately knew it was a perfect way for me to give back to the community.”

Working like an assembly line, tables were lined up in the barn. As one person brought in the freshly cut boards, another got to work sanding them. From there, a volunteer drilled the holes and then they were assembled and stained.

Close to 40 volunteers worked with materials donated by Colonial Downs to build 10 beds that will go to kids in New Kent County, Marshall said.

Beginning in May, Marshall brought his friends and church family together in order to make his dream of starting a chapter a reality. Since then, he has organized five build days.

Marshall’s lifelong friend Caryn Fresco has been involved since day one. Delivering the beds personally to each family, Fresco has seen the happiness it brings to the children and their families.

“Once you see it impact a family, it becomes addicting,” Fresco said. “I’m lucky because I get to see the process beginning to end; with other organizations, you can’t say that.”

The organization does not stop at just building the beds but, it also provides a mattress, sheets and a comforter.

“We make up the beds up for them and we try to make it feel personalized and home for them,” Marshall said.

With a sander in hand, Colonial Downs General Manager Stephanie Wisneski was hard at work Saturday helping the other volunteers finish the project. She said Colonial Downs was excited to partner with Sleeping in Heavenly Peace to help the cause.

“We are happy to partner to help the mission to keep kids off the floor, and its a great organization to help,” Wisneski said.

Colonial Downs has donated enough material to build 10 additional beds at a later date.

Volunteers to Assemble Wooden Beds at New Kent Racetrack

Volunteers from Colonial Downs Group, Rosie’s Gaming Emporium and the Henrico County chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a national nonprofit organization, will be joining forces at Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent County this Saturday, January 18 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm to build beds for local children in need. Media is invited. The event will take place in the barn area behind the track located at 10700 Horsemen’s Road, New Kent, VA 23124. The beds will be given to children in the community identified as sleeping on couches or floors through social service or law enforcement agencies. Nationally, Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapters built just over 15,000 bunk beds last year, serving over 30,000 kids.

Colonial Downs Group Vice President of Safety and Security Curtis Marshall, who previously spent 27 years in law enforcement, is leading the project. “Anyone in law enforcement can tell you about the need for beds for kids in troubled areas. When I heard about this program, I immediately knew it was the perfect way for me to give back to the community. I am so proud that my colleagues at Colonial Downs and Rosie’s want to roll up their sleeves and join me this weekend as we build some beds,” said Marshall.

The bed build is part of the Rosie’s Gives Back program. Rosie’s and Colonial Downs group have made significant charitable contributions and helped numerous civic organizations during their first year of operations. Colonial Downs Group Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel Stephanie Gilliard administers the Rosie’s Gives Back program. “As a mother, I can’t imagine children not having a good place to rest their heads. This is an opportunity for us to not only give back to our community financially, but with our hearts and hands,” said Gilliard.

More information about the Rosie’s Gives Back program is located at https://rosiesgaming.com/rosies-gives-back/.

More information about Sleep in Heavenly Peace is located at https://www.shpbeds.org/.

Donations are accepted by check and can be mailed to:
SHP Henrico County, PO Box 18143
Richmond, VA 23226

Or click here to donate online: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/va-henricoco

A trio of horses who won stakes at Colonial Downs this summer will all be competing in stakes on the same card this Saturday, December 28 at Gulfstream Park.

Virginia Derby winner English Bee, Virginia Oaks winner Carnival Colors and Da Hoss victor Extravagant Kid will be vying in different stakes.

English Bee is part of a large 15 horse field in the $75,000 Tropical Park Derby for 3-year-old horses on turf at 1 1/16ths miles. The Graham Motion trainee won Virginia’s Derby August 31 by a head over Jais’s Solitude, who also is in this race seeking revenge. Since the Colonial triumph, English Bee captured the Parx Fall Derby by a neck October 8 and will be making his first start since. He is by English Channel out of Evil Kitten by Kitten’s Joy. In 2019 alone, he has four wins and earnings of $295,650.

Jais’s Solitude is a son of Afleet Alex and has bankrolled $98,991 this year. Since the Derby, he has finished sixth in the Bald Eagle Stakes at Laurel and eighth in the Qatar Twilight Derby (Gr. 2) at Santa Anita. The Tropical Park Derby is Race 9 on Gulfstream’s card and will go off at 4:00 PM.

Carnival Colors, with 2019 earnings of $119,059, will compete against sophomore fillies at the same 1 1/16ths miles distance on turf for a $75,000 purse. The Oaks is carded as Race 7 and will go to post at 3:00 PM.

Bred in Great Britain, the 3-year-old Distorted Humor filly will face a full field as she goes for her third win of the year. In her only start since the victory at New Kent, Carnival Colors was ninth in the Grade 3 Pin Oak Valley View Stakes. The Michael Stidham trainee is out of the Street Sense mare, Carnival Court.

Virginia owner and HBPA President David Ross’s classy Extravagant Kid will battle in the $100,000 Janus Stakes, a five furlong turf event. Carded as Race 4, it is scheduled for 1:30 PM.

The 6-year-old Kiss The Kid Florida-bred gelding is in the midst of his most successful racing campaign. He has a trio of wins and runner-up finishes in seven starts, good for $262,475 in earnings. Extravagant Kid has a career bankroll of $665,475 from 38 outings.

Since winning the Da Hoss, he took fifth in the Grade 2 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland and second in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes November 23 at Woodbine. The Brendan Walsh trainee has finished first or second in eight of his last 9 starts. Extravagant Kid is out of the With Distinction mare, Pretty Extravagant.