Manassas Park Voters Successfully Place Pari-mutuel Referendum on November Ballot

Effort to Bring a Rosie’s Gaming Emporium Owned by Churchill Downs, Builds Momentum in the City

*** If Pari-mutuel Referendum Approved by Voters this Fall, Entertainment Facility Will Generate Long Needed New Tax Revenue
and Create Well-Paying Jobs in Manassas Park ***

Manassas Park – August 14, 2023 –Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) announced today a formal court order has been issued placing a pari-mutuel referendum on the Manassas Park ballot on November 7. The order follows a successful petition drive to gain signatures of at least 5% of the registered voters in the city asking that the matter be placed on this fall’s ballot.

Speaking about the strong local support for the petition effort and the upcoming election, CDI Chief Executive Officer Bill Carstanjen stated, “Churchill Downs is excited to have this opportunity to bring our iconic brand and this new entertainment opportunity to Manassas Park. Rosie’s is all about fun with a stage for live band performances, a terrific menu, an opportunity to watch a game or the horses run anywhere in the country, and yes – pari-mutuel gaming. We are already seeing tremendous enthusiasm and support for what we are proposing in Manassas Park. We plan to deliver entertainment, millions of dollars in new tax revenue to the city, and well-paying jobs. We can’t wait to share all the great news about Rosie’s and Churchill Downs with the voters of Manassas Park in the weeks ahead.”

Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums have found tremendous success already in Dumfries, Richmond, Hampton, Vinton, and New Kent County. As partners in those communities, Rosie’s generates economic development, employs local team members, and gives back to local causes and programs.

Manassas Park Councilman Michael Carrera, who served as the petitioner for the signature effort, stated, “I am excited that Churchill Downs has selected the City of Manassas Park for expansion if this measure passes. The immediate major benefit will be increased tax revenues that we have long needed that will assist with additional city services and that will provide the opportunity for much needed property tax reduction for our residents. But the full opportunity is so much greater than that. This is an opportunity for Manassas Park to be associated with Churchill Downs – the biggest name in horse racing and one of the foremost names in entertainment in the country. Rosie’s will be a world class entertainment destination and will help our local businesses grow with greater visibility and new customers. I urge all my fellow residents to vote yes for pari-mutuel gaming. It’s truly a vote for a better and stronger Manassas Park!”

Carrera recently joined fellow Manassas Park council members Laura Hampton, Darryl Moore, and Yesenia Amaya in penning a commentary piece in the Prince William Times supporting the upcoming campaign and noting, “We need new revenue-generating businesses to grow our economy and reduce taxes. Especially businesses bringing revenue from outside Manassas Park into our community. The proposed Rosie’s Gaming Emporium will do just that. If approved by voters, Rosie’s Gaming Emporium will generate millions in new tax revenue to help ease pressure on taxpayers and create new well-paying jobs in Manassas Park. This is exactly the kind of opportunity we need.”
https://www.princewilliamtimes.com/opinion/letter-manassas-park-needs-a-lower-tax-rate-a-rosie-s-gaming-facility-can-help/article_105365c4-3241-11ee-a480-d7005d948f2f.html

To learn more about the pari-mutuel referendum, Rosie’s and Churchill Downs please visit: www.manassasparkwins.com