FRIVOLOUS, THY NAME IS SUIT REGARDING ROSESHIRE

 

If ever there was a frivolous lawsuit, it would be Henrico 

County’s attempted takedown of Roseshire, the new 

gambling site at Staples Mill and Glenside.

Granted, Churchill Downs, the object of the county’s 

wrath as owner, has been nothing but arrogant by its 

willful disregard of any and all correspondence from 

Henrico. Lawyers orders, I’m sure.

Then again, the home of the Kentucky Derby was under 

no obligation either. Frankly, it (cliche alert) caught the 

county with its pants down by beating a deadline (barely) 

that would have permitted county residents to vote in a 

referendum … that quite likely would have passed 

anyway,

We were told by someone who should know that the last 

13 referendums held in Henrico “passed easily,” and there 

really was no reason to think this one wouldn’t sail 

through either.

So more than 200 angry citizens turned out to vent on the subject. So what! They were a distinct minority of the 

approximately 333,000 eligible to vote, and you had to 

believe most people liked the idea of having a chance to 

strike it rich in their backyard and/or, at the very least, 

gladly would accept tax revenue generated by the 

establishment’s 175 historical racing machines.

Nevertheless, the county refused to give in. DAN 

SCHMIDT, chairman of Henrico’s board of supervisors 

and point man for the failed attempt to get Churchill 

Downs “to do the right thing,” continued to take his case 

to the public.

Surely Schmidt knew he was facing almost impossible 

odds but he really had no other choice. He also represents 

the area where Roseshire sits, and some of his 

constituents had long-since voiced their displeasure over 

the potential existence of the evils of gambling.

So Schmidt, a sharp guy by any definition, did what any 

politician who wants to be re-elected would do, he 

emphasized the potential harm Roseshire could bring to 

the neighborhood while, conveniently, not giving both 

sides of the dispute. 

He knew Churchill only acted within the parameters set 

by the county 33 years ago. So he and state senator

 SCHUYLER VANVALKENBURG, who also presided 

at the contentious December, 2024 meeting of angry 

citizens, reminded everyone that while no laws had been 

broken, the owners were bound ethically to allow a 

referendun.

(By the way, VanValkenburg’s motive in the whole thing 

went way beyond the creation of Roseshire. He was far 

more big-picture than that. As he told us later, 

VanValkenburg is anti-gambling – period! -- and will 

keep trying to outlaw any form thereof in the 

commonwealth.

Know what? He has a point worthy of consideration. Like 

most if not all people who believe gambling shouldn’t be 

legal will tell you, it hurts the very people who can afford 

it the least … the middle class on down ... because, in the 

long run, the odds for success in the lottery or any other 

form of betting enterprise always favors the house. 

ALWAYS!!

Anyway, with Roseshire already built and ready for a 

September opening, the last chance Schmidt and friends 

had to derail it was at the last meeting of the Virginia 

Racing Commission when the commissioners voted 

unanimously, based on advice from their lawyers, to grant 

the gaming parlor a license.

Last week’s petition, filed in Richmond Circuit Court, 

argues commission approval was unlawful without a local 

referendum that, in essence, would OK wagering on 

Roseshire’s historical horse racing machines. While the 

county passed on- and off-site betting in 1992, Henrico 

leaders maintained voters had no say on the HHRs which 

were allowed by the General Assembly in 2018.

Never mind that that the HHRs are slot machines under a 

different name and have proven as popular with the 

betting public as they have within the horse racing 

industry itself.

For example, Roseshire took in $5.6 million during its 

first three days, according to a report. 

Until next time ...