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New Kent approves $62,500 Derby sponsorship; sheriff and fire officials outline public-safety planning for up to 10,000 attendees
Summary
The board appropriated $62,500 from Colonial Downs receipts to the county EDA for title sponsorship of the Virginia Derby March 15. County public-safety officials described coordination with Colonial Downs, the State Police and off-duty county personnel to manage traffic, EMS and on-site incident response.
The New Kent County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 10 approved a $62,500 appropriation from Colonial Downs revenue for the county Economic Development Authority to serve as title sponsor of the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs on March 15.
Economic Development Director Justin Hirt said the county’s suite will be used to host economic-development partners and prospects; Richmond Region Tourism offered to share the suite and budgeted roughly $5,000 toward the event. Hirt estimated the title-sponsorship package and hospitality (food and beverage) would total roughly $75,000 all-in; the county’s EDA portion is $62,500 and will not cover alcohol or tobacco costs (those are covered by EDA funds, not county general funds), she said.
Colonial Downs staff told the board they expect as many as 10,000 attendees for the qualifier event and that the race is simulcast nationally for pari-mutuel betting. General-admission tickets for the day are priced at $5 to control attendance counts; the venue will stage tents, pavilions and shuttle parking at the high school.
The board asked whether the county has a public-safety plan. County officials said the sheriff’s office and the fire/rescue department are working directly with Colonial Downs staff and will request State Police assistance for traffic control. The sheriff’s office said it will supplement staffing with off-duty personnel; fire and EMS staff outlined a spectator-side EMS plan with ambulances positioned near security and a secondary ambulance near new tent areas. The county also plans to establish an emergency operations center on an upper floor at the facility with decision-makers to monitor the site.
Supervisor Moyer moved the appropriation; the motion passed by unanimous roll call. Board members and staff noted Colonial Downs has been a significant revenue partner for the county and that the sponsorship and safety planning must move quickly because the event date is in March.
Notes: Richmond Region Tourism requested to send about 20 guests to the suite; the county suite will accommodate 60. The EDA will handle hospitality and guest invitations; any detailed post-event cost reconciliations and an after-action report were not specified in the meeting record but were discussed as expected follow-ups.
