Overview

• The Churchill Downs–owned venue opened Sept. 29 at Staples Mill Shopping Center with 175 historical horse‑racing terminals, a restaurant, live music and simulcast wagering.
• Churchill Downs says it invested $35 million in the project and hired nearly 100 employees, with daily hours set for 8 a.m. to midnight.
• The Virginia Racing Commission voted 5-0 on Sept. 15 to grant an operating license, enabling the launch.
• Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed a budget amendment that would have required a voter referendum, blocking last‑minute efforts to force a public vote.
• Company filings landed days before a new Henrico ordinance would have required public input, with Churchill Downs citing a 1992 county referendum on off‑track betting as its legal basis; customers lined up for opening as some officials pledged to keep pressing for transparency.