The Racing Biz logo
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Off to the Races Radio
    • Privacy Policy
  • Handicapping
  • Pages
    • States
      • Maryland
      • Delaware
      • New Jersey
      • Pennsylvania
      • Virginia
      • West Virginia
    • Business
    • Breeding
    • Racing
    • Opinion
    • Archive
  • Contact us
  • Contest Central
Notification
Latest News
Teachintherelease

Charles Town: 10 stories that mattered in 2025

Jan 07, 2026

Charles Town: Latest jockey and trainer stats

Jan 07, 2026
Post Time

Photo Diary: Best of 2025

Jan 07, 2026
Journalism

Voting open for NTRA Moment of the Year

Jan 06, 2026
Laurel Park

Laurel Park, Colonial reveal stakes schedules

Jan 06, 2026
Pimlico toteboard

Wagering handle off sharply in December, down for

Jan 06, 2026
American Promise

Colonial Downs releases spring condition book

Jan 05, 2026
Journalism

Eclipse Award finalists announced

Jan 05, 2026
Call Me Fast

Mid-Atlantic three stars: January 5, 2026

Jan 05, 2026
Pascaline

Laurel Park: Final 2025 jockey and trainer stats

Dec 31, 2025

Charles Town: 10 stories that mattered in 2025

Charles Town: Latest jockey and trainer stats

Photo Diary: Best of 2025

Voting open for NTRA Moment of the Year

Laurel Park, Colonial reveal stakes schedules

Wagering handle off sharply in December, down for year

#news by states
Maryland
Delaware
Pennsylvania
Virginia
West Virginia
New Jersey
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Off to the Races Radio
    • Privacy Policy
  • Handicapping
  • Pages
    • States
      • Maryland
      • Delaware
      • New Jersey
      • Pennsylvania
      • Virginia
      • West Virginia
    • Business
    • Breeding
    • Racing
    • Opinion
    • Archive
  • Contact us
  • Contest Central
  • Home  
  • Bernie Hettel
02
Mar
  • Bernie Hettel
  • D. G. Van Clief Jr.
  • Virginia horse racing
  • Virginia Racing Commission

VRC chief Bernie Hettel to step down

  • The Biz / 10 years
  • 0
  • 2 min read

Virginia Racing Commission executive secretary Bernie Hettel will step down, probably by the end of March, the Commission announced.

30
Jul
  • Bernie Hettel
  • Colonial Downs
  • Frank Petramalo
  • Virginia Equine Alliance
  • Virginia horse racing
  • Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association
  • Virginia Racing Commission

As Virginia horsemen move ahead, Colonial throws a wrench in plans

  • Nick Hahn / 10 years
  • 7
  • 5 min read

Virginia horsemen are moving forward with a plan for racing in the Commonwealth. But a new move by Colonial Downs may keep state OTBs shuttered.

25
Jun
  • Bernie Hettel
  • Colonial Downs
  • Frank Petramalo
  • Ian Stewart
  • Virginia horse racing
  • Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association
  • Virginia Racing Commission

Virginia Racing Commission tacks to new crossroads

  • The Biz / 12 years
  • 6
  • 4 min read

The Virginia Racing Commission has told the sides in the racing days dispute to focus on ’15. Now’s the time for a decision: Riders up, or lawyer up?

16
Jun
  • Bernie Hettel
  • Colonial Downs
  • Virginia horse racing
  • Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association
  • Virginia Racing Commission

Virginia Racing Commission to meet on Thursday

  • The Biz / 12 years
  • 2
  • 1 min read

The Virginia Racing Commission will hold a special meeting on Thursday, June 19 as it continues to try to find a solution to the impasse over racing dates.

15
May
  • Bernie Hettel
  • Colonial Downs
  • Frank Petramalo
  • Ian Stewart
  • Virginia horse racing
  • Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association
  • Virginia Racing Commission

Colonial Downs offers funding for new horsemen’s group

  • Nick Hahn / 12 years
  • 1
  • 6 min read

Colonial Downs rejected the Virginia Racing Commission’s proposed 25-day meet, ended negotiations with the VHBPA, and offered an interest-free loan to a to-be-formed horsemen’s group.

29
Apr
  • Bernie Hettel
  • Colonial Downs
  • Ian Stewart
  • Virginia horse racing
  • Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association
  • Virginia Racing Commission

Wire coming up fast on Virginia racing dates dispute

  • Nick Hahn / 12 years
  • 1
  • 4 min read

In the Virginia racing dates dispute, will a new proposal that’s really an old proposal bring the horsemen and Colonial Downs together?

12
Mar
  • Bernie Hettel
  • Colonial Downs
  • Frank Petramalo
  • Ian Stewart
  • Virginia horse racing
  • Virginia Racing Commission

Mediation can’t bridge “huge” gap between Colonial Downs, horsemen

  • Nick Hahn / 12 years
  • 7
  • 3 min read

An acrimonious dispute between Colonial Downs and Virginia’s horsemen over the 2014 meet took another alarming turn today, as mediation went nowhere.

03
Feb
  • Bernie Hettel
  • Colonial Downs
  • Frank Petramalo
  • Ian Stewart
  • Virginia horse racing
  • Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association
  • Virginia Racing Commission

In Virginia, cold weather and a heated disagreement

  • Nick Hahn / 12 years
  • 3
  • 5 min read

Virginia racing leaders find themselves at an impasse regarding Colonial’s 2014 season, and the cold weather has actually heated up this dispute.

Top Stories

01
Breaking Bylined Feature Features Top Stories West Virginia WV Racing

Charles Town: 10 stories that mattered.

02
Breaking Bylined Feature Features Regionwide Top Stories

Photo Diary: Best of 2025

03
Breaking Business Maryland MD Business Top Stories Virginia Virginia Business

Laurel Park, Colonial reveal stakes schedules

04
Breaking Business National news Top Stories

Wagering handle off sharply in December,.

05
Breaking PA Racing Pennsylvania Racing Top Stories

PRX: Mailata romps in depleted Future.

06
Breaking Business Maryland MD Business Press release other Top Stories

Hazlewood and Russell romp to Laurel.

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
    Follow
  • Twitter
    Follow
  • Instagram
    Follow
  • RSS Feed
    Follow
  • Youtube
    Subscribe

Big Events

  • Maryland Million
  • WV Breeders’ Classics
  • Contest Central

Subscribe!

Sign Up Now
For Email Newsletters you can trust.
Copyright The Racing Biz, LLC 2025 | Powered by Atlas Digital
Terms of Use Privacy Policy