Is there any question as to why they really need a Chaplain?
Colonial Downs Hires a Chaplain For Upcoming Harness Meet
NEW KENT, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 27, 1998--(NASDAQ NMS: CDWN) Already unique with harness racing's only one-turn mile, Colonial Downs has now summoned the services of an organization called "Racetrack Chaplaincy of America" to become one of only a handful of harness tracks in the country to provide a chaplain in the backstretch for the upcoming meet, slated to run April 24th through July 5th.
Colonial Downs General Manager Gil Short had a chaplain stationed at his New Kent, Virginia track last fall at the inaugural thoroughbred meet, a six week campaign that ran from September 1st through October 12th. He was so impressed with the work of Chaplain Rick Mann that he asked him to come back for the harness meet. The only other harness tracks that provide a service of this type include New Jersey's Garden State Park and The Meadowlands, California's Cal Expo and Los Alamitos, and Hoosier Park.
Don Price, head of the Virginia Horse Racing Commission, was also instrumental in acquiring a chaplain. "They actually play a larger role in benevolence than they do in religion," said Price. "The chaplain tries to point the grooms and backstretch employees in a positive direction, mainly through counseling and the occasional church service. They'll do everything from praying with jockeys and drivers before a race, to providing food and clothing if someone is in need, to even organizing recreational activities for members of the backstretch."
Rick Mann is one of 38 chaplains that service 60 racetracks around the country. Incorporated in 1971, the "Racetrack Chaplaincy of America" organization originally catered strictly to thoroughbred tracks, but in recent years, they have expanded to include quarterhorse and harness circuits. "All but several of our chaplains are employed on a full time basis," said Carol Marino, head of the national organization headquartered in Belmont, California. "We try to stress to the chaplains that their duties are not just spiritual, but physical and emotional as well."
Mann is a veteran of racetrack backstretch work, though this will be his first harness experience. He has previously worked at Kansas City's Woodlands Racetrack, Colorado's Arapaho Park, New Mexico's Sunland Park and Canterbury Park in his hometown of Minnesota. The 49-year-old Mann currently resides in Burnsville, Minnesota and is expected to arrive at Colonial Downs by the second week of April. Both Colonial Downs and the Virginia Harness Horsemen's Association will share the cost of Rick Mann's services for the upcoming meet.
Colonial Downs kicks off its inaugural harness season with a $50,000 leg of the "Graduate" Stake Series on opening night, April 24th. The track will operate every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening at 7:00 PM. and every Sunday afternoon at 1:00 PM. For more information on harness racing's only "One-Turn Miracle Mile" call Colonial Downs at (804) 966-7223. On the Internet, visit Colonial Downs at HYPERLINK colonialdowns.com |
