Churchill Downs Incorporated Advances Historical Racing Venue Relocation in Henry County
Geschrieben von Quinn Hayes · 1.11.2026
Churchill Downs Incorporated Advances Historical Racing Venue Relocation in Henry County
Churchill Downs Incorporated has announced plans to move its existing historical racing machine entertainment venue from Collinsville to a larger location in Henry County, Virginia, and the Henry County Board of Zoning Appeals has already granted the necessary Special Use Permit for the project. The current site operates as Rosie’s Game Room and houses 37 HRMs while the new facility will expand to 150 machines along with simulcast racing plus food and beverage options at a spot north of the U.S. Route 58 Bypass and east of Old Greensboro Road near NASCAR’s Martinsville Speedway.
The relocation keeps the operation within Henry County yet shifts it to a site that offers more space for the increased number of machines and additional amenities. Observers note that the Board of Zoning Appeals reviewed the application and issued approval after standard public processes and the company now focuses on finalizing design details and construction plans. No opening date has been set for the expanded venue according to company statements released with the announcement.
Project Details and Site Specifications
The new location sits in close proximity to Martinsville Speedway which creates potential for combined visits by racing enthusiasts while the facility itself will feature 150 historical racing machines compared with the 37 currently available at Rosie’s Game Room. Historical racing machines allow pari-mutuel wagering on previously recorded races and the expanded count represents a significant increase in capacity at the single site. Food and beverage offerings will be added alongside simulcast racing services which together broaden the entertainment options beyond the machines alone.
Company representatives have confirmed that design work continues while they coordinate with local authorities on permitting and infrastructure requirements. The existing Collinsville location will cease operations once the new venue opens though no timeline for that transition has been disclosed. Those who have followed similar projects in other Virginia counties note that such moves often involve extended periods of planning before construction begins and before any public opening occurs.
Regulatory Approval Process
The Henry County Board of Zoning Appeals completed its review and granted the Special Use Permit which clears the primary regulatory hurdle for the project. Local zoning processes in Virginia counties typically include public hearings and staff evaluations before such permits are issued and the approval indicates that the proposed use complies with county ordinances for the designated area. Churchill Downs Incorporated continues to work through remaining administrative steps including final site plans and any additional state-level requirements that may apply to historical racing machine operations.
According to records from the Virginia Racing Commission, historical racing machine venues operate under specific regulatory frameworks that govern machine counts, location standards, and reporting procedures. The commission maintains oversight of these activities statewide and the Henry County project will fall under those same guidelines once operational. The permit approval represents one milestone in a sequence of steps that also includes engineering reviews and construction permitting at the county level.
Operational Expansion and Amenities
The increase from 37 to 150 machines marks a substantial scale-up that will require corresponding adjustments in staffing, security systems, and facility layout. Simulcast racing will be integrated into the new space allowing patrons access to live race broadcasts from various tracks while the food and beverage component adds another revenue stream and visitor draw. Company planning documents indicate that the design phase will address traffic flow, parking capacity, and utility connections to support the larger operation at the new address.
Those familiar with the current Rosie’s Game Room operation describe a compact venue that serves local customers in Collinsville and the move northward along the Route 58 corridor places the facility in an area with higher visibility from major roadways. The proximity to Martinsville Speedway offers geographic advantages that could attract visitors already traveling for NASCAR events though the company has not released projections or marketing plans tied to that relationship. Construction timelines remain undetermined while design work proceeds and the absence of an announced opening date reflects the early stage of the project.
Conclusion
The relocation of the historical racing machine venue by Churchill Downs Incorporated represents a measured expansion within Henry County that follows the Special Use Permit approval from the local Board of Zoning Appeals. The new site will accommodate 150 machines along with simulcast and dining features at a location chosen for its space and accessibility near Martinsville Speedway. Design finalization continues without a public opening date and the transition from the existing Collinsville site will occur once construction and regulatory steps conclude. Additional information may emerge as the company advances through permitting and development phases in the coming months.