Off to the Races with Qwick: How Colonial Downs Racetrack Manages Seasonal Staffing

When a recent hurricane forced the Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent, VA to reschedule a weekend race series, general manager Thomas Brantley was in a bind. He needed to completely re-staff for three major races that were expected to draw over 7,000 people, and he had just days to do it. 

So he turned to Qwick.

Reaching out to his account executive, Brantley explained the situation. Qwick worked closely with Brantley to source all of the Pros he needed, and within two days had 35 Pros confirmed to work the busy weekend. 

The weekend came, and the races went off without a hitch. 

When inclement weather isn’t a problem, seasonality can make staffing difficult for race tracks and other stadiums like Colonial Downs. Often further away from major city centers, these stadiums also have to contend with smaller labor pools while also competing with other hospitality businesses for that talent.  

During the summer, the Colonial Downs hosts 28 races over seven weeks. So while there is a lot of work to be done, it can be difficult to find regular staff due to the relatively short length of the racing season. 

“It’s episodic,” Brantley said. “My needs fluctuate, and it’s hard to keep people employed during that time.”   

This feast or famine when it comes to available shift hours is where Qwick shines—allowing managers like Brantley to appropriately staff up during peak season and save on labor and administrative costs when it’s the off season. 

On Qwick, Brantley has groups of Pros he’s worked with before and knows he won’t have to train when they show up for a shift. 

And, Brantley added, he doesn’t need to look anywhere else to find workers when he needs them.