Prayer for Relief ran down front-running Rush Now by a half-length Aug. 6 at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort to win the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II).
Saturday, August 06, 2011
California invaders Prayer for Relief and Dreamy Kid, both recent graded stakes winners, headline a field of 10 in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) Aug. 6 at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort.
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
The three Triple Crown race winners are all pointing toward the Haskell Invitational (gr. I), but a hefty bonus in the West Virginia Derby (gr. II) could help lure a top 3-year-old.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort will offer financial incentives designed to attract graded-stakes winners for the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) on Aug. 6.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Despite missing nearly three months of time due to a injuries, DeShawn Parker led all jockeys in wins in 2010, the first time he has accomplished that feat during his long career.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011A son, Native Nico, edges D' Sauvage by a neck in career debut.
Saturday, July 03, 2010MTR Gaming Group reported declines in revenue and earnings for 2009, but also saw improvement in these areas for the fourth quarter of the year.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Some people have to overcome one large obstacle to achieve their goals. DeShawn Parker climbed three different hurdles to get what he wanted.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort announced Aug. 28 it has reduced its workforce by another 35 employees.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Several 3-year-olds entered in the Aug. 1 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) galloped around a sloppy surface at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort the morning before a race no trainer is willing to say is easy to handicap.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Organized horse racing in West Virginia dates back at least 223 years, but no horse who has won the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) has ever competed in the Mountaineer State before. That status is going to change on Aug. 1, when Mine That Bird goes to the post in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Serte Equine's Mine That Bird, winner of the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), turned in a sharp four-furlong work July 20 in his final major training move at Churchill Downs prior to his scheduled run in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) Aug. 1 at Mountaineer.
Monday, July 20, 2009
The storybook ride of Calvin Borel and Mine That Bird has come to an end, with the connections of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner now looking for a new jockey.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009Even though overall United States casino revenues dropped for the first time this decade, domestic racinos registered double-digit percentage growth in 2008, according to a report issued May 18 by the American Gaming Association.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009MTR Gaming Group swung to a profit of $742,000 in the first quarter of the year, with officials vowing May 7 to continue to improve on current operations rather than seek other properties to add to the company's portfolio.
Thursday, May 07, 2009The president and two members of the Mountaineer Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association who were suspended March 17 have been reinstated pending an April 8 court hearing.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009The economy continues to take its toll on racetracks, including those with alternative gaming. Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in West Virginia said it will cut overnight purses 10% effective April 20.
Monday, March 16, 2009Charles "Chuck" Bailey, former president of Mountaineer Park's Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, died Jan. 3 after a long battle with cancer.
Sunday, January 04, 2009The parent company of Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in West Virginia announced Dec. 4 it has ceased operations at Jackson Harness Raceway, a Michigan facility it purchased in 2005.
Thursday, December 04, 2008A public changing of the guard at MTR Gaming Group Inc. was experienced Oct. 31 during a conference call with analysts and shareholders, as the company bid farewell to longtime chief Ted Arneault and welcomed his successor Robert Griffin.
Friday, October 31, 2008
In an April 7 conference call where an executive announced an end to a workers' strike at its signature racino, MTR Gaming Group also claimed its 2007 financial performance was a product of a four-year business plan to diversify and strengthen the company.
Monday, April 07, 2008MTR Gaming in its annual report said it lost $11.4 million in 2007 and announced Ted Arneault will step down as chairman and chief executive officer at the end of the year.
Monday, April 07, 2008
About 200 union workers walked off the job at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort the weekend of March 29, and they remained on strike March 31.
Monday, March 31, 2008
MTR Gaming Group said Jan. 16 its Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort reported about $3 million in revenue from table games and poker since the full ramp-up of table-game operations in late December.
Thursday, January 17, 2008By - Dan Liebman - I never met Dale Baird. In fact, I never even saw one of his horses win in person. But in 2005 I voted for him to gain inclusion in racing's Hall of Fame.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008By - David Mullins - The word "legend" is used frequently these days to describe people. Some might say the term is overused. But when one calls Dale Baird a legend, the term is apt and fitting.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Trainer Dale Baird, who has won more than 9,400 races, was killed when his SUV crossed the median on I-70 in Indiana the evening of Dec. 23.
Monday, December 24, 2007Two Thoroughbred tracks owned by MTR Gaming Group have scheduled 332 racing dates for 2008.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007MTR Gaming Group realized a 40% increase in net revenues for the second quarter, according to financials released Aug. 9, but recorded a net loss of $502,000 as the company battled slots competition from neighboring Pennsylvania.
Thursday, August 09, 2007MTR Gaming Group Inc. reported Aug. 9 it swung to a loss in the second quarter due to costs related to the launch of its new slots parlor at Presque Isle Downs racetrack in Pennsylvania.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
By Tom LaMarra - Gaming in West Virginia and other states has kept racetracks open, put money in horsemen's pockets, and encouraged breed development. Whether it has done anything to spark long-term interest in and stability for horse racing is dubious at best.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007MTR Gaming Group Inc. said May 16 its first-quarter profit fell from last year, as interest expenses increased due to borrowings for new construction.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007Casino and racetrack operator MTR Gaming Group Inc. reported April 2 its fiscal fourth-quarter profit increased sharply due to higher sales and a significant increase in interest income.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007Trainers Edward Clouston and Robert J. Seeger each collected their 1,000th career victory on March 27, according to statistics proviced by Equibase Company.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007Bright One, the talk of Churchill Downs after two impressive victories in maiden company and an overnight stakes, lived up to the hype Sunday afternoon when he toyed with nine foes in his graded-stakes debut and ran away with the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. III) at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort.
Sunday, August 06, 2006Twelve 3-year-olds will square off Sunday afternoon in what appears to be a wide-open renewal of the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. III) at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort.
Thursday, August 03, 2006Deputy Glitters, High Cotton, and Flashy Bull, the top three finishers, respectively, in the Ohio Derby (gr. II) at Thistledown, and the lightly raced but impressive Bright One are among the 59 nominees for the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. III) at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort on Aug. 6.
Friday, July 28, 2006Eclipse Award-winning jockey John Velazquez said he would be in favor of an amendment to the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 that would provide workers' compensation insurance for jockeys, exercise riders, trainers, and backstretch workers.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006Chad Murphy earned his 2,000th career riding win Friday night when he drove Gun to victory in the fourth race at Mountaineer Park.
Sunday, March 05, 2006Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort has increased its on-track catastrophic injury coverage for jockeys from $100,000 to $1 million through Dec. 17, 2006.
Thursday, December 22, 2005Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort has canceled live racing for the evening of Dec. 13, the third consecutive day all or part of a program has been scrapped.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005Deshawn L. Parker won his 2,000th race when he guided Keeponthesunniside to victory in the third race at Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort.
Saturday, August 27, 2005With two days before entries are drawn, a field of 10-12 seemed possible for Sunday's $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. III), one of nine stakes on an all-stakes program at Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort that will rank as the richest day of racing in the history of the state.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005The latest condition book at Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort reflects a 20% reduction in purses primarily brought about by the shift of some video lottery terminal revenue to the state to fix its workers' compensation system.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005Dale Baird, who has trained more winners than any Thoroughbred trainer in history, has been selected to receive a Special Eclipse Award.
Friday, January 07, 2005Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort will offer a beefed-up stakes schedule in 2005 that includes a purse hike for the West Virginia Derby (gr. III) and the addition of stakes for 2-year-olds.
Friday, December 17, 2004The $600,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. III) was the major mid-season test for Sir Shackleton, and he passed it with flying colors with a resounding victory over six other foes in the 1 1/8-mile event for 3-year-olds at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort.
Saturday, August 07, 2004Edgewood Farm's Pollard's Vision, winner of the Illinois Derby (gr. II) in early April, heads a well-matched field of nine 3-year-olds entered for the Aug. 7 West Virginia Derby (gr. III) at Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort.
Wednesday, August 04, 2004A Valentine's Day fund-raiser for the family of jockey Michael Rowland, who died from injuries sustained in a Feb. 5 racing accident at Turfway Park, has drawn interest from around the country, and donated items continued to come in the morning of the event.
Saturday, February 14, 2004Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort, which recently inked a three-year contract with horsemen, has officially issued a 2004 racing schedule that calls for 228 programs of racing effective Jan. 19.
Tuesday, January 27, 2004