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WV Court: Ejection Appeals Can Be Heard

A West Virginia circuit court judge has rejected an attempt by Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races to keep the West Virginia Racing Commission from holding hearings for individuals who want to appeal ejections.

WV Rules Allow Action in Slaughter Cases

Revised regulations adopted by the West Virginia Racing Commission would allow the agency to take action against permit holders found to have knowingly sold a horse for slaughter.

WV Derby Returns to Television This Year

The $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) will return to television this year as part of an $800,000 promotional package approved April 13 by the West Virginia Racing Commission.

Panel: WV Jockeys Not Paid Proper Mount Fees

The West Virginia Racing Commission April 13 ordered payment of jockeys that were shortchanged on some mount fees at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races for almost seven months.

WV Moves to Ban Adjunct Drugs, Hike Penalties

The West Virginia Racing Commission voted April 13 to ban the use of adjunct bleeder medications on race day and to adopt much stricter penalties for drug violations.

PNGI Intends to Sue Over WV Procedural Rules

The West Virginia Racing Commission's new procedural rules governing due process and hearings could be challenged in court, according to a letter recently received by the regulatory agency.

Optimism and Wariness as Mountaineer Reopens

Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort will begin its 10-month meet March 2 with some upgrades and increased promotion, but officials also are keeping an eye on neighboring states as they expand gambling opportunities.

WV Panel OKs Rules Allowing Exclusion Appeals

The West Virginia Racing Commission Feb. 27 unanimously adopted new procedural rules that allow occupational permit-holders the right to appeal racetrack ejections.

WV Rules Allow Ejected Licensees to Appeal

The West Virginia Racing Commission, in the wake of a state Supreme Court of Appeals decision, has amended some procedural rules to specifically allow occupational permit holders to appeal racetrack ejections.

Industry Voices: Balance of Power (blog)

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals recently called a high-profile turf contest between the West Virginia Racing Commission and the Charles Town racetrack. The stakes were for the control of horse racing.

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WV High Court Rules in Jockey Ejection Cases

The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, in a ruling filed Nov. 18, has upheld a circuit court decision that seven jockeys ejected from Charles Town Races in 2009 have the right to appeal to the state racing commission.

Charles Town HBPA Chief Ejected; Hearing Set

The president of the Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has been ruled off the grounds of Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races pending a hearing on a request for a temporary restraining order.

Jockey Ejection Arguments Heard in WV Court

Parties in a two-year-old case involving the ejection of seven jockeys from Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races made their arguments Sept. 20 in the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.

Charles Town Cuts Takeout 12% on Some Wagers

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races took the first step toward returning more money to bettors Sept. 9 when the West Virginia Racing Commission approved a decrease in pari-mutuel takeout for four wagers.

New WV Rules of Racing Take Effect July 10

An overhaul of the West Virginia rules of racing, including revisions in the area of equine medication and penalties, has passed the state legislature. The document was filed April 11 with the Secretary of State.

Charles Town Approved for 235 Dates in 2011

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races was approved for 235 racing dates in 2011 with racing year-round.

WV '10-10-10 Program' Bill Signed Into Law

West Virginia racing's "10-10-10 program," which offers purse supplements to in-state Thoroughbred owners, as well as breeders and stallion owners, will return under legislation signed into law April 2 by Gov. Joe Manchin.

WV Court Refuses to Hear Exclusion Appeals

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals refused March 30 to hear petitions by the West Virginia Racing Commission and three individuals who have been barred from Charles Town Races & Slots.

'10-10-10' Bill Passes West Virginia Senate

West Virginia horse racing's "10-10-10" program, which offers purse supplements to in-state Thoroughbred owners, as well as breeders and stallion owners, would return under legislation passed by the state Senate March 2.

Mountaineer, Horsemen Strike Three-Year Deal

Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort and the local horsemen's group signed a three-year contract Dec. 29 with just two days to spare.

Mountaineer, Horsemen in Contract Dispute

A contract dispute threatens full-card simulcasts and could lead to daily stall rent and payments to keep the racetrack open for training effective Jan. 1 at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in West Virginia.

WV Panel Pursues Appeal on Exclusion Cases

The West Virginia Racing Commission voted unanimously Dec. 7 to pursue an appeal of a ruling by a circuit court that said it can't conduct hearings into exclusion cases at Charles Town Races & Slots.

Mountaineer OK'd for Two-Month Shutdown

The West Virginia Racing Commission Dec. 7 approved a 2010 racing schedule for Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort that allows the track to close for live racing in January and February.

Mountaineer, Horsemen at Odds Over Dates Plan

A plan by Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort to offer the statutory minimum of 210 racing dates but race only eight months instead of year-round has met with opposition from horsemen and others in the community.

WV Court: Panel Can't Hear Exclusion Cases

A West Virginia court has ruled the state racing commission is prohibited from conducting hearings on racetrack exclusions because it "lacks the authority to unilaterally reinstate an ejected permit-holder over the objection of a racing association."

Three Appointed to West Virginia Commission

The West Virginia Racing Commission, which regulates the Greyhound and Thoroughbred industries at the state's four racetracks, has three new members.

Racetrack Exclusions Get Tested in WV

The right of racetrack exclusion is being tested in West Virginia, where Charles Town Races & Slots is seeking to keep the state racing commission from holding hearings to consider granting three individuals reinstatement to the facility.

Has Barred Couple Hit a Dead End?

Dick and Janene Watson were at the forefront of the rebirth of Charles Town Races when video lottery terminals began operating in the mid-1990s. But they haven't been able to race their horses for the track's gaming fueled-purses for more than two years, and perhaps might never get the chance again.

Funkhouser Allowed to Run Horses in W. Va. Breeders' Classic

Randy Funkhouser, prominent horse owner and president of the Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent Association, was told Oct. 16 he would be able to run his horses in the Oct. 20 West Virginia Breeders' Cup Classic.

Paddock Rule Interpretation Upsets Claiming Trainers

Some trainers active in the claiming box at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort are protesting a paddock rule they claim is being misinterpreted by officials and hindering their ability to conduct business.

Bill Would Reorganize West Virginia Racing Commission

Legislation that would expand the West Virginia Racing Commission from three to five members and create the oversight position of a director of racing appointed by the governor has been introduced in the House of Delegates and sent to the House Committee on Government Organization.

Stall Rental Fees Complicate Mountaineer Negotiations

Thoroughbred racing at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort is on hold until at least Jan. 19 while track officials try to reach a new five-year contract with the Mountaineer Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. Meanwhile, the track has offered to keep its stable are open with certain conditions, but the HBPA has balked.

Groom Killed in Accident at Mountaineer Park

Lisa Jackson, a groom at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort, died the morning of March 27 after a training accident at the West Virginia track.

West Virginia Consolidation Plan to 'Interim Study'

A consolidation plan that would make the West Virginia Racing Commission part of a broader Gambling Commission is headed to "interim study," said a representative of one organization that has expressed concern over the proposal.

Judge Gives Mountaineer, Horsemen More Time

A judge has given Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort and the Mountaineer Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association until Feb. 21 to defend their positions in a dispute over a contract and racing dates.

West Virginia Prepares Emergency Rules for Medication

Industry representatives in West Virginia met by teleconference Oct. 15 to devise emergency rules to govern use of adjunct bleeder medications and to ban the practice of blood-doping.

Charles Town Expansion Plan Has Twists And Turns

Management and horsemen at Charles Town Races are discussing plans to expand the six-furlong racing surface and perhaps hold races at neighboring Shenandoah Downs during the upgrade.

Account Bets, Purse Schedule Key Issues at Mountaineer

Horsemen support a plan by Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort to implement account wagering, but they're at odds with management over purse payments and have asked the West Virginia Racing Commission to mediate.

Horsemen, Track at Odds Over Entry System

The Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association claims the racing office at the West Virginia track isn't adhering to a "preference date system" in the track's condition book, and in turn is favoring horses stabled in other states at the expense of local horsemen. Management says it sees no real problem with the manner in which races are drawn.