BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Probe of Horse Death at Mountaineer Continues

West Virginia Racing Commission officials said May 21 they are continuing an investigation into the April death of a horse at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort, and are developing protocol to handle such incidents.

Convicted Trainer Gets Another Chance in WV

A trainer who pleaded guilty in 2010 on drug charges was granted a conditional occupational permit by the West Virginia Racing Commission May 21, but he was told the license has "zero tolerance" conditions.

WV Panel Rejects Interagency Agreement

The West Virginia Racing Commission May 21 rejected a controversial interagency agreement that owners, trainers, and breeders claim would have put the state Lottery Commission in charge of Thoroughbred and Greyhound racing.

Trainer Whose Ban Was Overturned Tossed Again

A trainer who won her appeal of a 2008 ejection from Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races was ejected again by the same racetrack for an unrelated violation and has appealed that action.

$2M OK'd for WV Track Projects, Promotions

The West Virginia Racing Commission April 16 approved the expenditure of more than $2 million for projects and promotions at two racetracks.

WV 'Interagency Agreement' Tabled by Panel

The West Virginia Racing Commission April 16 deferred action on a controversial agreement that would place the commission and other agencies under the West Virginia Lottery Commission.

Charles Town Stewards Issue Ban, Suspensions

A West Virginia-based trainer has been deemed ineligible for a license, and three others were suspended in connection with alleged use of "program trainers" at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.

WVRC Overturns Four-Year Ban of Trainer

Trainer Patty Burns, banned from Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races since early 2008, has won her appeal of the ejection.

Four Appeal Ejection Action by Charles Town

Four men ejected from Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races over alleged involvement in the use of "program trainers" have filed an appeal with the West Virginia Racing Commission.

WV Bill Lowers Minimum Number of Racing Dates

Legislation introduced in the West Virginia Senate March 6 calls for several statutory changes regarding racing, including a substantial reduction in the minimum number of dates a track must schedule each year.

Trainer Grove Suspended for Six Months, Fined

Stewards at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races have suspended trainer Christopher Grove for six months and fined him $5,000 for a major drug violation in a July race.

Mountaineer Approved for Mobile Wagering

Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort, which begins its 2013 meet March 1, has been cleared to offer mobile wagering.

Horsemen Suspicious of WV 'Interagency' Deal

Action on an agreement horsemen view as an attempt to perhaps eliminate an agency that solely regulates horse and dog racing was deferred by the West Virginia Racing Commission Feb. 26.

WV Issues Support for Uniform Medication Plan

The West Virginia Racing Commission Feb. 26 approved a resolution agreeing in principle with the effort to bring uniform medication, penalty, and testing rules to racing jurisdictions in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

Charles Town Bans Horsemen Davis, Shanyfelt

Oft-sanctioned owner/trainer Scooter Davis and trainer Doug Shanyfelt have been banned from Charles Town Races and the West Virginia Racing Commission is reviewing evidence against both horsemen.

WV Stewards Suspend Wehrman Two Years

West Virginia racing stewards have suspended Randy Wehrman for two years because of integrity issues raised after the former Charles Town Races racing secretary received an alleged $700 loan from a local horseman.

WV Derby Funds, Race Changes Win Approval

The West Virginia Racing Commission Jan. 18 approved allocation of more than $1 million in purse and bonus money for this year's grade II West Virginia Derby, and also allowed for race schedule changes at Mountaineer.

Charles Town Ousts Racing Secretary Wehrman

The West Virginia Racing Commission has confirmed that Charles Town Races fired racing secretary Randy Wehrman Dec. 18.

Charles Town Classic Purse Up to $1.5 Million

The purse for the grade II Charles Town Classic will increase to $1.5 million in 2013 and award the winner $1 million under a revised payment structure.

WVRC Denies Appeal in Anti-Slaughter Case

The West Virginia Racing Commission has upheld a hearing examiner's finding that the exclusion of a trainer by Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort for allegedly violating the track's anti-slaughter policy was reasonable.

WV Begins Long Process of Examining Salix

The West Virginia Racing Commission heard the pros and cons of race-day furosemide use Sept. 17 and pledged to examine the steps necessary to implement mandatory administration of the anti-bleeding drug by third-party vets.

WV Sets Salix Meeting; Updated Rules Filed

The West Virginia Racing Commission has officially scheduled a meeting for Sept. 17 to take comments from industry representatives on the use of furosemide, also known as Salix or Lasix, on race day.

West Virginia Wants to Have Dialogue on Salix

The West Virginia Racing Commission in late summer or early fall plans to hold a fact-finding meeting on use of furosemide on race day, officials said Aug. 4.

Hansen to Race With Blue Tail at Mountaineer

Dr. Kendall Hansen and Skychai Racing's Hansen, one of 10 3-year-olds entered for the Aug. 4 West Virginia Derby (gr. II), will finally get to race with a blue-tipped tail.

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.