Mountaineer Makes Change in 2014 Schedule

The 2014 live racing season at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort, featuring a major change in weekly schedule, will commence March 1 and conclude Dec. 20.

It will be the 64th year of racing at the West Virginia track in Hancock County.
    
Mountaineer will offer 210 race cards, all but one of which will have a 7 p.m. EDT first post. The exception will be the West Virginia Derby (gr. II) program, which have a 2 p.m. EDT first post Aug. 2.
    
Mountaineer will race Saturdays through Wednesdays in 2014, eliminating Friday programs.

"The change was made to increase our wagering handle," said Rose Mary Williams, director of racing at Mountaineer. "We believe that Wednesdays will provide us with a better position than Fridays in the simulcast market. Thursdays and Fridays will be our dark days in 2014. Mountaineer will also be closed on Thursdays in regards to training."
    
There will be no live racing on Easter Sunday, April 20. Nine races will be offered on each card from March through September and will expand to 10 races from Oct. 1 through the culmination of the live season.