The West Virginia Racing Commission April 16 approved the expenditure of more than $2 million for projects and promotions at two racetracks.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races will get $1.98 million for a "curtain glass wall system" in its clubhouse/grandstand, while Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort was approved to spend $750,000 on marketing related to the Aug. 3 West Virginia Derby (gr. II).
The WVRC regularly signs off on such expenditures, money for which comes from video lottery terminal revenue at the state's four racetracks. The projects must be tied to horse or dog racing to qualify, and the WVRC director of audits must review the bids.
About $1 million for the Charles Town project is money approved in 2012 for a different project that wasn't done.
Mountaineer director of racing Rose Mary Williams said the promotional money will be used in part to pay for a one-hour live broadcast of the West Virginia Derby on FOX Sports. There also will be pari-mutuel promotions during the months leading up to the Derby, and a concert by Wynonna Judd the evening of Aug. 2, she said.
The track also was approved to spend about $1,100 for two 42-inch flat-screen televisions that will go in the trackside simulcast area.