The NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance welcomed a move from the West Virginia Racing Commission Sept. 20 when the regulator became the first in the country to require its tracks to join the industry safety organization.
West Virginia Racing Commission staff will explore, among other things, whether capital improvement money racetracks get from a video lottery terminal fund can be used to pay for accreditation through the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance.
The West Virginia Racing Commission July 19 signed off on $1,170,000 in funding for purses for the 30th edition of the West Virginia Breeders' Classics Oct. 8 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.
Regulators and track executives in West Virginia hope to have about 50% of the starters in two upcoming graded stakes tested out of competition as part of a launch of the program in the state.
The West Virginia Racing Commission plans to launch its out-of-competition program in conjunction with the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) Aug. 6 at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort.
Officials with Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races told the West Virginia Racing Commission May 11 the usual protocol was followed for a track resurfacing project stalled by rainy weather and the discovery of rocks in the new material.
More than three inches of rain since April 27 has stalled resurfacing of the racetrack at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, which has canceled live racing for May 11-12.
Owners of West Virginia-bred racehorses will share in an additional $1 million, the result of an accumulated balance in the West Virginia Accredited Race Fund.
The West Virginia Racing Commission, citing comments it has received, on Jan. 19 voted to conduct an evaluation of the racing surface at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.
The West Virginia Racing Commission Dec. 23 approved the $1.25 million purse for the 2016 Charles Town Classic (gr. II), but the vote wasn't unanimous.
West Virginia's high court has overturned a circuit court decision that vacated a WVRC order to suspend and fine seven jockeys in a 2009 case in which they were permitted to ride over the published weight.
The West Virginia Racing Commission Nov. 18 approved customary live racing dates, but the schedules for Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort are expected to be drastically reduced.
Legislation authorizing advance deposit wagering is on the wish list for a group of racing industry stakeholders in West Virginia, according to a report that was approved by a committee.
A group of West Virginia racing stakeholders has prepared a report on the state of the industry and makes suggestions on how to improve the economics, but when it is approved remains to be seen.
Racing stakeholders fully understand that having sports betting at tracks in West Virginia is a 90-1 shot. But other things like off-track betting are a bit more realistic as they fashion a wish list to increase revenue.
The West Virginia Racing Commission voted July 28 to hire a new equine drug-testing laboratory when the contract with its current lab ends at the end of August.
West Virginia has joined other states in the Mid-Atlantic region in posting an advisory regarding use of two therapeutic drugs that can be problematic for horsemen.
With the latest Thoroughbred racing rule changes now in place, West Virginia has now fully adopted the National Uniform Medication Program.
The West Virginia Racing Commission June 16 signed off on a plan by Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort to shave 50 racing programs from its 2015 schedule.
The West Virginia Racing Commission June 2 authorized creation of a committee that will be charged with providing information to a legislative committee that will study the state's racing and gaming industries.
The West Virginia Racing Commission has begun a 10-day comment period on a request by Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort to reduce its 2015 meet to 160 days from 210.
A former president of the Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association who was barred from Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races for almost 10 years has won his appeal for reinstatement.
A West Virginia Racing Commission purse analysis based on revenue projections from all sources indicates the state and its racetracks have serious issues to address regarding live racing dates in the future.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has been approved to shave 27 racing programs from its 2015 schedule.
The West Virginia Racing Commission Feb. 17 tabled a request by Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races to reduce the number of live racing dates it was awarded for 2015.
A request by management and horsemen at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races to reduce the number of live racing days for 2015 has renewed a discussion about the future of West Virginia Thoroughbred racing.
The West Virginia Racing Commission, as part of an investigation into a head-on collision during a Dec. 13 race at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, said it will look into funding to pay for an independent review.
Management and horsemen at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races have agreed on a slimmer live racing schedule for 2015.
West Virginia's two Thoroughbred tracks have been approved for a total of 430 racing dates for 2015, according to schedules approved Nov. 18 by the West Virginia Racing Commission.
The Supreme Court of Appeals in West Virginia has ruled the state racing commission has the power to place the burden of proof on racetracks should they choose to eject permit-holders from their facilities.
The West Virginia Racing Commission is moving forward with a plan to fashion legislation that would allow flexibility on racing dates and perhaps new gambling offerings to generate revenue for the industry.
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort and Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races were granted permission Oct. 15 to reduce live racing dates for the final months of 2014.
The West Virginia Racing Commission is taking comments on a proposed resolution that would notify lawmakers it would like to see legislation in 2015 to change the required number of live racing dates to 185 each year.
A West Virginia circuit court has overturned the West Virginia Racing Commission's call for fines and suspensions for seven riders involved in a scandal alleging improperly reported riding weights at Charles Town in 2009.
The West Virginia Racing Commission Aug. 15 upheld a hearing officer's recommendation that Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort can't abandon December racing, but it allowed leeway should purse money not be available.
Officials at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort are in a battle with the Hancock County Board of Health over plans for an ordinance that would ban smoking in all public places, including outdoor areas.
Advance deposit wagering and historical race wagering are on the West Virginia Racing Commission's legislative wish list for 2015.
The West Virginia Racing Commission Aug. 1 hired Truesdail Laboratories in California to handle its equine drug testing and will ask the lab to test about 40 "cloudy samples" from a three-week period in July.
A West Virginia Circuit Court has reinstated the occupational permit of former Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races racing secretery Randy Wehrman.
The West Virginia Racing Commission June 17 overturned a woman's almost nine-year ban from Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and tabled action on a similar ejection of her husband.
The horsemen's group at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort has signed off on a plan to reduce racing days and the number of races at the West Virginia track later this year.
The West Virginia legislature ended a short special session May 21 and apparently left more than $14 million in gaming revenue to purses and breed development programs for horse and dog racing intact for fiscal year 2015.
The West Virginia Racing Commission May 20 signed off on several new regulations, including one that will allow the state to participate in the multiple medication violation penalty system that is part national model rules.
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort has asked the West Virginia Racing Commission for permission to drop 11 live racing programs in December and reduce the number of races it is scheduled to run in October and November.
Thoroughbred industry stakeholders in West Virginia will meet May 6 to consider changes in the state's racing rules, including a few related to the National Uniform Medication Program.
A husband and wife that have been banned from Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races for more than eight years in connection with a horseman's group civil lawsuit finally had their appeal heard Jan. 29.
A circuit court in West Virginia has upheld the penalties levied against trainer Chris Grove for a Class 1 positive at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in 2012.
The West Virginia Racing Commission will soon consider a penalty system for drug violations that dovetails with uniform model rules making their way through the state legislature.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races Jan. 21 received funding to install a camera surveillance system in its barn area and make upgrades to existing equipment.
An economic impact study shows the Thoroughbred and Greyhound racing and breeding industries account for at least $321 million a year in total business volume in West Virginia.
