One barn is in lockdown and movement of horses on or off the grounds has ceased, but training continues at Charles Town Races & Slots, the West Virginia track that instituted the precautions after a horse in its stable area displayed neurologic signs considered to be consistent with equine herpesvirus-1.
What is viewed as the strongest "open" racing card in the history of Charles Town Races & Slots will be held June 21, with the centerpiece of the evening a $200,000 invitational at the West Virginia track's signature 4 1/2-furlong distance.
Charles Town Races & Slots will offer its first "Speed Festival," the centerpiece of which is the $200,000 Charles Town Invitational Dash at the track's popular 4 1/2-furlong distance, on June 21.
In an April 7 conference call where an executive announced an end to a workers' strike at its signature racino, MTR Gaming Group also claimed its 2007 financial performance was a product of a four-year business plan to diversify and strengthen the company.
About 200 union workers walked off the job at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort the weekend of March 29, and they remained on strike March 31.
A quarantine at Charles Town Races & Slots in West Virginia was lifted March 13 after officials determined a horse stabled there was not suffering from equine herpesvirus.
A barn at Charles Town Races & Slots was placed under quarantine March 10 after a local veterinarian reported he was treating a 4-year-old filly for neurological symptoms of an unknown origin.
A horseman barred from the grounds of Charles Town Races & Slots is running for state office in West Virginia, and his opponent is a former Miss West Virginia who works for the company that excluded him.
Horsemen's groups are rallying around a couple banned from Charles Town Races & Slots in West Virginia because of what the track owner terms integrity issues.
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.
The life and accomplishments of Dale Baird, the all-time leading trainer by wins, were remembered in a "Celebration of Life" gathering at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort Jan. 14.
Trainer Dale Baird, who has won more than 9,400 races, was killed when his SUV crossed the median on I-70 in Indiana the evening of Dec. 23.
Two Thoroughbred tracks owned by MTR Gaming Group have scheduled 332 racing dates for 2008.
ArneaultCStn.jpg "Mountaineer Readies for Table Games")
The West Virginia Lottery Commission has authorized Mountaineer Casino Resort & Racetrack to conduct two nights of testing in preparation for the soon-to-be announced official opening of table games.
Play at poker tables in their first few weeks of operation at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort has exceeded expectations.
A new poker room and simulcast facility are open in the grandstand at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort, which earlier this year received state and county approval to add table games to its thousands of video lottery terminals.
West Virginia-bred horses from across the state are gearing up for the lucrative Oct. 20 Breeders' Classic races, which offer purses totaling $1.75 million at Charles Town Races & Slots Oct. 20.
At an Oct. 9 hearing in Kanawha County, W.V., Circuit Court, Judge Charles King ruled that Randy Funkhouser, president of the Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, would be allowed to enter his horses in the Oct. 20 West Virginia Breeders' Cup Classic pending the results of an independent arbiter's hearing.
The Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has hired racing industry veteran Lenny Hale as its new executive director, the organization announced Oct. 1.
If Maryland's Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley gets his way with the notoriously restive Maryland legislature this fall, the state's horseracing fans may at long last find slot machines installed at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course.
An audit of a vote on table games at a Greyhound racetrack near Charleston, W.Va., showed the measure passed 23,192-22,849, but there has been a call for a recount.
Contested election results indicate voters approved table games at a Kanawha County, W.Va., dog track located less than an hour from the eastern Kentucky border.
MTR Gaming Group realized a 40% increase in net revenues for the second quarter, according to financials released Aug. 9, but recorded a net loss of $502,000 as the company battled slots competition from neighboring Pennsylvania.
Ohio Derby (gr. II) champion Delightful Kiss and Lone Star Derby (gr. III) winner Slew's Tizzy headline a field of 10 for the 38th running of the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. III) at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort Aug. 4.
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.
Deductions for a new breed development program and statewide workers' compensation have led Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort to cut purses 20% across the board beginning July 10.
Voters in a local referendum June 30 approved the addition of table games at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort, giving management and horsemen hope the new offerings will boost business at the West Virginia facility and perhaps increase interest in the live racing product.
The company that owns Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort is attempting to focus on its core holdings, and on June 30 will find out whether it can add table games at the West Virginia facility.
A bid by Ohio racetracks to win approval for Instant Racing machines, which resemble video lottery terminals but are pari-mutuel in nature, is said to still have some life left despite an announcement by Gov. Ted Strickland that he would veto the measure.
Charles Town Races & Slots, owned by Penn National Gaming Inc., lost its bid to add table games in a June 9 referendum in Jefferson County, West Virginia.
Local referendums on the addition of table games at racetracks will be held in two West Virginia counties June 9. Votes in two other counties are set for June 30 and Aug. 11.
This year's West Virginia Breeders Classics is set for Oct. 19 at Charles Town Races Slots as part of a three-day celebration of the West Virginia-bred.
Four West Virginia counties plan local-option votes on the addition of table games at racetracks.
If West Virginia's governor signs legislation passed by both houses of the state legislature, voters in four counties will decide the fate of table games at four racetracks in the state.
The West Virginia Senate March 6 voted to legalize table games at the state's horse and dog racing tracks. The bill, which already passed the House of Delegates, must return there for concurrence.
The West Virginia Senate is schedule to vote on legislation to authorize table games at the state's four tracks, including Charles Town Races & Slots and Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort.
The West Virginia House of Delegates has approved legislation that would allow the counties in which four racetracks are located to vote on table games at the facilities, which already have video lottery terminals.
Legislation to authorize table games at West Virginia racetracks was introduced Jan. 30 in the state legislature.
Trainer Jami Poole, who lost the race for president of the Mountaineer Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association by only eight votes, has officially protested the organization's recent election.
Majesty Stud's Organizer ended a winless 2006 on Saturday, waking up at the right time to score a 22-1 victory in the $250,000 Empire Classic, the nine-furlong feature on Belmont Park's New York Showcase Day.
Todd Pletcher, the nation's reigning champion trainer, worked a number of his horses Sunday in preparation for grade I stakes appearances at Belmont Park Oct. 7.
Charles Town Races & Slots in West Virginia fired three placing judges who called the wrong order of finish for the second race Sept. 9, according to head state steward Danny Wright.
Funny Cide, who has been the pride of Sackatoga Stable, New York and Saratoga, put in the best workout for five furlongs over Saratoga's main track in 1:00, breezing, Thursday morning.
Finger Lakes Gaming & Racing will add almost 200 video lottery terminals as part of a $4-million expansion, but a top official with owner Delaware North indicated major racing-related projects, such as installation of a turf course and perhaps a synthetic surface, are closely linked to the VLT revenue model in New York.
Bright One, the talk of Churchill Downs after two impressive victories in maiden company and an overnight stakes, lived up to the hype Sunday afternoon when he toyed with nine foes in his graded-stakes debut and ran away with the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. III) at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort.
Shadwell Stable's Invasor, nearly overtaken by the surging Sun King, dug in for the final furlong to emerge with a nose victory in $750,000 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course Saturday.
It's hard to imagine this year's Whitney Handicap (gr. I) could top the 2005 running when the speedy Commentator held off a surging future Horse of the Year in Saint Liam.
Twelve 3-year-olds will square off Sunday afternoon in what appears to be a wide-open renewal of the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. III) at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort.
Deputy Glitters, High Cotton, and Flashy Bull, the top three finishers, respectively, in the Ohio Derby (gr. II) at Thistledown, and the lightly raced but impressive Bright One are among the 59 nominees for the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. III) at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort on Aug. 6.
Last at the top of the stretch, Seek Gold closed from out of the clouds to steal the $844,500 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) from Perfect Drift at the wire at odds of 91-1 at Churchill Downs Saturday.
