Mountaineer, Charles Town OK'd to Cut Dates

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, based on a hearing officer's recommendation, allowed Mountaineer to drop live racing in December because management estimates the track won't have sufficient purse money available to pay for the 14 nights of racing.

Charles Town was approved to drop seven Tuesday night programs in November and December, which will make for four-day racing weeks through the end of the year. Earlier, the WVRC granted a request by Charles Town not to make up 20 racing programs lost earlier this year due to weather and track conditions.

The Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association board did not oppose the requests.

Mountaineer director of racing Rose Mary Williams said the move was based on revenue estimates and was being taken now because the track needed to provide wagering outlets with advance notice of the schedule change. She also said any purse revenue accrued in December would carry over to 2015.

Mountaineer, which no longer races in January or February, will be dark for three consecutive months. However, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, which will begin its inaugural meet in late November near Youngstown, Ohio, is located about three-quarters of an hour away and will race those three months.

West Virginia officials have said reductions in video lottery terminal revenue for racing because of legislative money grabs, coupled with fewer horses available to race, have led to a need to revise racing schedules in the state.