WV 'Postpones' Effort to Alter Racing Dates

A month after approving a resolution to examine racing dates in the state, the West Virginia Racing Commission Nov. 18 backed away from the plan amid reports the state legislature will authorize a study of the Thoroughbred and Greyhound industries.

The resolution offered by WVRC member Bill Phillips and approved in October, was designed to begin stakeholder discussions on writing legislation that would change the minimum number of racing dates required each year at the state's four tracks. The idea is to give the WVRC more flexibility on racing dates so it can maximize state revenue based on market conditions.

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort by law are required to request 220 days and 210 days, respectively, each year. Reductions in video lottery terminal revenue—because of competition from other casinos or legislative money grabs—has forced the racetracks and horsemen's groups to trim schedules this year to conserve purse money.

In late October WVRC executive director John Myers sent a note to industry stakeholders thanking them for their interest in serving on a committee that was to fashion racing dates legislation, telling them the effort has been "postponed" because of a study requested by lawmakers. No details were provided.

Phillips, at the Nov. 18 racing commission meeting, pressed for details and said industry stakeholders deserve an explanation as to why the meeting to devise legislation on dates had been canceled.

"I think the expertise of all stakeholders could be invaluable," Phillips said. "This is a grave mistake. Who requested the (industry) study? I'm on the racing commission and I learned about it second-hand. I question the objective of this. We are the racing commission, and we should have input on this."

"I wholeheartedly disagree with you," WVRC chairman Jack Rossi told Phillips. "We need to move forward and discuss this at another time. It's my understanding the Senate president and Speaker of the House requested the study. For us to go forward (with meetings on racing dates) is tantamount to wasting time."

Phillips vehemently disagreed and said the issue of a viable racing industry in West Virginia is too important to ignore.

Kelli Talbott, senior deputy attorney general for the WVRC, said state statute does set the minimum number of racing dates that can be requested, but also said regulators can consider factors such as in-state and out-of-state circuits and racing dates that increase revenue for the state. She said just because a track is approved for 220 days doesn't mean the WVRC can't revisit the schedule.

The meeting included a discussion among stakeholders about competition for horses and betting dollars from neighboring states. Charles Town and Mountaineer are located about five hours apart and don't rely on the same pool of horses to fill races.

"Our challenge will be in Ohio," Mountaineer director of racing Rose Mary Williams said of the opening of the new Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course near Youngstown, a primary market for Mountaineer. "Both of us have different challenges that are outside our borders."

"I'm more worried about losing horses (to other tracks) in the Mid-Atlantic," said Charles Town director of racing operations Erich Zimny. "Some folks are more inclined to eat what they kill rather than work with all stakeholders."

Phillip Reale, a Greyhound industry lobbyist, told the WVRC it should be directly involved in setting the agenda for the racing industry going forward.

"The racing commission has an obligation to take a closer look in the community of dog and horse racing so there are optimum circumstances for all stakeholders," Reale said. "We are at a state of change, at a crossroads for this industry."

The West Virginia dog racing and breeding industry has been particularly concerned about rumors that some members of the state legislature in 2015 may attempt to "decouple" Greyhound racing from casino gambling at tracks. By law racetracks in the state must offer live racing to have VLTs; decoupling would remove that requirement.

Mardi Gras West Virginia Casino & Hotel and Wheeling Island Hotel, Casino & Racetrack combined offer more than 500 Greyhound performances per year and pay some of the highest purses in the country for dog racing because of VLT revenue.