Mountaineer Horseracing
Mountaineer Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Chester, West Virginia. It is located along the scenic Ohio River on West Virginia's North shore and is part of a bigger gaming resort complex. Located approximately 40 miles south of Youngstown, Ohio, 109 miles south of Cleveland, Ohio and 38 miles west of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mountaineer Park offers year-round live thoroughbred racing.
Mountaineer Park is often referred to as an "entergamement" complex as it offers three main draws: horseracing, live entertainment shows and slots gaming. In fact, it is well-known for its 3,200 slot machines. There are also facilities for conventions and special events.
Mountaineer Park hosts many important racing events in a year. Among these are the West Virginia Derby, WV Governor's Handicap, Mountaineer Mile Handicap, Panhandle Handicap, Labor Day Handicap, Autumn Leaves Handicap and the Mountain State Handicap.
Mountaineer Park Facts
- Main Track: 1 1/8 miles
- Turf Course: 1 mile
- Distance from last turn to finish line: 7/8 mile
Mountaineer Park Dirt Track Records
| Distance | Horse | Age | Weight | Time | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 Furlongs |
Promised Cruise | 6 | 120 lbs | :21.00 | June 23, 1990 |
4 ½ Furlongs |
Ameri Brilliance | 5 | 118 lbs | :50.16 | August 7, 2004 |
5 Furlongs |
Mayor Steve | 8 | 115 lbs | :55.92 | August 31, 2003 |
5 ½ Furlongs |
Silver Antelope | 4 | 120 lbs | 1:01.26 | November 19, 2014 |
6 Furlongs |
Hustler | 6 | 113 lbs | 1:07.81 | August 11, 2001 |
1 Mile |
Present Course | 5 | 120 lbs | 1:33.44 | November 19, 2014 |
1 1/16 Miles |
Be Like Mike | 4 | 110 lbs | 1:41.15 | August 9, 2003 |
1 1/8 Miles |
Soto | 3 | 111 lbs | 1:46.29 | August 9, 2003 |
Mountaineer Park Turf Track Records
| Distance | Horse | Age | Weight | Time | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 ½ Furlongs | Red Dwarf | 6 | 120 lbs | :48.96 | September 30, 2013 |
| 5 Furlongs | Beaujack | 5 | 120 lbs | :55.22 | June 26, 2012 |
| 7 Furlongs | Carters Gap | 5 | 120 lbs | 1:20.43 | May 23, 2015 |
| 7 ½ Furlongs | Trevor John | 6 | 120 lbs | 1:27.37 | June 12, 2016 |
| 1 Mile | Beckham Bend | 10 | 120 lbs | 1:33.30 | July 28, 2015 |
| 1 Mile, 70 Yards | Caribou Club | 5 | 119 lbs | 1:37.09 | August 3, 2019 |
| 1 3/8 Miles | Sunset Party | 5 | 113 lbs | 2:13.23 | September 26, 1999 |
| 1 ¾ Miles | Inaugural Address | 6 | 121 lbs | 2:53.35 | August 15, 2005 |
A Brief History of Mountaineer Park
Established in 1951 as a horseracing venue, Mountaineer Park historically focused its operations on pari-mutuel wagering and related amenities. Since the mid-1990s however, the Company has repositioned the facility as a gaming, convention and diversified entertainment destination. Its main sources of visitor traffic are Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Mountaineer Park has been substantially renovated and expanded, and has incrementally increased the number of slot machines as legislative developments either permitted or made their operation more profitable.
In 1987, new ownership renamed the venue Mountaineer Park, moving away from its original name, Waterford Park. By 1990, the track took its first step toward casino gaming when it was chosen for a state pilot program to test 165 video lottery machines.
The property changed hands in 1992 when it was sold to a company that soon became MTR Gaming Group. Following a new state law in 1994, Mountaineer rapidly expanded its slot machines, becoming the very first racetrack in the United States to successfully transform into a modern "racino."
The track's historical and cultural value was officially recognized in 2002 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
In December 2007, local voters approved an expansion that allowed Mountaineer to add 50 live casino table games, including blackjack, poker, and roulette, to its existing slot machines.
The resort entered a new corporate phase in 2014 by merging with Eldorado Resorts. A few years later, in 2019, the property expanded its betting options again by opening a retail sportsbook for sports wagering.
At the end of 2019, the property was sold again in a split deal. Vici Properties bought the actual land and buildings, while Century Casinos bought the business operations, taking over as the daily manager of the racetrack and resort.