November 7th, 2009 by casino

What a performance. Circled the field and won increasing her lead.

Zenyatta, What a filly!

October 23rd, 2009 by casino

From the Journal News:

CHARLES TOWN – Three organizations that represent the interests of area horsemen have joined the growing list of agencies that are standing in support of table games in Jefferson County.

In recent days, the West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Association, along with the West Virginia Breeders Classics LTD, have offered endorsements of the games at Charles Town Races & Slots. They join the Charles Town Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, which offered its own letter of support nearly a year ago.

The groups are part of a wave of local agencies that have offered endorsements for the games in the lead-up to a Dec. 5 vote by Jefferson County residents. Voters will have the chance to decide whether black jack, poker, roulette and other similar offerings should be permitted locally.

Until now, however, questions have remained about whether those in the horse racing industry would back the proposal.

“People have asked if the horsemen are on board. We’re happy to report that they are firmly in support of the table games referendum,” stated Al Britton, general manager of Charles Town Races & Slots. “The horsemen and breeders recognize that the passage of table games is vital to maintaining the racing industry and green space in Jefferson County.”

Britton said some people in the community believe that these groups are opposed to the measure, but he noted that that is not the case.

“There’s this notion out there that it’s not a good deal for the horsemen, yet you have … all three groups endorsing the move,” he said.

Much of this concern, Britton said, is centered around the belief by some that table games will cause revenues from slot machines to take a dip, thus decreasing purse funds for area horsemen.

“There’s this misunderstanding that table games are going to decrease slot revenue. That’s what they’re concerned about. It’s not going to do that,” he said. “It’s going to increase revenue. Just from a logical perspective, folks need to recognize that.”

In a letter of support from the Thoroughbred Association, group members stated that the majority of its board of directors believed the games will help protect and possibly bolster the revenues Charles Town Races & Slots generates for purse funds. That could enable the industry to continue to help preserve open space in the community, they noted.

“This allows West Virginia breeders to continue to produce and raise Thoroughbred horses right here in Jefferson County,” the letter stated. “Our industry by its very nature protects the county’s farmland and green spaces from further development.”

The West Virginia Breeders Classic LTD agreed that the games could be good news for those involved in the local horse racing industry. The group noted that earlier additions to the offerings at Charles Town Races & Slots also had positive results for them.

“There is no doubt that the slots bill has breathed new life into racing at Charles Town. Because of that, the Classics’ Board wholeheartedly supports and endorses the passage of table games to be operated by (Charles Town Races & Slot’s parent company) Penn National Gaming Inc.,” the group stated.

Earlier this week, Britton touted the games at two town hall-style meetings. He cited increased competition from slot machines that soon will be operating in Maryland as one of the many reasons why residents should consider supporting the measure.

John Finamore, senior vice president of regional operations for Penn National Gaming, said Thursday that Charles Town’s heaviest competition could come from slot machines that are expected to be added in Maryland’s Anne Arundel County, and Baltimore City, two of the five locations where slots were permitted under a measure approved by the state’s voters.

Once permits are issued in those areas and construction begins on new gaming facilities there, Finamore said Charles Town could lose some of its current customers who travel from Maryland, Washing, D.C., and parts of Virginia. He hopes that table games will be up and running in Jefferson County before slot machines are in place in these two locations, thus increasing the diversity of the local facility’s offerings and possibly retaining some of these customers.

“We want to be out in front of Anne Arundel and Baltimore,” he said.

If they are approved, Finamore said the company hopes to have table games operational in Jefferson County by the summer of 2010.

The games’ addition isn’t the only project Penn National is working on though, Finamore noted. The company also recently received permit approval to open a new facility in Cecil County, Md.

Construction on that facility is expected to get under way in the near future. Once completed, it is expected to house 1,500 slot machines, less than a third of the number of machines currently in place in Charles Town.

Finamore said Penn National’s new venture in Maryland is not expected to pose a threat to Charles Town, and will instead compete more directly with gaming establishments in Delaware.

“The Cecil County location, looking at our database and what we know about the market, will have zero effect on Charles Town,” he said.

October 9th, 2009 by casino

The tough economy continues to effect horseracing. Results from the recent Fasig Tipton yearling sale in Md. showed continued softness in the thoroughbred market.

According to Bloodhorse magazine:

The Sale-topper of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern fall yearling sale: Hip #473; colt; Harlan's Holiday - Keep It Going by Yankee Victor brought $300,000.

 

The gross revenue plunged 31.6% while the average price dropped 14.6%. The median plummeted 38.9%

“There is not a great deal of strength in any sector of our marketplace right now,” said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning. “We are seeing an adjustment that’s taking place through all levels of the Thoroughbred industry in the sales world. The results of this sale reflect the economic reality of the Thoroughbred business on a regional basis right now, and it’s very difficult.”

The 387 yearlings that sold grossed $5,616,450 and averaged $14,513. The median price was $5,500. Last year, 483 horses were sold for a gross of $8,211,600. The average was $17,001, and the median was $9,000.

The buy-back/no bid rate fell from 35.9% in 2008 to 27.1% this year.

While many breeders will struggle to survive, owners and prospective owners are getting a rare chance to acquire quality bloodstock at reduced prices.

October 8th, 2009 by casino

Racing and training have resumed at Penn National after the cancellation last Friday night. Jockeys had refused to ride due to rocks on the racing surface from the recent resurfacing.

Training at Penn National

October 4th, 2009 by casino

Penn National

Friday October 2, 2009,  The entire card was cancelled at Penn National as riders refused to race over the the newly installed surface. According to reports Penn had just recieved 8,000 tons of silt in an effort to make the racing surface more stable and usable for the local horses.

Picking rocks at Penn National, the day after 10/3/09

According to an owner I spoke with on Friday night the surface had to many rocks and the jockeys felt it was unsafe, so they refused to ride the scheduled races.

Saturday morning revealed the track crews sifting and picking rocks off the racing surface. The races for the evening were held and hopefully the issue has been resolved.

Last month racing had been cancelled for the resurfacing after an inordinate number of breakdowns were occurring. This left the local horsemen with out a training or racing venue for several weeks as Penn National rebuilt the surface.

Penn National backstretch

Prior to the resurfacing the local horsemen had requested a new synthetic racing surface. However the reported $8 million price tag probably stood in the way of that request.

Hopefully the problems have been resolved and racing can continue. Nobody wins when the horses can’t train or race, the owners can’t earn purse money and the track can’t accept wagers.