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Waterford Park
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Aerial view of the park (located in the riverbend) and its surroundings
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| Location: | WV 2, Newell, West Virginia |
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| Area: | 77 acres (31 ha) |
| Built: | 1949 |
| Architect: | Boyle, A.J. |
| Architectural style: | Moderne |
| Governing body: | Private |
| NRHP Reference#: |
02001528 [1] |
| Added to NRHP: | December 12, 2002 |
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort is a thoroughbred racetrack and casino resort located southwest of Chester, West Virginia (Wellsville, Ohio, across the Ohio River is actually closer), and owned by MTR Gaming Group.
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The name Mountaineer Race Track is new but the track existed long before it was named Mountaineer. The track was known as Waterford Park prior to 1990. The track was authorized to have slot machines and installed them in 1994.
With the revenue that a casino of 3,200 slots, table games, and a hotel resort provides, the Mountaineer Gaming Group (Nasdaq: MNTG), the owners of Mountaineer are able to offer very good purses. The reputation of the track changed from being one of an old, run-down facility which raced only claimers to a track which was decent and respectable.
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort's image is further enhanced by nationwide coverage of the track's West Virginia Derby, a Grade II race that has significantly grown in stature and purse in the past decade. The 2010 race is scheduled for August 7, 2010. This first Saturday in August traditionally has been the day the Derby takes place, and is the only day of the calendar that the track offers afternoon racing. Otherwise, the races are run at night, at 7pm (Eastern Time).
Mountaineer announced the opening of its casino table games for December 20, 2007. The resort furnishes its gamblers with 50 casino table games. Among these are blackjack, three card poker, and roulette.
The track has a main dirt track with a one mile oval. The turf course is seven furlongs long and inside the dirt. The track is curved slightly in the front stretch. The track also has a large casino and resort on site.
With the construction of the casino and resort at Mountaineer, the quality of racing has increased hugely. The track has been able to offer purses much higher than those in neighboring states and thus have attracted larger field and the products of such a higher parimutuel handle and better attendance. Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort had been considered as a possible host for the 2009 Breeders' Cup, but it was awarded to Santa Anita [2]. The track runs many stakes and overnight handicaps. Here, in order, are the stakes that ran at Mountaineer in 2005:
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