tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post4109300610074709127..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: Expansion on the Table in West VirginiaAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-30503330525764699752007-02-14T20:41:00.000-05:002007-02-14T20:41:00.000-05:00This is a tough one for me, as much as I love hors...This is a tough one for me, as much as I love horse racing.<BR/><BR/>I grew up in the Ohio Valley about 45 minutes from Mountaineer, which was, at that time, Waterford Park. My first racing experiences were at that track, and I still enjoy watching simulcasts from there.<BR/><BR/>That part of West Virginia is poor and a very depressed area. The excellent facilities at Mountaineer, a new resort, the casino, and even the track, have brought people and jobs to this area. It's a nice place, and fun to go to the races in the summer.<BR/><BR/>I'd like to see them be successful for that reason. With casinos coming to Pittsburgh, this is going to bring stiff competition. So table games might give them the edge.<BR/><BR/>Although I do want to see them keep the horse racing. The slot money has dramatically raised the purses, meaning at the low level claimers, they get the best of that bunch from the region.<BR/><BR/>To sum it up, I'd like to see Mountaineer be successful and continue to offer decent low end racing. Heck, they're about the only game in town on Tuesday nights-their Saturday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-54461526001258336792007-02-14T17:06:00.000-05:002007-02-14T17:06:00.000-05:00There was a brief note in today's issue of the Sta...There was a brief note in today's issue of the Star-Telegram that that <A HREF="http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB1405" REL="nofollow">legislation</A> had been [once again] been filed to legalize video slot machines in Texas. Rather unusual since I have not read anything on the Texas racing sites. A few years ago, MEC spent bushels of money lobbying for slots and now I hear nothing but a little blurb in the paper??? I couldn't even find it on the Star-Telegram site!<BR/><BR/>Hope the link works ... Texas HB 1405, filed 2/13/07.suebrouxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14266413999194928332noreply@blogger.com