Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack

1940s postcard showing grandstand

Location| Wheeling, West Virginia
Owned by| Delaware North
Date opened| 1937
Race type| Greyhound
Official website

Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack (formerly Wheeling Downs) is a greyhound racino located on Wheeling Island in the middle of the Ohio River, which is a part of the city of Wheeling, West Virginia. It is located just off the Wheeling Island exit of I-70, about two hours east of Columbus, Ohio. The casino is also located approximately one hour southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Since January 2023, Wheeling Island is one of only two live greyhound tracks in the United States, along with Mardi Gras Casino and Resort in Nitro, West Virginia. Both are owned by Delaware North.

## History

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Wheeling Downs began its life as a thoroughbred horse race track in 1937 and continued in that capacity until a 1962 fire heavily damaged the property, keeping it closed for the next 5 years.[1] When it reopened, it switched to standardbred harness racing. During this period, attendance at the park languished.[2]

Greyhound racing was introduced in August 1976, in order to boost both attendance and revenue. It was at this point that horse races ended.[3] During the 1980s, Wheeling Downs ranked third or fourth in the country in amounts wagered in the then 42 dog tracks around the country.[4]

Slot machines first arrived in 1994.[5] In June 2007, as revenue from greyhound racing declined, Ohio County voters approved a referendum permitting table games. These were rolled out in phases later that year, with poker first appearing on October 19 and the other games on December 20.

From fall 2012 to 2015, the casino served as the site of the Wheeling Jamboree, the second oldest country music radio broadcast in the United States after the Grand Ole Opry.[6]

## Ownership

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The Ogden Corporation bought the track in 1969, and were the ones who introduced greyhound racing.[7][8] In 1988, Ogden sold Wheeling Downs to Delaware North,[9] a global food service and hospitality company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. From 1994 to 2001, Delaware North co-owned Wheeling Downs with Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel.[10][11]

## Current Facility

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Greyhounds racing at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack in October 2022. Live greyhounds in the background and statues in the foreground.

As of 2024, Wheeling Island Casino features slot machines, which are marketed under the term 'video lottery' in West Virginia, live greyhound racing, and off-track betting for both greyhound and horse racing. In addition, there are table games including poker, blackjack, craps, and roulette. Wheeling Island features several restaurants and food operations as well,[12] in addition to live concerts and boxing.[13]

Greyhound racing is conducted each afternoon from Wednesday through Sunday at 1 PM, with Monday and Tuesday being dark days without racing.[14] Each day's racing program consists of between 15 and 20 races. Spectators are admitted free and races can also be streamed online.[15]

The facility has a "tropical" theme, with a logo features a palm tree and tropical colors, although Wheeling Island is located far from the tropics. However, Wheeling Island, a low-lying area surrounded by the Ohio River, is prone to flooding. Consequently, the casino floor is elevated some ten-and-one-half feet above ground level, in an attempt to avoid flooding in the event of a hundred-year flood.

## See also

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* Greyhound racing in the United States
* Mardi Gras Casino and Resort
* List of casinos in West Virginia
* List of casinos in the United States
* List of casino hotels

## References

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1. ^ "Wheeling Island Casino Racetrack History | Wheeling Island, WV". www.wheelingisland.com. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
2. ^ "Beaver County Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
3. ^ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
4. ^ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
5. ^ "Wheeling Island Casino Racetrack History | Wheeling Island, WV". www.wheelingisland.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
6. ^ "The Wheeling Jamboree - News and Press Releases". www.wheelingjamboree.org. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
7. ^ Going to the dogs: Since converting from horses, Wheeling Downs has boomed
8. ^ Owner Of Waterford Selling Out
9. ^ Wheeling Downs Purchased
10. ^ DELAWARE NORTH SELLS 50% STAKE IN RACE TRACK
11. ^ Sportsystems Buys Out Racetrack Partner for $105 Million
12. ^ "Restaurants & Dining Wheeling, WV | Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack". www.wheelingisland.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
13. ^ "Big Night of Boxing Is Ahead at Wheeling Island Casino". theintelligencer.net. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
14. ^ "West Virginia Greyhound Racing Schedule | Wheeling Island Racetrack, WV". www.wheelingisland.com. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
15. ^ "Live Greyhound Racing at Wheeling Island Racetrack, WV | Near Pittsburgh & Washington, PA & Youngstown, OH". www.wheelingisland.com. Retrieved October 23, 2023.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wheeling Downs.

* WheelingIsland.com - Official Site

* v
* t
* e

The northern panhandle of West Virginia

Counties|

* Brooke
* Hancock
* Marshall
* Ohio

Communities|

* Beech Bottom
* Benwood
* Bethlehem
* Bethany
* Cameron
* Chester
* Clearview
* Follansbee
* Glen Dale
* McMechen
* Moundsville
* New Cumberland
* New Vrindaban
* Triadelphia
* Valley Grove
* Weirton
* Wellsburg
* West Liberty
* Wheeling
* Wheeling Island
* Windsor Heights

Casinos|

* Mountaineer Casino Resort
* Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack

College and Universities|

* Bethany College
* West Liberty University
* West Virginia Northern Community College
* Wheeling University

Entertainment and Shopping|

* Capitol Theatre
* The Highlands
* Wheeling Jamboree

Historic Sites|

* West Virginia Independence Hall
* West Virginia State Penitentiary
* Wheeling Suspension Bridge

Other Attractions|

* Chester Teapot
* Palace of Gold

Parks|

* Grave Creek Mound
* Tomlinson Run State Park
* Oglebay Park

* v
* t
* e

Greyhound tracks in the United States

Open|

* Mardi Gras (WV)
* Wheeling Island (WV)

Defunct|

* Southland (AR)
* Big Easy (FL)
* Derby Lane (FL)
* Hialeah Park Race Track (FL)
* Horseshoe Council Bluffs (IA)
* Q Casino (IA)
* Seabrook Greyhound Park (NH)
* Bally's Twin River Lincoln (RI)
* Green Mountain Race Track (VT)

Demolished|

* The Woodlands (KS)
* Hinsdale Greyhound Park (NH)
* Wonderland Greyhound Park (MA)
* Multnomah Greyhound Park (OR)

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