CT - Strong After 80 Years
Dec 29, 2013 14:41:03 GMT -5
Post by Evelyn on Dec 29, 2013 14:41:03 GMT -5
Running strong at 80
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races celebrates milestone
The Journal, Martinsburg, W Va
By Jessica Manuel
CHARLES TOWN - Walking into Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races seems like stepping through a time warp to the 1930s, full of glitz and glam.
Though it may be the signature style of the company, the decor fits Charles Town Races perfectly, bringing the current track back to its original days.
Dec. 2 marked the 80th anniversary of the race track.
Volunteer historian Ann Hilton helped create the history walls at the track depicting the transition of the early days to now.
"(Fans) just enjoy looking at the old pictures," Hilton said. "(Hollywood Casino has been) very supportive, showing a commitment to our racing with our history walls."
It all began when Albert and Joseph Boyle opened the track on an eventful December day in 1933, and from there, it grew into a local icon and a place for some racing firsts.
"It was the first winter racing in the nation, really," Hilton said.
Barbara Jo Rubin became the first female jockey to win a pari-mutuel race in the country in 1969, and Hall of Fame jockey Bill Hartack began his career at Charles Town in 1954.
Hartack went on to win more than 4,000 races, including five Kentucky Derbys, three Preakness races and one Belmont.
To draw more crowds to the race track, management hired entertainment to perform prior to the horses running. Everyone from Johnny Cash to Tammy Wynette to Tina Turner took the stage in Charles Town. Turner was just about to hit it big in terms of her popularity when she came to town.
"They couldn't have gotten her the following year," Hilton laughed. "We had all the biggest stars you could think of."
Tickets to the shows were very inexpensive. Posters from the shows listed tickets at less than $10.
The stars didn't just show up to sing. Charles Town Races has been visited by many celebrities, sometimes in person and sometimes not, throughout its 80 years, increasing attendance more.
The track broadcast the Sugar Ray Leonard-Thomas Hearns fight on a closed circuit TV.
"That night, there were 21,000 people in attendance," Hilton said.
John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy, as well as J. Edgar Hoover, a track regular, visited the race track to meet the local people.
"(Kennedy) was here for a Democratic rally when he was a senator when he was running for president," Hilton said. "He gave a speech in front of the local people. It was on his campaign tour."
The times weren't always so great for the track, but somehow, it always found a way to push through the struggles.
The first problems came in early 1979 when the track shut down after both Charles Town and Shenandoah Downs were purchased by the Kenton Corporation. Shenandoah Downs shut down a year after reopening under the new management, but Charles Town held on until the next year.
Kenton closed down the track, not willing to reopen without Sunday racing and reduced state taxes. Management won, and the track proved to be tough in the face of adversity.
"They've had a lot of controversies over the years. The usual things," Hilton said.
Once again in the '90s, Charles Town Races faced the threat of closing. Poor attendance and a lack of horses left a very uncertain future for the track.
"They thought: what's the use of continuing this?" Hilton said. "There were controversies between the horsemen and management."
With the addition of other forms of gambling, the track was able to pull through and become the icon it is today.
After 80 years, there was only one thing left to do: celebrate the event.
On Dec. 16, local politicians joined the track's biggest supporters for dinner. State Sen. John Unger, a local whose father worked for the race track when Unger was younger, presented a senatorial certificate in the Winner's Circle to commemorate the success.
"That was a surprise to everyone," said Dickie Moore, grand manager of racing operations. "We thought that was a fabulous idea that he had."
Moore sat with Unger during the dinner while Hilton sat at a nearby table, where she could overhear the conversation. She said they talked about the old days at the track and enjoyed reminiscing.
"He was very interested," she said of the senator. "They just had a good time discussing old times. He realized 80 years is special.
"I think he was just very happy to be able to celebrate with us."
Moore agreed with Hilton after spending the evening with Unger.
"He was very tickled that it happened, and he was a part of it," Moore said.
Penn National Gaming, the parent company of the facility, did not respond to a request for a statement on the milestone.
With years of rich history, talking about the past seems inevitable for anyone who's been part of the track. Hilton especially, whose roots go back to that very first day in 1933.
Her father, a trainer for 50 years, ran a horse, Electric Gas, in the third race on the first day.
"He came in next-to-last place," she laughed. "We're just a family that's always been involved in horses.
"It's a really neat part of this community. I'm going to think positive and hope that we'll continue."
After eight decades of survival and pulling through two shutdowns, it seems like Charles Town Races will likely be around for another 80 years.
1940's
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races celebrates milestone
The Journal, Martinsburg, W Va
By Jessica Manuel
CHARLES TOWN - Walking into Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races seems like stepping through a time warp to the 1930s, full of glitz and glam.
Though it may be the signature style of the company, the decor fits Charles Town Races perfectly, bringing the current track back to its original days.
Dec. 2 marked the 80th anniversary of the race track.
Volunteer historian Ann Hilton helped create the history walls at the track depicting the transition of the early days to now.
"(Fans) just enjoy looking at the old pictures," Hilton said. "(Hollywood Casino has been) very supportive, showing a commitment to our racing with our history walls."
It all began when Albert and Joseph Boyle opened the track on an eventful December day in 1933, and from there, it grew into a local icon and a place for some racing firsts.
"It was the first winter racing in the nation, really," Hilton said.
Barbara Jo Rubin became the first female jockey to win a pari-mutuel race in the country in 1969, and Hall of Fame jockey Bill Hartack began his career at Charles Town in 1954.
Hartack went on to win more than 4,000 races, including five Kentucky Derbys, three Preakness races and one Belmont.
To draw more crowds to the race track, management hired entertainment to perform prior to the horses running. Everyone from Johnny Cash to Tammy Wynette to Tina Turner took the stage in Charles Town. Turner was just about to hit it big in terms of her popularity when she came to town.
"They couldn't have gotten her the following year," Hilton laughed. "We had all the biggest stars you could think of."
Tickets to the shows were very inexpensive. Posters from the shows listed tickets at less than $10.
The stars didn't just show up to sing. Charles Town Races has been visited by many celebrities, sometimes in person and sometimes not, throughout its 80 years, increasing attendance more.
The track broadcast the Sugar Ray Leonard-Thomas Hearns fight on a closed circuit TV.
"That night, there were 21,000 people in attendance," Hilton said.
John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy, as well as J. Edgar Hoover, a track regular, visited the race track to meet the local people.
"(Kennedy) was here for a Democratic rally when he was a senator when he was running for president," Hilton said. "He gave a speech in front of the local people. It was on his campaign tour."
The times weren't always so great for the track, but somehow, it always found a way to push through the struggles.
The first problems came in early 1979 when the track shut down after both Charles Town and Shenandoah Downs were purchased by the Kenton Corporation. Shenandoah Downs shut down a year after reopening under the new management, but Charles Town held on until the next year.
Kenton closed down the track, not willing to reopen without Sunday racing and reduced state taxes. Management won, and the track proved to be tough in the face of adversity.
"They've had a lot of controversies over the years. The usual things," Hilton said.
Once again in the '90s, Charles Town Races faced the threat of closing. Poor attendance and a lack of horses left a very uncertain future for the track.
"They thought: what's the use of continuing this?" Hilton said. "There were controversies between the horsemen and management."
With the addition of other forms of gambling, the track was able to pull through and become the icon it is today.
After 80 years, there was only one thing left to do: celebrate the event.
On Dec. 16, local politicians joined the track's biggest supporters for dinner. State Sen. John Unger, a local whose father worked for the race track when Unger was younger, presented a senatorial certificate in the Winner's Circle to commemorate the success.
"That was a surprise to everyone," said Dickie Moore, grand manager of racing operations. "We thought that was a fabulous idea that he had."
Moore sat with Unger during the dinner while Hilton sat at a nearby table, where she could overhear the conversation. She said they talked about the old days at the track and enjoyed reminiscing.
"He was very interested," she said of the senator. "They just had a good time discussing old times. He realized 80 years is special.
"I think he was just very happy to be able to celebrate with us."
Moore agreed with Hilton after spending the evening with Unger.
"He was very tickled that it happened, and he was a part of it," Moore said.
Penn National Gaming, the parent company of the facility, did not respond to a request for a statement on the milestone.
With years of rich history, talking about the past seems inevitable for anyone who's been part of the track. Hilton especially, whose roots go back to that very first day in 1933.
Her father, a trainer for 50 years, ran a horse, Electric Gas, in the third race on the first day.
"He came in next-to-last place," she laughed. "We're just a family that's always been involved in horses.
"It's a really neat part of this community. I'm going to think positive and hope that we'll continue."
After eight decades of survival and pulling through two shutdowns, it seems like Charles Town Races will likely be around for another 80 years.
1940's
