Hollywood casino at charles town races

Since it was founded in , the race track at Charles Town has seen- and made- history. During its year run, the track has welcomed historical figures, teetered on the brink of collapse, and reemerged as a premiere gaming and entertainment facility.



The facility officially opened as Jefferson County Races on December 3, The original owners, Albert and Joseph Boyle, spent $, - a huge sum during the height of the Depression - to build the facility the facility.



The Boyles had bet that Charles Town would draw crowds as the only northern track to hold races during the winter season, and they were right. Even with freezing temperatures and odds being calculated by slide rule, the grandstand overflowed. Train service from Baltimore boosted attendance, and the track continued to thrive through World War II.



In , Hall of Fame jockey Bill began his career here, going on to win 4, races, including nine Triple Crown races. Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy held a large rally at the track in , and J. Edgar Hoover was a frequent visitor during the era. In , 19 year old Barbara Jo Rubin rode into history at Charles Town, becoming the first jockey to win a pari-mutuel race in the United States.



In , NFL Hall of Famer Sam Huff organized the first West Virginia Breeders' Classics. That year local favorite Onion Juice won the inaugural running and the state's first $, purse. Now the event boasts $1,, in purses.



During the s, purses fell, leading to dwindling attendance and fewer high-caliber horses. The track's future was in serious doubt; as recently as , observers feared the facility would close. Then, during the fall of , voters approved video lottery machines at Charles Town. Penn National Gaming agreed to purchase the facility in , and immediately began a $,, upgrade of the venue.



By , Charles Town Races & Slots had added simulcast racing, numerous dining options, and 3, slot machines. Gaming boosted daily horse racing purses to more than $, a day with each race averaging over nine starters.

In July , Charles Town Races & Slots got a Hollywood Facelift - complete with renovations to the gaming floor that invokes the glitz and glamour of s' art deco Hollywood AND the addition of table games!

Today, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is a world-class entertainment venue featuring 3, slot machines, over  table games including Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, live poker, Mini-Baccarat and Pai Gow Poker, live entertainment, a wide range of food and beverage choices, and live and simulcast horse racing. The facility's ¾ mile surface now attracts some of the East Coast's best trainers, horses and jockeys.