Delegates weigh in on racing issue
By JEN MATSICK/jmatsick@reviewonline.comNEWELL - State delegates Pat McGeehan and Randy Swartzmiller have voiced their opinions about Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort's potential four-month cancellation of live horse racing.
McGeehan confirmed Monday that the Hancock County resort is currently in private contract negotiations with the Mountaineer Park Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA).
It is unknown whether the resort's original request to close live horse racing for four months remains unaltered.
"Year-round horse racing is a great part of our culture here in Hancock County, and I hope people continue to recognize that," McGeehan said. "Thanks to year-round racing, we've attracted a lot of good people who are an investment to our community."
McGeehan added that he disapproves of what he sees as Mountaineer's attempt to change their original contract agreement.
"Mountaineer exists as the result of a Democratic election, but this election was held under the premise that Mountaineer would conduct year-round racing," McGeehan said. "This is the law, and I don't intend to vote to change it. Doing so would rob the people of their voice."
Swartzmiller also voiced his support of year-round racing at Mountaineer, but speculated about the resort's motives.
"Are they doing this to the horsemen to increase their profit, or are they truly trying to do this to stay in business?" Swartzmiller wondered. "You take four months of income away from anybody, it's going to hurt their livelihood, and it's going to hurt the local economy."
Swartzmiller added that he hopes Mountaineer will consider all the options before pushing for the four-month closure.
"I'm in support of horse racing year round. I'm in support of that, and if there's no reason to change that then I don't think we should," Swartzmiller said. "I think that it's (the four-month cancellation) something that really needs to be carefully considered before any decisions are made," Swartzmiller said.
Other local leaders, including County commissioners Mike Swartzmiller and Dan Greathouse, have previously shared their opinions on the potential schedule change. Both commissioners spoke against the change and in support of year-round racing for the benefit of the horsemen and the local economy.
New Cumberland council member Jack Watson also shared his opinion, which ran in agreement with those of the commissioners.
Mountaineer previously submitted a request to the West Virginia Racing Commission asking for permission to rearrange its 2010 live horse racing schedule, which would result in no live horse racing in January, February, November, or December.
The resort's request was met with dissension by the Mountaineer Park HBPA because horsemen in the area who have depended on year-round racing at Mountaineer would be out of work for four months if the request is approved.
Currently, Mountaineer conducts live horse racing year-round with the exception of Super Bowl Sunday, Easter, and Christmas. Races are held Saturday - Tuesday from January to March, and Friday - Tuesday from March to December. Live horse racing is only cancelled if weather or track conditions are not appropriate for a race.
The West Virginia Racing Commission is scheduled to discuss Mountaineer's 2010 racing schedule at its meeting Dec. 7.
