Thoroughbreds at the Gate at Hollywood Gaming
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – Today is a day when racetrack clichés make it to the finish line. At 12:45 p.m., thoroughbreds are off and running as horse-racing enthusiasts bet the new Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course will win, place and show for the Mahoning Valley.
“Penn National Gaming has really come through for the Valley. Commission, members, horsemen -- everybody you talk to -- recognizes that Penn National has done a great job of building a facility that should serve the Valley for long time to come,” says Mark Munroe, a Boardman resident and member of the Ohio State Racing Commission.
All five members of the commission, including its chairman, Robert K.Schmitz, will be at the one-mile track this noon for the ribbon-cutting, remarks and the traditional “Call to the Post” by the All-American Buglers.
Munroe says today’s festivities signal the resurrection of Ohio’s horse racing industry that 20 years ago, he notes, was a billion dollar industry that employed upwards of 25,000.
“I don’t think anybody expects the industry to get back to those glory days. Over the past 10- to 15 years, horse racing has been on life support, but now it’s coming back to life.”
Eighty-one thoroughbreds will compete in eight races with a trophy and blanket presentation following the inaugural race. Racing will continue through Dec. 30, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays with a 12:45 p.m. post time.
“We’re eager to get racing,” said Mark Loewe, vice president of Ohio racing operations for Penn National. “We think the quality of the racetrack, the grandstand, the barn area and the other facilities we’ve built for our horsemen have created a premier racing venue that will attract fans and horsemen alike.”
In 2015, the 100-day season will begin Jan. 5 and run through April 25. Racing will resume Oct. 30 and conclude for the year Dec. 29.
Penn National, based in Wyomissing, Pa., operates 12 racetracks, four of them in Ohio.
The racetrack here has 988 horse stalls, most of which “are pretty much booked out right now and we expect in the next couple of months that a waiting list will begin to develop,” says Munroe. As for the number of available thoroughbred to complete the race cards, “Early numbers suggest our starting fields are going to exceed national averages. We know that already from the number of horsemen applying to race in Austintown,” he says.
Patrons can watch the races from 1,000 grandstand seats inside the casino building that houses 850 video lottery terminal machines as well as restaurants and bars. The gaming floors opened Sept. 17, providing jobs for some 400 full-time employees.
Today’s opening ceremonies for the race course will follow a VIP reception at 11 a.m.
Among those scheduled to speak at the public event are Dave Basler, executive director of the Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Mark Loewe, vice president of Ohio racing operations for Penn National Gaming Inc., and Mike Galle, general manager of Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.
In October, the first full month of VLT operations here, bettors wagered $79.8 million in cash and credits, won $70.0 million in credits and received $259,212 in promotional play credits for a net win of $8.6 million. The percent payout was 89.2%.
“We’ve had big crowds since our gaming facility opened in September,” Galle said in a statement released Monday morning. “We think the beginning of live racing will bring a whole new group of people to Hollywood Gaming, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer this brand-new entertainment experience to the people of the Mahoning Valley and the entire region.”
The racing grandstand also features a simulcast theater, where patrons can view and wager on races from tracks throughout North America every day from noon to midnight.
The racetrack’s barn area includes 13 barns that can house 988 horses, plus a ship-in barn with room for 54 horses. The area also houses racing staff offices, jockeys’ quarters, and office and testing facilities for the Ohio State Racing Commission and race judges.
Penn National owns and operates 26 gaming facilities in 16 states and Ontario, Canada.
On Oct. 23, Penn National reported third-quarter revenue of 4645.9 million and net income of $8.5 million. Its total investment here is $250 million, which includes state licensing fees.
Copyright 2014 by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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