View source for Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox racecourse
|name         = Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack
|image        = Grand Stand entrance, Wheeling Downs, Wheeling, W. Va (80152).jpg
|caption      = 1940s postcard showing grandstand
|location     = [[Wheeling, West Virginia]]
|coordinates  = 
|owner        = [[Delaware North]]
|operator     =
|opened       = 1937
|closed       =
|channel      =
|racetype     = Greyhound
|coursetype   =
|notableraces =
|handle       =
|attendance   =
|website      = http://www.wheelingisland.com
}}

'''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|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]].

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

== History ==
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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wheeling Island Casino Racetrack History {{!}} Wheeling Island, WV |url=https://www.wheelingisland.com/about-us/history |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=www.wheelingisland.com}}</ref> When it reopened, it switched to [[standardbred]] [[Harness racing|harness]] racing. During this period, attendance at the park languished.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beaver County Times - Google News Archive Search |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7UAyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=97IFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2588,3526046 |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=news.google.com}}</ref>

Greyhound racing was introduced in August 1976, in order to boost both attendance and revenue. It was at this point that horse races ended.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19840701&id=AHMcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HGMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7253,295150 |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=news.google.com}}</ref> During the 1980s, Wheeling Downs ranked third or fourth in the country in amounts wagered in the then 42 dog tracks around the country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19840701&id=AHMcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HGMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7253,295150 |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=news.google.com}}</ref>

Slot machines first arrived in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wheeling Island Casino Racetrack History {{!}} Wheeling Island, WV |url=https://www.wheelingisland.com/about-us/history |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=www.wheelingisland.com}}</ref> In June 2007, as revenue from greyhound racing declined, [[Ohio County, West Virginia|Ohio County]] voters approved a [[referendum]] permitting [[Casino game|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 [[WWVA Jamboree|Wheeling Jamboree]], the second oldest [[country music]] [[radio]] broadcast in the United States after the ''[[Grand Ole Opry]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Wheeling Jamboree - News and Press Releases |url=https://www.wheelingjamboree.org/news.php |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=www.wheelingjamboree.org}}</ref>

==Ownership==
The [[Covanta Energy Corporation|Ogden Corporation]] bought the track in 1969, and were the ones who introduced greyhound racing.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19840701&id=AHMcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HGMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7253,295150 Going to the dogs: Since converting from horses, Wheeling Downs has boomed]</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7UAyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=97IFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2588,3526046 Owner Of Waterford Selling Out]</ref> In 1988, Ogden sold Wheeling Downs to Delaware North,<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jaRBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jakMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2729,881737 Wheeling Downs Purchased]</ref> 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]].<ref>[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BN&p_theme=bn&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF9814D196056B&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM DELAWARE NORTH SELLS 50% STAKE IN RACE TRACK]</ref><ref>[http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/article/sportsystems-buys-out-racetrack-partner-for-$105-million-124778 Sportsystems Buys Out Racetrack Partner for $105 Million]</ref>

== Current Facility ==
[[File:RacingGreyhoundsWheeling.png|thumb|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 in the United States|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,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Restaurants & Dining Wheeling, WV {{!}} Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack |url=https://www.wheelingisland.com/dining |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=www.wheelingisland.com}}</ref> in addition to live concerts and boxing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Big Night of Boxing Is Ahead at Wheeling Island Casino |url=https://www.theintelligencer.net/sports/top-sports/2015/08/big-night-of-boxing-is-ahead-at-wheeling-island-casino/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=theintelligencer.net |language=en-US}}</ref>

Greyhound racing is conducted each afternoon from Wednesday through Sunday at 1 PM, with  Monday and Tuesday being dark days without racing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=West Virginia Greyhound Racing Schedule {{!}} Wheeling Island Racetrack, WV |url=https://www.wheelingisland.com/greyhound-racing/schedules |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=www.wheelingisland.com}}</ref> Each day's racing program consists of between 15 and 20 races. Spectators are admitted free and races can also be streamed online.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Live Greyhound Racing at Wheeling Island Racetrack, WV {{!}} Near Pittsburgh & Washington, PA & Youngstown, OH |url=https://www.wheelingisland.com/greyhound-racing/live-racing |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=www.wheelingisland.com}}</ref>

The facility has a "tropical" theme, with a logo features a [[Arecaceae|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==
*[[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==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Wheeling Downs}}
* [http://www.wheelingisland.com WheelingIsland.com - Official Site]

{{Northern Panhandle of West Virginia}}
{{Greyhound tracks in the United States}}
{{Coord missing|West Virginia}}

[[Category:Casinos in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Wheeling, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Ohio County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Defunct horse racing venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Greyhound racing venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Casino hotels in West Virginia]]