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In 1983, the Charles Town Race Track was sold to the Rapid America Corporation, a group of 15 businessmen that included 11 local investors. Sunday racing was approved in a 1979 referendum. The Kenton Corporation bought both tracks in 1978. Shenandoah Downs closed in 1976, with Charles Town picking up its racing days and doubling receipts. By 1964, they had installed lighting that enabled them to compete with the newer track. The owners of Maryland’s Pimlico Race Course bought the Charles Town Race Track in 1959 and began extensive renovations. One of the first tracks on the East Coast to be built for night racing, Shenandoah Downs competed for racing days, and profits, with the older Charles Town Race Track, whose facility could support only daylight meets. Boyle succeeded, and for more than 20 years he was a dominant figure in West Virginia racing.īy 1959, Shenandoah Downs, a competing race track, had opened nearby. Boyle took over, putting up new money and convincing the creditors that he could make a go of it by pulling bettors from Washington and Baltimore and by promoting racing during the winter season. The 19 racing seasons were financial failures, and the new track went into receivership.

The first track in the state, the Jefferson County complex contained 22 buildings and included 12 stables, a clubhouse, 44 betting windows, a 3,000-seat, steam-heated grandstand, and a 200-seat restaurant. The Charles Town Race Track opened on December 2, 1933, shortly after West Virginia legalized racing and parimutuel betting.

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