The Meadows Racetrack and Casino
Encyclopedia
The Meadows Racetrack and Casino is a standardbred
harness racing
track and slot machine
casino
in North Strabane Township
near Meadow Lands, Washington County, Pennsylvania
, United States. The facility is located between U.S. Route 19
and Interstate 79
, 5 miles (8 km) north of Washington, Pennsylvania
, United States and 25 miles (40.2 km) south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, United States.
horse racing track in Western Pennsylvania
. The track opened on June 28, 1963 and was operated by the Washington Trotting Association.
The Washington Trotting Association was purchased in February 1973 by a group including famous trainer
/driver Delvin Miller. Miller's imprint still exists on the track today, with The Meadows most prestigious race bearing his name (the Delvin Miller Adios), and a statue of his famous sire Adios
located at the track's entrance.
The Meadows introduced two significant technological advancements in 1983: Call-A-Bet and the Meadows Racing Network (MRN). Call-A-Bet allowed users to create individual wagering accounts and phone in wagers for races. In conjunction, the Meadows Racing Network telecast each day's live races and was distributed to local cable providers. The telecast also included a half hour preview show hosted by track announcer Roger Huston. The track used a marketing campaign to promote the services with the slogan "Every 16 minutes the place goes crazy", alluding to the typically quick pace from race-to-race at harness tracks.
Pittsburgh lawyer Stuart A. Williams purchased the track in 1986, and subsequently sold it England-based Ladbroke Group PLC
in 1988. The company changed the name to Ladbroke at the Meadows, and opened a series of off-track betting parlors
named Ladbrokes. The first opened in New Castle, Pennsylvania
, United States in June 1990. Locations followed in Greensburg
, Harmar Township
, Moon
, and West Mifflin
(all in Pennsylvania, United States). The Greensburg location was closed in 2000 following the decline and eventual vacancy of the Greengate
shopping mall at which it was located. All other locations currently remain operational.
Magna Entertainment Corp leased the track from Ladbroke in 2001. Magna transformed Call-A-Bet into Xpressbet, an internet and telephone based wagering service that allowed users to not only wager on The Meadows, but also on numerous other tracks owned by Magna or with whom a business agreement was in place. The Meadows was also featured on HRTV
, a cable television station part-owned by Magna. The OTB names were changed to "The Meadows-location" (e.g. The Meadows-Harmar). Another Greensburg OTB location was opened in 2004 but closed in 2007.
Las Vegas
based Cannery Casino Resorts
purchased the track in July 2006. Magna was retained to operate the track under a five year management contract.
In December 2007 Crown Limited
, an Australian company, agreed to purchase both Cannery's casino assets as well as The Meadows. However, in March 2009 Crown backed out of the deal.
.
On November 16, 2006, The Meadows broke ground
on construction. Plans called for initial construction of a temporary casino adjacent to the track, which opened on June 11, 2007.
On September 5, 2007, a ceremony was held to mark the beginning of the grandstand
removal, which was necessary to clear space for the permanent casino. The permanent casino opened on April 15, 2009; the temporary building was also closed on this date. Amenities include a 350000 square feet (32,516.1 m²) casino, premier steakhouse, food court, specialty restaurant with view of the race track, covered grandstand, simulcast viewing area, vip boxes, and a boutique-style bowling alley. The Meadows features 3,700 slot machines.
On July 6, 2010, The Meadows Casino hosted an "invite only, test date" for casino table games. The test runs have been successful, and as of 6 AM on July 8, 2010, the table games (including roulette, blackjack, craps, etc.) opened to the general public. The chips used by the Meadows Casino have a special microchip inside of them, that broadcasts to the table that it is a legit chip. This measure prevents fake or forged chips from entering into the play area. The cost per chip is slightly higher than normal chips, but has a less chance of being counterfeited.
is a 5/8 mile (1006 m) oval. As the standard harness race distance is one mile (1610 m), races start on the backstretch and proceed through three turns.
The original track surface was made of Tartan, a synthetic material manufactured by Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing (3M)
. As problems with Tartan surfaces began to emerge, the surface was changed to a more traditional stone dust.
The track has no hub rail (inner portion is marked by pylons). The stretch is 566 feet (173 m) in length, and 80 feet (24 m) in width. There is an inside passing lane in the stretch, referred to as the Lightning Lane.
Races are conducted with a maximum of nine starters. All horses start on the gate; no trailer is used.
The following is a list of drivers who finished in the top 10 in UDR at The Meadows each of the last five years (2004–2008), with minimum 200 starts.
The following is a list of trainers who finished in the top 10 in UDR at The Meadows each of the last five years (2004–2008), with minimum 200 starts.
Standardbred horse
Standardbreds are a breed of horse best known for their ability to race in harness at a trot or pace instead of under saddle at a gallop. Developed in North America, the breed is now recognized worldwide for its harness racing ability...
harness racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
track and slot machine
Slot machine
A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...
casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
in North Strabane Township
North Strabane Township, Pennsylvania
North Strabane Township is a township in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 13,408 at the 2010 census. The township is named after the town of Strabane in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The township borders the borough of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania to the north...
near Meadow Lands, Washington County, Pennsylvania
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
, United States. The facility is located between U.S. Route 19
U.S. Route 19
U.S. Route 19 is a north–south U.S. Highway. Despite encroaching Interstate Highways, the route has remained a long-haul route, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with Lake Erie....
and Interstate 79
Interstate 79
Interstate 79 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States, designated from Interstate 77 in Charleston, West Virginia to Pennsylvania Route 5 and Pennsylvania Route 290 in Erie, Pennsylvania...
, 5 miles (8 km) north of Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
, United States and 25 miles (40.2 km) south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, United States.
History
In November 1962, ground was broken for the first parimutuelParimutuel betting
Parimutuel betting is a betting system in which all bets of a particular type are placed together in a pool; taxes and the "house-take" or "vig" is removed, and payoff odds are calculated by sharing the pool among all winning bets...
horse racing track in Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
. The track opened on June 28, 1963 and was operated by the Washington Trotting Association.
The Washington Trotting Association was purchased in February 1973 by a group including famous trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
/driver Delvin Miller. Miller's imprint still exists on the track today, with The Meadows most prestigious race bearing his name (the Delvin Miller Adios), and a statue of his famous sire Adios
Adios (racehorse)
Adios was a champion harness racing sire.The son of Hal Dale and the mare Adioo Volo, the horse named Adios was born on January 3, 1940 at Two Gaits Farm, in Carmel, Indiana. Trained and driven by Frank Ervin and for a while owned by Harry Warner of Warner Bros. film studio, Adios was a multiple...
located at the track's entrance.
The Meadows introduced two significant technological advancements in 1983: Call-A-Bet and the Meadows Racing Network (MRN). Call-A-Bet allowed users to create individual wagering accounts and phone in wagers for races. In conjunction, the Meadows Racing Network telecast each day's live races and was distributed to local cable providers. The telecast also included a half hour preview show hosted by track announcer Roger Huston. The track used a marketing campaign to promote the services with the slogan "Every 16 minutes the place goes crazy", alluding to the typically quick pace from race-to-race at harness tracks.
Pittsburgh lawyer Stuart A. Williams purchased the track in 1986, and subsequently sold it England-based Ladbroke Group PLC
Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes plc is a British based gambling company. It is based in Rayners Lane in Harrow, London owned by Bhavin Kakaiya. From 14 May 1999 to 23 February 2006, when it owned the Hilton hotel brand outside the United States, it was known as Hilton Group plc...
in 1988. The company changed the name to Ladbroke at the Meadows, and opened a series of off-track betting parlors
Off-track betting
Off-track betting refers to sanctioned gambling on horse racing outside a race track.-US history:...
named Ladbrokes. The first opened in New Castle, Pennsylvania
New Castle, Pennsylvania
New Castle is a city in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Pittsburgh and near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border just east of Youngstown, Ohio; in 1910, the total population was 36,280; in 1920, 44,938; and in 1940, 47,638. The population has fallen to 26,309 according to the...
, United States in June 1990. Locations followed in Greensburg
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Greensburg is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States, and a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The city is named after Nathanael Greene, a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War...
, Harmar Township
Harmar Township, Pennsylvania
Harmar Township is a township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,921 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and , or 7.45%, is water.-Streams:Harmar Township is entirely in...
, Moon
Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Moon Township is a township along the Ohio River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. Moon is a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area and is located northwest of Pittsburgh. The origin of its name is unknown for certain, although it has been suggested that it derives from a...
, and West Mifflin
West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
West Mifflin is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, located southeast of downtown Pittsburgh. The population was 20,313 at the 2010 census....
(all in Pennsylvania, United States). The Greensburg location was closed in 2000 following the decline and eventual vacancy of the Greengate
Greengate Centre
Greengate Centre is an expansive open-air power center in Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania. It is located on U.S. Route 30. The center opened in 2005 on the site of the defunct Greengate Mall, which was demolished in 2003. Greengate Centre currently encompasses over of retail space, and more than...
shopping mall at which it was located. All other locations currently remain operational.
Magna Entertainment Corp leased the track from Ladbroke in 2001. Magna transformed Call-A-Bet into Xpressbet, an internet and telephone based wagering service that allowed users to not only wager on The Meadows, but also on numerous other tracks owned by Magna or with whom a business agreement was in place. The Meadows was also featured on HRTV
Horse Racing TV
HRTV is a 24-hour television based multimedia network dedicated to horseracing which features racing action from many of the sport's greatest racetracks around the world. HRTV also features other forms of equestrian competition, as well as original programming and award-winning documentaries...
, a cable television station part-owned by Magna. The OTB names were changed to "The Meadows-location" (e.g. The Meadows-Harmar). Another Greensburg OTB location was opened in 2004 but closed in 2007.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
based Cannery Casino Resorts
Cannery Casino Resorts
Cannery Casino Resorts, a North Las Vegas gaming company, is owned by Millennium Gaming and Oaktree Capital Management.- History :William Wortman and Renate Schiff who owned the Nevada Palace announced on September 8, 2006 they would convert the Nevada Palace casino into a newly constructed...
purchased the track in July 2006. Magna was retained to operate the track under a five year management contract.
In December 2007 Crown Limited
Crown Limited
Crown Limited is one of Australia's largest gaming and entertainment groups. At June 2010, Crown Limited had a market capitalisation of just over A$6 billion and accounted for 27.53% of the S&P/ASX 200 Hotels Restaurants & Leisure Industry Group....
, an Australian company, agreed to purchase both Cannery's casino assets as well as The Meadows. However, in March 2009 Crown backed out of the deal.
Casino
Legislation passed in the state of Pennsylvania in July 2004 included The Meadows among the locations slated to obtain a gambling license for slot machines. The legislation upheld a 2005 legal challenge by gambling opponents, and on September 27, 2006, The Meadows was awarded a gaming license by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control BoardPennsylvania Gaming Control Board
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is a governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, founded in 2004 as the state licensing and regulatory agency responsible for overseeing slot machines and casino gambling in the state....
.
On November 16, 2006, The Meadows broke ground
Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking, also known as cutting, sod-cutting, turning the first sod or a sod-turning ceremony, is a traditional ceremony in many cultures that celebrates the first day of construction for a building or other project. Such ceremonies are often attended by dignitaries such as politicians and...
on construction. Plans called for initial construction of a temporary casino adjacent to the track, which opened on June 11, 2007.
On September 5, 2007, a ceremony was held to mark the beginning of the grandstand
Grandstand
A grandstand is a large and normally permanent structure for seating spectators, most often at a racetrack. This includes both auto racing and horse racing. The grandstand is in essence like a single section of a stadium, but differs from a stadium in that it does not wrap all or most of the way...
removal, which was necessary to clear space for the permanent casino. The permanent casino opened on April 15, 2009; the temporary building was also closed on this date. Amenities include a 350000 square feet (32,516.1 m²) casino, premier steakhouse, food court, specialty restaurant with view of the race track, covered grandstand, simulcast viewing area, vip boxes, and a boutique-style bowling alley. The Meadows features 3,700 slot machines.
On July 6, 2010, The Meadows Casino hosted an "invite only, test date" for casino table games. The test runs have been successful, and as of 6 AM on July 8, 2010, the table games (including roulette, blackjack, craps, etc.) opened to the general public. The chips used by the Meadows Casino have a special microchip inside of them, that broadcasts to the table that it is a legit chip. This measure prevents fake or forged chips from entering into the play area. The cost per chip is slightly higher than normal chips, but has a less chance of being counterfeited.
Physical Attributes
The race trackRace track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
is a 5/8 mile (1006 m) oval. As the standard harness race distance is one mile (1610 m), races start on the backstretch and proceed through three turns.
The original track surface was made of Tartan, a synthetic material manufactured by Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing (3M)
3M
3M Company , formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation based in Maplewood, Minnesota, United States....
. As problems with Tartan surfaces began to emerge, the surface was changed to a more traditional stone dust.
The track has no hub rail (inner portion is marked by pylons). The stretch is 566 feet (173 m) in length, and 80 feet (24 m) in width. There is an inside passing lane in the stretch, referred to as the Lightning Lane.
Racing
Unlike many other tracks in the United States, The Meadows conducts racing year round, with over 200 days of the year featuring live racing. The specific days that the track conducts live racing vary throughout the year. In 2010, racing is conducted primarily on weekday afternoons with first race post time at 12:55 eastern. The facility conducts limited twilight and evening cards.Races are conducted with a maximum of nine starters. All horses start on the gate; no trailer is used.
Current Stakes Races
- Delvin Miller Adios: August, part of Grand Circuit week. The Meadows signature event, the Adios is a prestigious race for 3 year old open pacers. It has been raced every year since 1967. The 2008 running was held at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs due to ongoing construction at the Meadows.
- Adioo Volo: August, part of Grand Circuit week. The female equivalent of the Adios, the Adioo Volo is conducted for 3 year old filly pacers. It has been raced every year since 1972. The 2008 running was held at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs due to ongoing construction at the Meadows.
- Arden Downs: August, part of Grand Circuit week. 2 year old filly pace, filly trot, colt/gelding trot have been run every year since 1957; 3 year old filly trot, colt/gelding trot have been run every year since 1958.
- Currier & Ives: May, June. 3 year old open trot, 3 year old filly trot have been run every year since 1975.
- Pennsylvania Sire Stakes: Various dates May through September. All combinations of 2 and 3 year old, colt/gelding and filly, trotter and pacer.
- Pennsylvania Fair Finals: October. All combinations of 2 and 3 year old, colt/gelding and filly, trotter and pacer.
- Keystone Classic: October. All combinations of 2 and 3 year old, colt/gelding and filly, trotter and pacer.
Past Stakes Races
- The Messenger StakesMessenger StakesThe Messenger Stakes is an American harness racing event for 3-year-old pacing horses. It was organized in 1956 at Roosevelt Raceway in Westbury, New York to join with the Cane Pace and the Little Brown Jug to create the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers...
: 1995-2003. Traditionally run at Yonkers RacewayYonkers RacewayYonkers Raceway, founded in 1899 as the Empire City Race Track, is a one-half-mile standardbred harness racing dirt track and New York state-approved slots racino located at the intersection of Central Park Avenue and Yonkers Avenue in Yonkers, New York near the New York City border...
, The Messenger is the final leg of the three year old Pacing Triple CrownTriple Crown of Harness Racing for PacersThe Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers consists of the following horse races:#Cane Pace, held at Freehold Raceway in Freehold, New Jersey#Little Brown Jug, held at the Delaware County Fair in Delaware, Ohio...
. In the nine years the event was run at The Meadows, three horses captured the Triple Crown: Western Dreamer (1997), Blissfull Hall (1999), and No Pan Intended (2003). - The John Simpson, Sr. Memorial Stakes, 1963-1967: "The Super Bowl" two year old colt trot, "The Bret Hanover" two year old colt pace, "The Ayres" three year old colt trot, and "The Albatross" three year old colt pace.
- Pacing Classic Final: 1997. Open pacing event has been run every year since 1997. Race is conducted at various distances, all longer than the standard mile (1610 m), and at a different track each year. The Meadows hosted the inaugural version of the race at 1-1/4 miles (2012 m).
- Classic Distaff Final: 1998. Filly and mare pacing event has been run every year since 1997. Race is conducted at various distances, all longer than the standard mile (1610 m), and at a different track each year. The Meadows version of the race was held at 1-1/4 miles (2012 m).
- Classic Oaks Final: 1999. Filly and mare trotting event has been run every year since 1997. Race is conducted at various distances, all longer than the standard mile (1610 m), and at a different track each year. The Meadows version of the race was held at 1-1/4 miles (2012 m).
- The Lady Maud: 2001-2003. Traditionally run at Yonkers Raceway, this three year old filly pacing event has been run every year since 1960.
Drivers
The following is a list of drivers who finished in the top 10 in wins at The Meadows each of the last five years (2004–2008).- Dave Palone: 2004 - 1st (585 wins), 2005 - 1st (571 wins), 2006 - 1st (502 wins), 2007 - 1st (531 wins), 2008 - 1st (805 wins)
- Mike Wilder: 2004 - 3rd (297), 2005 - 2nd (303), 2006 - 3rd (296), 2007 - 3rd (318), 2008 - 3rd (269)
- Richard Stillings: 2004 - 2nd (306), 2005 - 4th (200), 2006 - 4th (291), 2007 - 4th (225), 2008 - 4th (237)
- Ray Paver: 2004 - 8th (113), 2005 - 5th (165), 2006 - 5th (160), 2007 - 5th (199), 2008 - 6th (145)
- Doug Snyder: 2004 - 6th (169), 2005 - 8th (133), 2006 - 7th (114), 2007 - 7th (106), 2007 - 8th (114)
- Brian Zendt: 2004 - 4th (208), 2005 - 7th (140), 2006 - 6th (129), 2007 - 6th (113), 2008 - 7th (119)
The following is a list of drivers who finished in the top 10 in UDR at The Meadows each of the last five years (2004–2008), with minimum 200 starts.
- Dave Palone: 2004 - 1st (.433), 2005 - 1st (.428), 2006 - 1st (.416), 2007 - 1st (.446), 2008 - 1st (.459)
- Mike Wilder: 2004 - 3rd (.304), 2005 - 2nd (.316), 2006 - 4th (.308), 2007 - 3rd (.290), 2008 - 4th (.257)
- Richard Stillings: 2004 - 2nd (.323), 2005 - 6th (.263), 2006 - 3rd (.311), 2007 - 4th (.267), 2008 - 5th (.242)
- Doug Snyder: 2004 - 5th (.272), 2005 - 3rd (.275), 2006 - 7th (.223), 2007 - 8th (.233), 2008 - 7th (.214)
Trainers
The following is a list of trainers who finished in the top 10 in wins at The Meadows each of the last five years (2004–2008).- Mickey Burke: 2004 - 1st (159 wins), 2005 - 1st (169 wins), 2006 - 1st (208 wins), 2007 - 1st (276 wins), 2008 - 1st (294 wins)
- Mike Palone: 2004 - 2nd (134), 2005 - 10th (43), 2006 - 9th (51), 2007 - 3rd (96), 2008 - 2nd (142)
- Randy Bendis: 2004 - 3rd (121), 2005 - 3rd (111), 2006 - 2nd (144), 2007 - 2nd (97), 2008 - 3rd (131)
- Marcus Marashian: 2004 - 8th (78), 2005 - 8th (57), 2006 - 4th (77), 2007 - 6th (56), 2008 - 4th (82)
- Dane Snyder: 2004 - 4th (96), 2005 - 5th (101), 2006 - 8th (54), 2007 - 6th (56), 2008 - 10th (59)
The following is a list of trainers who finished in the top 10 in UDR at The Meadows each of the last five years (2004–2008), with minimum 200 starts.
- Mickey Burke: 2004 - 6th (.319), 2005 - 1st (.382), 2006 - 1st (.374), 2007 - 1st (.420), 2008 - 2nd (.393)
- Mike Palone: 2004 - 2nd (.367), 2005 - 7th (.271), 2006 - 5th (.318), 2007 - 2nd (.384), 2008 - 1st (.442)
- Randy Bendis: 2004 - 8th (.304), 2005 - 4th (.295), 2006 - 2nd (.354), 2007 - 8th (.279), 2008 - 9th (.272)
- Marcus Marashian: 2004 - 7th (.315), 2005 - 5th (.282), 2006 - 9th (.287), 2007 - 7th (.281), 2008 - 8th (.276)