User:MeadowsFan21/Sandbox

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Horse Race Track
The Meadows Racetrack and Casino
center|250px
Location Meadow Lands, Pennsylvania, United States
Opened 1963
Race type Standardbred / Harness
Track Size 5/8 mile (1006 m)
Announcer Roger Huston
Website www.themeadowsracing.com

The Meadows Racetrack and Casino is a standardbred harness racing track and slot machine casino in Meadow Lands, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The facility is located between U.S. Route 19 and Interstate 79, 5 miles north of Washington, Pennsylvania, United States and 25 miles south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.

History

In November 1962, ground was broken for the first pari-mutual horse racing track in Western Pennsylvania. The track opened on June 28, 1963 and was operated by the Washington Trotting Association. [1]

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 Ladbroke's. 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 purchased 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, purchased both Cannery's casino assets as well as The Meadows.


Casino

Legislature passed in the state of Pennsylvania in July 2004 included The Meadows among the locations slated to obtain a gambling license for slot machines. [2] 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 Board. [3] [4]

On November 16, 2006, The Meadows broke ground on construction. [5] Plans called for initial construction of a temporary casino adjacent to the track, which opened on June 11, 2007. [6]

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. [7] The permanent casino is scheduled to be opened in spring 2009. Amenities will include a 350,000 square foot 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. [8]


Physical Attributes

The race track 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). [9] 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). [10] 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 official race meet for 2008 is January 3 - December 29.

Due to ongoing casino construction, the track is currently without lights. All races are conducted in the afternoon, with first race post time at 12:15 PM EDT.

Races are conducted with a maximum of nine starters. All horses start on the gate; no trailer is used.

=== Current Stakes Races === [11]

  • 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

  • Messenger: 1995-2003
  • The Lady Maud: 2001-2003, Traditionally Yonkers, 3yo filly pace
  • John Simpson, Sr Memorial Stakes, "The Super Bowl": 63-67(
  • 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).
  • 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).

Stakes Announcer

Notable Horsemen

References

  1. ^ Smith, Pohla (2007-12-13). "History of The Meadows". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ Blood-Horse Staff (2004-07-05). "Pennsylvania Slots Bill Headed to Governor". The Blood-Horse. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ Schossler, Jason (2005-07-12). "Slot Machine Measure Comes Up Aces in PA". FindLaw. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ La Torre, David (2006-09-27). "PA Meadows LLC Awarded Category 1 Gaming License" (PDF). Meadows Gaming. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ La Torre, David (2006-11-16). "Meadows Holds Ceremonial Groundbreaking on New $450 Million Racino" (PDF). Meadows Gaming. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ La Torre, David (2006-06-05). "Meadows Racetrack and Casino Announces June 11 Grand Opening" (PDF). Meadows Gaming. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ La Torre, David (2007-09-05). "Meadows Racetrack and Casino to Begin Removal of Grandstand" (PDF). Meadows Gaming. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ La Torre, David (2008-04-09). "Meadows Racetrack and Casino Unveils Changes to Permanent Casino Design" (PDF). Meadows Gaming. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ Hoffman, Dean (2007-12-27). "What's So New About Artificial Surfaces". HarnessLink. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  10. ^ USTA. "The Meadows Track Facts" (PDF). USTA. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  11. ^ themeadowsracing.com. "2008 Stakes Schedule" (PDF). The Meadows Racetrack and Casino. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)


External Links

- Deal with other Meadows pages. Prob create a disambiguation page.

- Use stats for drivers, trainers


- In addition to current stakes, the Meadows had the Messenger also


Categories List of horse racing venues List of sports venues in PA


Can get adios and other stake history from USTA page

Roger Huston article http://www.oddsonracing.com/docs/PersonalityofthemonthJULY2007RogerHuston.cfm

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