Wheeling Downs Dog Track
Wheeling Downs Dog Track (recently renamed Wheeling Island Race Track and Gaming Center) features exciting dog racing all year round. The track also offers its visitors the unique thrills of slot and video gaming.
Dog racing was introduced at Wheeling Downs Dog Track on August 1976 and it eventually became the dog track's sole activity.
Today, Wheeling Downs Dog Track flourishes as one of America's premier dog racing tracks.
Getting to Wheeling Downs Dog Track
Wheeling Downs Dog Track is Located at 1 S. Stone Street, Wheeling, West Virginia, USA.
History of Wheeling Downs Dog Track
Wheeling Downs Dog Track opened in the 1860s. Thoroughbred and harness racing are reported to have occurred during those years.
In the 1920's Wheeling Downs Dog Track became the state fair park. The park was designed by architect John Carlin.
During the Second World War, there were attempts at racing but these were all unsuccessful. And shifts in the economy and ownership changes caused the open-air compound to close many times.
In 1945, Bill Lias, an entrepreneur purchased the compound. Lias redesigned the compound himself and turned it into a showcase of shubbery and steeples. This gave Wheeling Downs Dog Track its nickname "miniature Churchill Downs".
Lias was a legend throughout his ownership of Wheeling Downs Dog Track. The track was his and his family's home. He loved it and treated the track, employees, and customers with extreme care.
The Lias era come to an end when he sold Wheeling Downs Dog Track in 1956. After passing through two owners, mattress magnate Jim Edwards purchased Wheeling Downs Dog Track in 1961. A year later, a fire destroyed the clubhouse. The fire also thawed out the track and infield turning them into a muddy mess.
Wheeling Downs Dog Track was rebuilt in 1967. And once again, thoroughbreds thundered on its racing surface during the winter months.
In 1969 Edwards sold Wheeling Downs Dog Track to a corporation named Ogden.
Ogden roused Wheeling Downs Dog Track to success by introducing greyhound racing in 1976.
Today, Wheeling Downs Dog Track in the midst of another golden age. More than 920,000 fans walked through the track's entrance in 1996 and wagered $108 million.
