During the 1980s, Wheeling Downs ranked third or fourth in the country in amounts wagered in the then 42 dog tracks around the country. It was at this point that horse races ended. Greyhound racing was introduced in August 1976, in order to boost both attendance and revenue. During this period, attendance at the park languished.
When it reopened, it switched to standardbred harness racing. 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. The casino is also located approximately one hour southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Īs of 2023, Wheeling Island is one of only two live greyhound tracks in the United States, along with Mardi Gras Casino and Resort in Nitro, West Virginia. It is located just off the Wheeling Island exit of I-70, about two hours east of Columbus, Ohio. 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.
