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< Back WV greyhound racetracks handled $400 million in 2023 Stan Pawloski Feb 5, 2024 The two greyhound racing tracks in West Virginia, Wheeling Island and Tri-State, handled more than $400 million in 2023 – a $50 million increase from the year before. The handle represents the amount of money bet on races from on-track patrons and from simulcast outlets. Last year, a total of $258,952,536 was bet on Wheeling greyhounds while $144,715,912 was wagered on Tri-State racers. The combined amount was $403,668,448. Wheeling Island broke its own national single day handle record for greyhound racing at one track on Saturday afternoon, May 6. The total wagered on-track and off-track on Wheeling Island greyhounds was $1,625,392, surpassing the $1,527,075 bet on greyhounds at Wheeling on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 4, 2022. Tri-State Greyhound Park handled $852,099 the same day Wheeling surpassed its own record – giving the two West Virginia tracks a total of $2,477,491 on one day. Tri-State did set a one-day handle mark of $854,209 on Saturday evening, March 4. Other 2023 highlights from the two racetracks follow: -Wheeling had 120-million-dollar handle days. -Wheeling had 42 straight million-dollar Saturday handles. -Tri-State had 45 days with $700,000 or $800,000 handles. In 2022, a total of $230,672,765 was bet on Wheeling greyhounds while $121,033,046 was wagered on Tri-State racers. The combined amount was $351,705,811. The 2023 handle increased 14.77 percent. (Note: The handle amounts were tabulated daily but are unofficial). Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as March 7, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Mar 23, 2022 Lester Raines Kennel’s RS Big D has won 16 out of his last 17 Grade TAA 3/8 races, including 11 in a row, for trainer Joel Roden. Kennel-mates SNL Ramey (B, TA, TAA 3/16) and SNL Red Hot (D, C, B, A) have four wins and a second in their last five starts while JS Cash Out has back-to-back victories (A, AA). Blanchard Kennel’s Frappe has five straight Grade AA victories for trainer Sarah Blanchard. Kennel-mates JS Rob Stone has two wins and a second in his last three Grade AA outings while KW Bugatti has back-to-back Grade AA victories. Imark Kennel’s Imark Trixie has captured four out of her last five trips (B, A, AA) for trainer DiAnn Derr. Charter Kennel’s Atta Boy Angus has two wins and two seconds in his last four 3/16 races (B, TA, TAA) for trainer James Campbell. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of January 31, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Jan 31, 2022 Lester Raines Kennel’s RS Big D has won 12 out of his last 13 Grade TAA 3/8 races, including seven in a row, for trainer Joel Roden. Kennel-mates O Ya Simon Sez has captured four out of his last five outings (D, C, B, A) while JS Makeitsnappy has won three out of her last four trips (TB 3/8, A, AA). Brad Boeckenstedt Kennel’s BGR Jaded has captured five out of her last six Grade AA starts for trainer Frank Pellittere. Charter Kennel’s Oshkosh Heart has back-to-back Grade AA wins for trainer James Campbell. Code Red Kennel’s Hashtag Refrain has won three out of her last four races (B, A, AA) for trainer Tom Engle. Blanchard Kennel’s CW Ernesto has back-to-back victories (B, A) for trainer Sarah Blanchard. A Ray Kennel’s AMF Weirdo has two straight wins (B, A) for trainer Joe Palmer. Rangel Kennel’s VJ Sipnonpatron has captured three out of his last four trips (D, C, B) for trainer Robert Allen. Previous Next

< Back $100,000 MOUNTAINEER CLASSIC FINAL PREVIEW, RACE ANALYSIS Oct 22, 2021 Blanchard Kennel’s Penrose Boss heads up a solid field for the Saturday afternoon final of the $100,000 Mountaineer Classic at Wheeling Island. The 3-year-old sprinter had two victories and two seconds in the four qualifying round races to accumulate a leading 50 points. Penrose Boss finished fourth in the 2020 Mountaineer Classic championship final. Three kennels – Blanchard, Lester Raines and Jacobs Racing – each have two greyhounds in the final while the Imark and Steve Sarras kennels have one finalist. Completing this year’s championship final field are Teaser’s Tickle (Lester Raines Kennel), 46 points; Frappe (Blanchard Kennel), 45 points; Abbi’s Eagle (Jacobs Racing Kennel), Ding Dong Ditch (Imark Kennel) and CTW Black Forest (Steve Sarras Kennel), 37 points each; Abbi’s Frontman (Jacobs Racing Kennel) and RS’s Dark Night (Lester Raines Kennel), 34 points each. Abbi’s Eagle and Abbi’s Frontman are littermates. Post positions for the final, from the rail out, follow: 1—Teaser’s Tickle, 2—CTW Black Forest, 3—Abbi’s Eagle, 4—RS’s Dark Night, 5—Penrose Boss, 6—Ding Dong Ditch, 7—Frappe, 8—Abbi’s Frontman. The winning greyhound in the championship final will earn $42,000. The complete purse breakdown is second, $18,000; third, $13,000; fourth, $10,000; fifth and sixth, $5,500 each; and seventh and eighth, $3,000 each. The stakes final will be Race 12 on the Saturday matinee race card. Following are capsule looks at the finalists: 1—TEASER’S TICKLE (Lester Raines Kennel, trainer Joel Roden) – had three straight impressive victories by a combined 23 lengths in the qualifiers after a seventh in the first round; one of the youngest greyhounds in the final, the pup broke his Maiden in August and has won eight out of his 13 career races. 2—CTW BLACK FOREST (Steve Sarras Kennel, trainer Barb Long) – had two wins, a third and an eighth in the early rounds; the frontrunner went to the lead in three out of his four qualifying races, all from inside posts; made the final after returning to racing in September after being off for three months with an injury. 3—ABBI’S EAGLE (Jacobs Racing Kennel, trainer Louise Strong) – had two wins, a fourth and a sixth in the qualifying round races; while more of a closer from just off the pace, has gone to the front on occasion; also off for three months in the summer rehabbing an injury before coming back in September. 4—RS’S DARK NIGHT (Lester Raines Kennel, trainer Joel Roden) – had a win, a second, a third and a sixth in the qualifying races; captured the West Virginia-bred Juvenile championship last month; not a ton of box speed, but possesses a power rush to the first turn and finishing speed; prefers to race on the outside. 5—PENROSE BOSS (Blanchard Kennel, trainer Sarah Blanchard) – had two victories and two seconds in the qualifiers to top all the finalists with 50 points; needs to find room early in the race, does have some closing speed; has been a mark of consistency, hitting the pay sheet (top four) in 14 out of his last 15 trips. 6—DING DONG DITCH (Imark Kennel, trainer DiAnn Derr) – had a win, two seconds and a sixth in the preliminary round races; probably the biggest surprise to earn a spot in the stakes final; raced from all inside posts in the qualifiers, so the midtrack hole will be a challenge; will need to pop the box to have a shot. 7—FRAPPE (Blanchard Kennel, trainer Sarah Blanchard) – had two wins, a second and a fourth in the early rounds; multi-dimensional – has the ability to go to the front or come from behind; prefers an inside post, but had two nice efforts from the five hole in the early rounds; needs to outbreak the rail crashing eight. 8—ABBI’S FRONTMAN (Jacobs Racing Kennel, trainer Louise Strong) – had two wins and two sixths in the preliminary round races; earned his spot in the final with a win from a favorable one box in the semifinals; two sixth place finishes in the qualifiers were from the outside, so post position not too kind. RACE ANALYSIS: One thing is certain about this year’s Mountaineer Classic final – it’s wide open as many of the greyhounds have drawn less than favorable posts for their running styles. One greyhound, however – CTW Black Forest – has drawn a preferred inside post position and should break sharp from the box, move to the rail and rush to the early lead. Greyhounds on each side of CTW Black Forest – Teaser’s Tickle and Abbi’s Eagle – are in line to get trips behind the frontrunner. One of those two could claim the championship as CTW Black Forest has shown a tendency to be a tad short in the homestretch but still looms as a ticket play. Don’t count out Frappe, although she would prefer an inside hole. In four out of her last five races, Frappe has been first or second at the first turn with three of those races from the difficult five box. If she hits it from the seven post, things will get interesting. All of these greyhounds are talented or they wouldn’t be in the final, but each will need a little luck on their side as well. Congrats to all the finalists and connections and good luck in the championship. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of January 24, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Jan 24, 2022 Lester Raines Kennel’s RS Big D has won 11 out of his last 12 Grade TAA 3/8 races for trainer Joel Roden. Kennel-mates Craigie Padre has three wins and two second in his last five Grade AA races while O Ya Simon Sez has won three out of his last four outings (D, C, B). Charter Kennel’s Oshkosh Edward has back-to-back Grade AA victories for trainer James Campbell. Blanchard Kennel’s You Got Lucky has three straight wins (C, B, A) for trainer Sarah Blanchard. Rangel Kennel’s MPJ Best Chance has captured three out of his last four starts (C, B, A) for trainer Rober Allen. Wayne Ward Kennel’s WW Nothin To It has back-to-back victories (B, A) for trainer Ron Otto. Previous Next

< Back YEAR IN REVIEW: HIGHLIGHTS FROM WHEELING'S 2020 RACING SEASON Stan Pawloski Jan 18, 2021 Another exciting and fun-filled season of Wheeling Island greyhound racing is in the history books, but 2020 was unlike any of the previous years due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Under state orders, the Wheeling Island facility temporarily ceased operations on both the racing and casino sides on March 16. Nearly 12 weeks later on June 5, greyhound racing resumed but without fans until June 24. It is believed to be the longest the racetrack has been shut down since the flood of 1996 when the operation was closed from mid-January until March 1. There were numerous highlights on the track throughout 2020, including the $100,000 Mountaineer Classic, two West Virginia bred stake events and win streaks which generated interest. In addition, a number of youngsters with promising futures opened their careers and the track experienced an influx of racers from other operations. Top greyhound honors went to Wayne Ward Kennel’s WW Slick Simon, who posted 17 victories in the shortened season. Next in line was Lester Raines Kennel’s Craigie Pirate with 15 wins. The Lester Raines Kennel, trained by Joel Roden, captured the 2020 kennel championship after finishing runner up to the Blanchard Kennel in 2019. It was Raines’ third crown in the last five years. In the $100,000 Mountaineer Classic in late October, Abrahamson Kennel’s CG’s Penny Shoe closed deep in the stretch to catch Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s TNT Free Falling, the early pacesetter, for a 1 ½-length victory in 29.82 to capture the racetrack’s featured stakes event for 2020. Abrahamson Kennel’s Atascocita Birma rounded out the trifecta ticket – just 2 lengths back. Completing the Mountaineer Classic final field were Penrose Boss (Blanchard Kennel), fourth; Craigie Pirate (Lester Raines Kennel), fifth; AD Black Falcon (Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel), sixth; L’s Luv It (Blanchard Kennel), seventh; and TNT Twister City (Patriot/Taplin Kennel), eighth. CG’s Penny Shoe came up to Wheeling from Tri-State Greyhound Park where he had 27 wins in 2020, including 12 straight Grade AA races. In 2019 at Wheeling, the sprinter finished runner up in the West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Juvenile to littermate CG’s Sneaker. In the $35,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Juvenile in late September, A Ray Kennel’s Mac’s Tayloranne rocketed to an early lead and then held off Steve Sarras Kennel’s CET Dirty Dilly by a head at the wire in 30.14 to capture the stakes crown. Rounding out the trifecta ticket was Steve Sarras Kennel’s CET Sassy. Completing the final field were Baby Face Nelson (Lester Raines Kennel), fourth; Go On Horse (Abrahamson Kennel), fifth; CET Ozzy (Steve Sarras Kennel), sixth; CET Motley Crew (Steve Sarras Kennel), seventh; and Coach Oh Boy (Patriot/Taplin Kennel), eighth. In the $65,000 WVGOBA Panhandle Championship in late November, Lester Raines Kennel’s RS Perfectionist pulled away in the stretch for a 4-length victory in 30.02. Steve Sarras Kennel’s CET Dirty Dan and CET Godiva rounded out the trifecta ticket. Completing the final field were CET Pistol Pete (Steve Sarras Kennel), fourth; CG’s Penny Shoe (Abrahamson Kennel), fifth; RS’s Kingofkings (Lester Raines Kennel), sixth; Rico’s Dreamer (A Ray Kennel), seventh; and Go On Horse (Abrahamson Kennel), eighth. The longest winning streak during the 2020 racing season was six in a row by Imark Kennel’s Imark Solo. Five of the sprinter’s six wins were in Grade AA. Blanchard Kennel’s HKF Friskyfranny won five straight 3/8th races while five greyhounds won four in a row – Craigie Pirate and JS Wanna Bee (Lester Raines), JSK Roulette (Jacobs Racing), BWC Kreeli (Blanchard) and AMF Whisterical (A Ray). With the closing of all the Florida tracks in December, Wheeling experienced record handles late in the year. For five cards from Dec. 30 through Jan. 3, the track handled $3.4 million. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as March 28, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Mar 23, 2022 Lester Raines Kennel’s RS Big D has won 18 out of his last 19 Grade TAA 3/8 races, including 13 in a row, for trainer Joel Roden. Kennel-mates SNL Sir Liam (A, AA) and B’s Bugatti (B, A) have back-to-back wins. Blanchard Kennel’s Loyal Cmn In Hot has three straight Grade AA victories for trainer Sarah Blanchard. Kennel-mates KW Bugatti has won three out of his last four Grade AA trips while Loyal Alps (B, TAA 3/8) and Penrose Niko (B, A) have two straight wins. Jacobs Racing Kennel’s Abbi’s Frontman has two victories and a second in his last three Grade AA outings for trainer Louise Strong. Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel’s XM Hero (AA) and XM Go Bell (A, AA) have back-to-back wins for trainer Jill Spicer. Charter Kennel’s FGF Lucky Star has two straight Grade TAA 3/16 victories for trainer James Campbell. Imark Kennel’s Saber Enzo has back-to-back wins (B, A) for trainer DiAnn Derr. Previous Next

< Back SALUD RAINDROP AND SARKAZUM SELECTED FOR TOP NGA AWARDS Jim Gartland Mar 24, 2020 Two Southland stars have picked up the NGA’s annual Awards; Salud Raindrop winning the 49th Annual NGA Rural Rube Award as the nation’s top sprinter for 2019, and Sarkazum capturing the Flashy Sir Award as the best distance greyhound in the land. Raindrop nosed out JS Flamin Ace for the Rural Rube and Sarkazum got the nod over B Tigger in this year’s voting. Voting was tight in both races with twelve different greyhounds receiving Rural Rube votes and eleven different racers getting votes in the Flashy Sir category. A 2017 daughter of Bella Infrared-Mega Whitney , Raindrop was considered the "best greyhound in the country" for most of the year. She captured the nation's attention by snapping off win streaks and running blistering times throughout the 2019 Southland campaign. She put together win streaks of nine, five, eleven and five on her way to winning a meet leading thirty six races at Southland against the best in the country even while missing a full two months of racing. She was also voted as Captain of the All American team by the NGA. Owned by Jeff Blair and Mike Montoya and racing for the Natalie Looper trained, Gloria Dorsey Kennel, Raindrop started the year off with a bang winning ten of her first fourteen starts, including a first round win in the Hound Madness Stake. A stumble out of the box in the second round took her out of the running for the finals, however. She would then go on to rip off nineteen wins in her next twenty one starts including all four qualifying rounds and the championship final of the 2019 Southland Derby. Her next twelve starts would bring eight more wins to her already stellar resume including four qualifying round wins in the $200,000 Darby Henry Female Sprint Championship. Racing luck, or maybe bad luck, got the best of her in the finals where she was hit at the turn and suffered a hip injury which sidelined her until late in the year. Her quick box break and speed to the front were her signature and she was rarely caught once on the lead. She won 76% of the races she started and hit the pay sheet forty four times in forty seven tries, a 93% in the money finishing rate! A much deserved award for this fabulous sprinter. Congratulations to Jeff, Mike, Gloria, Natalie and all the connections of Salud Raindrop . Runner-up in the Rural Rube voting was Garth Bolton and Lester Raines' JS Flamin Ace . This son of Superior Panama-CH Sweet Honey made the finals of five stakes at Southland including the GAGF, Southland Derby, Male Sprint, King & Queens and Two For The Money Stakes. He captured the $200,000 Darby Henry Male Sprint title as well as the King & Queens and Two For The Money events. He compiled an amazing 58-28-9-5-7 record and most likely would have been a shoe in for the Rural Rube in any other year. He was also named to the All American team. Others high in the voting for the Rural Rube were Ungs & Galbreath's Revin Devon , Pat McMillon's Mac's Trudeaux , and John & Jill Lashmet's LK's Crush N It . Voting was close for the top spot in the Flashy Sir contest. Only two greyhounds received double digit votes and were separated by only three votes in the end. Sarkazum won out over B Tigger with Dyenuhmite , Takin N Interest , Elizabeth Banks and LK's Hi Pockets not far behind. Sarkazum is a brindle son out of "home grown" O'Donnell stock, Shonn and Jennah . He is the epitome of a distance star as he ran only one official race less than 660 yards in 2019. He won races at 660, 703 and 880 yards over the course of the Southland meet. His credentials for the year read as follows: $100,000 Razorback Champion (660), 2nd in the $100,000 Super Marathon Championship (820), overall 2019 record of 51-14-15-5-9 and 1st team NGA All American. Racing against the best competition in the country day in and day out, Sarkazum consistently brought home paychecks, finishing in the money 43 times or nearly 85% of his starts. Running distance races only, and a majority of those at 820 yards, he managed to remain competitive and relatively injury free. He rarely missed a start and other than a short break in early March averaged about 4.25 races a month. All of this while turning three midway through the year. His win in the final of the $100,000 Razorback Championship was in typical, blazing come from behind style winning by a length in the end over the likes of Super C Chilly , American Andale , MRL Full Boat , Drink It Off , Cool It Now and Cherokee Fiddle . He would win three of four qualifying rounds in the $100,000 Super Marathon Championship before running a trouble filled 2nd to B Tigger in the final. A classic distance star and a proud product of his owner's own bloodlines lines, we congratulate William O'Donnell and the Northshore racing team for Sarkazum's Flashy Sir honor! Previous Next

< Back NGA FALL MEET WRAP UP Jim Gartland Oct 19, 2021 In spite of the light number of pups consigned, the fall auction has to be considered a success. 140 pups were entered in the meet with 70 consigned to the auction. After a week of schooling and two rounds of races the consignors walked their charges into the ring at the Hall of Fame early Friday morning. When all was said and done, 34 race meet pups had been sold for a total of $363,000. The top selling greyhound was LS Zoom who was owned and consigned by David Strong & Jill Lashmet . Zoom went to Tom Ferris for a cool $37,500. LK's Simone , raced by David Strong and owned by Jill Lashmet sold for $30,000 and went to Lester Raines . Vince Berland consigned a couple of broods to the auction and they brought $5,500 and $2,500. Several items including a print, a stud service and a surprise donation of a giveaway pup raised some $2,550 in donations to the Hall of Fame. Thanks to J oe Frenette, Jill Lashmet, Bob Crossland, HS Auction Co . and Leslie Csokasy for those contributions. The overall top seller in the meet was David Strong who sold 16 pups either solely or in partnerships for $203,500. The biggest buyer at the meet was Norm Rader who bought $63,000 worth of stock. Previous Next

< Back GRAND FINALE DERBY SECOND ROUND FIELDS Dec 22, 2020 RTSS Eve’s Angel of Floyd kennel and Hi Noon Ricochet of Nova kennel drew No. 1 boxes for the second qualifying round in the Grand Finale Derby on Wednesday at Derby Lane. Post positions were drawn on Monday. The greyhounds are among 16 athletes competing for eight spots in the 550-yard championship race on Sunday. All dogs advanced by finishing in the top four in their respective races in this past Saturday’s first round. RTSS Eve’s Angel, a 31-month-old female from a litter by Kiowa Myth and PJ Hardnottolike, starts from the inside post in Race 6 at 1:44 p.m. Trained by kennel owner Randy Floyd for owner Running To Stand Still LLC, RTSS Eve’s Angel is the second-choice 4-1 morning-line favorite. She finished second in her first qualifier. Other starters in Race 6 in post-position order: Hi Noon Recoil (Nova kennel), O Ya Flo (Lester Raines), Flying Stark (Everett Racing), LK’s Trubulee (Lashmet), Oh No Mr Bill (Abernathy), Kentucky Smith (Cal Holland) and Ventilator (Everett Racing). Hi Noon Recoil is the 5-2 morning-line top choice. Hi Noon Ricochet drew the No. 1 box in Race 10 at 2:56 p.m. The 33-month-old son of SH Avatar and Hi Noon Wheezy advanced with a third-place showing in the opening round. Hi Noon Ricochet is a seventh-best 10-1 on the morning line. He is trained by Missy Kubitz for owner Charles Haliburton III. The remainder of the field in Race 10 in post-position order: Shoot For D Moon (Floyd), Harwich (Abernathy), Fine SB Lines (Lester Raines), Raiders Coolio (Cal Holland), Kaias Marvin (Floyd), Flying Benelli (Everett Racing) and LK’s Santorini (Lashmet), the 5-2 morning-line choice who has wrapped up her first meet win title. Also on Monday, Watson Racing took a major step toward wrapping up its first meet kennel championship with a three-win effort on the 12-race performance. With six cards remaining in the July-to-December meet, Watson Racing extended its lead to eight victories over both reigning champion Lester Raines and three-time champion Everett Racing with 255 wins. The meet concludes with a rare Sunday matinee performance. Previous Next

< Back CG'S PENNY SHOE WINS MOUNTAINEER CLASSIC Stan Pawloski Oct 26, 2020 Tri-State Greyhound Park invader CG’s Penny Shoe caught front runner TNT Free Falling deep in the stretch to capture the $100,000 Mountaineer Classic Saturday afternoon at Wheeling Island. Racing out of the Abrahamson Kennel, CG’s Penny Shoe cleared the first turn 2 lengths behind Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s TNT Free Falling while a couple more lengths back were Abrahamson Kennel’s Atascocita Birma and Blanchard Kennel’s Penrose Boss. The leaders remained unchanged down the backstretch and far turn. Coming home, CG’s Penny Shoe moved to the outside as the sprinter powered past TNT Free Falling – winning by 1 ½ lengths in 29.82. Atascocita Birm finished third, 2 lengths back, while Penrose Boss rounded out the superfecta ticket. Completing the final field were Craigie Pirate (Lester Raines Kennel), fifth; AD Black Falcon (Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel), sixth; L’s Luv It (Blanchard Kennel), seventh; and TNT Twister City (Patriot/Taplin Kennel), eighth. CG’s Penny Shoe is owned by Janice Abrahamson and trained in Wheeling by Tom Engle. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of October 23, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Oct 24, 2023 Steve Sarras Kennel’s Glasgow Kiss has won five out of his last six Grade AA races for trainer Mike Holguin. Kennel-mates Elijah Craig has three straight wins (M, D, C) while Provide Comfort has back-to-back victories (B, A). A Ray Kennel’s AMF Gotta Go has captured three out of his last four Grade AA trips for trainer Joe Palmer. Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s SE Tap House has two wins and two seconds in his last four Grade AA outings for trainer Cheyney Kuriata. Charter Kennel’s JSP Hush Money has three 3/8 victories in a row (TA, TAA) for trainer James Campbell. Kennel-mate Oshkosh Twilla has back-to-back wins (A, AA). Jacobs Racing Kennel’s Pickupthepace has two straight victories (B, A) for trainer Natalie Looper. Previous Next