Austintown racino officials expect 'full fields' as racing returns Friday
AUSTINTOWN
Live horse racing returns at 12:45 p.m. Friday to Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.
The race course had more interest from both horsemen and jockeys for the second season of racing at the Austintown facility.
The reason is twofold: increased purses at the track; and Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in Chester, W.Va., already closing down for the year.
“With western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, we’re kind of the only game in town – and it’s a good place to be,” said Mark Loewe, Penn National vice president of Ohio racing. Hollywood Gaming has “a lot of entries and a lot of full fields. I think opening day we got two 10s, four 12s.”
That means two races with 10 horses, and four races with 12-horse fields.
“Really full fields which is what you want,” he added.
Read more about the season in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.