Melissa Lewis

The meeting agenda includes an Executive Director's report, an auditor's report, and a legal update. It also covers the approval of certified thoroughbred race registration requirements. The Mountaineer Park presented a list of capital improvement projects for approval totaling $361,036.38, which encompasses various repairs and upgrades such as HVAC systems, plumbing, track resurfacing, and lighting projects.

The meeting agenda includes the Executive Director's Report, Auditor's Report, and a Legal Update. Key action items involve reviewing requests from Wheeling Island regarding 2026 Stakes Races and evaluating multiple capital improvement requests from Mountaineer Park covering HVAC systems, plumbing, and facility repairs. The commission will also consider the approval of hiring a Wheeling Island Judge and deliberate on the appeal case of Casey/Sell v. WVTBA regarding foal registration.

The key discussion topics for this meeting include the election of a Chairman, the Executive Director's Report, the Auditor's Report, and a Legal Update. Furthermore, the commission is scheduled to address Charles Town's request for approval of 2026 Stakes Races and discuss WV Breeder Registration. The agenda concludes with a Public Comments section.

The WV Racing Commission meeting addressed several key areas. The Executive Director's report highlighted an increase in live handle for March 2022 compared to the previous month and the same period last year, along with a rise in export handle. Legal updates included no new appeals and ongoing monitoring of the HISA lawsuit. The commission discussed and approved a request to amend the retirement plan for backstretch personnel, focusing on clarifying eligibility for health provider vendors. Additionally, they approved Mountaineer Park's 2022 stakes schedule, Charles Town's capital improvement project, and Wheeling Island's 2022 stakes schedule. The commission also considered a letter regarding supplemental purse payouts, particularly concerning residency requirements, and decided against a voluntary agreement regarding the HISA Racetrack Safety Program.

The meeting included discussions and decisions on several key issues. The thoroughbred racing rule and parimutuel rule passed the legislature with an effective date of July 1st, 2022. A five-year distribution comparison of variance from 2021 to 2017 was reviewed. Mountaineer Park's request for approval of capital improvement ticket cashing terminals was approved. The commission discussed the post-COVID status of track operations and set a due date of April 29, 2022, for racetracks to provide plans for reopening and operating post-pandemic. The commission approved the hiring of a second steward in Charles Town. There were no public comments.