Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
- Aaron S. Terry
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.29
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races 750 Hollywood Drive Charles Town, WV 25414
Year Opened: 1933
Hollywood, West Virginia
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in Charles Town, West Virginia is probably what a lot of people think about when considering what a low-grade gaming establishment might look like. While the Hollywood Casino next door is very well appointed, the race track itself is far from the glitz and glamour of the Kentucky Derby. The amenities here are on the other end of the spectrum from Churchill Downs; there are no box seats, no fancy hats, and no restaurant to watch the races from while you dine. Instead you will only find a single concession stand with a handful of items, smoking indoors, and tables and chairs which have seen better days.
Food & Beverage 2
There is only a single concession stand inside the clubhouse, on the lower level, which offers items such as hot dogs and pretzels for $5 or $6 each. There is also a bar in the middle of the floor.
Atmosphere 2
The upstairs level has stadium seating with tables and TVs, but only a couple of betting machines, and they only take vouchers (no cash). The upper level does give you a slightly better view of the track, but if you are there to take a flyer on the ponies, having only a couple of machines makes it hard, especially when they don’t take cash.
The downstairs level has myriad tables with chairs around them, but is littered with discarded betting slips (although they do have custodians who walk around to try and clean up some of the mess). Smoking is also allowed indoors, which is a bit of an inconvenience. On the plus side there are plenty of betting machines, as well as a couple of cashiers who can take money in person or cash you out.
The race track itself boasts a single dirt track.
Neighborhood 3
Charles Town is not a large city, with a small downtown area not far from the casino and track. There are some restaurants around, but the most popular attraction here is of course the casino, though Harpers Ferry is not far away – Harpers Ferry is a well-known historic park, and includes a Civil War museum and John Brown’s Fort, known for being a base of operations for an 1859 abolitionist raid. The Potomac and Shenandoah rivers also meet in Harpers Ferry, so you can see great views of Maryland and Virginia from the town.
Fans 2
Charles Town Races has live horse racing year round, either Wednesday through Saturday or Thursday through Saturday depending on the time of the year. Post time is generally around 7 pm.
There are not a ton of visitors to this track, but it will likely still feel pretty crowded on the average night, with most of the tables inside and out with people seated at them. As I mentioned above most of the attendees appear to be diehard gambler types, not really families out for a night of fun, although you will see a few children here and there.
Access 3
Charles Town is a little off the beaten path, at least a half an hour from any major highways.
When you get to the track itself, your best option is to park in the surface lot just inside the main entrance, and walk over to the track from there. There are two garages further in, but I wouldn’t recommend them as that means you will have to walk all the way through the casino, a bit of a winding path to get to the race track. You will be able to get to the track much faster if you park in the surface lot.
Once you get inside, there is plenty of room on the upper level (as mentioned earlier the lower level feels a bit crowded, as does the apron – the area next to the track itself). On the plus side you can get really close to the action, standing right next to the track as the horses are loaded and as they race by.
Return on Investment 2
If you just want to check this particular track off your bucket list, or if it happens to be the closest horse racing track to you, it may be worth a visit. However, I would not recommend it if you have other options nearby; there are many other tracks offering live horse racing which are much nicer.
There is no cost to get in, no cost to park, and the food is very cheap, so the only thing you have to spend money on is a program ($3) and any wagers you might like to make. Even so you can find much nicer digs for the money.
Extras 2
There are some nice views from the track of the surrounding property, and the casino itself is very well appointed. There are also TVs inside the clubhouse so you can watch the racing safe from the elements, as well as watch races happening at other tracks. Like almost all live racing facilities, you can also bet on races at the other tracks, as well.
