The gaming center expanded to 34,000 square feet and the Islander Buffet was introduced to keep gamers satisfied and full. These changes prompted Wheeling Downs to introduce off-track betting and video slot games in 1994. During this time, the entertainment destination opened a new clubhouse, an elegant dining room and a lounge. And thus, a new era was born in which Wheeling reached an even greater potential.ĭelaware North purchased the property in 1988 and helped guide it through even further expansion. But when a series of legislative decisions caused attendance and purse sizes to shrink, Wheeling Downs transitioned from horse racing to greyhound racing in 1976.
Wheeling Downs returned in the 1970s and featured harness and flat racing.
The fire caused enough damage to keep the facility closed for five years and made it necessary for the property to be rebuilt. Wheeling Downs thrived for years until a cold day in 1962 when a fire ravaged the property. In the 1940s, it received a facelift courtesy of new shrubbery and steeps that earned it the nickname “miniature Churchill Downs.” Originally built in 1937 and named Wheeling Downs, the racetrack evolved over time. Wheeling Island’s story is a long, complex and fascinating tale.
