CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. -- The Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has requested continued use of the Charles Town Races and Shenandoah Downs stable areas and training tracks as part of an interim lease agreement reached yesterday, track general manager Donald E. Hudson announced.
Horsemen had been required to vacate the grounds by three days ago because of the track's impending closure, but track officials agreed to lease the stable areas and tracks, for training purposes only, on an interim basis while a long-term agreement was made final.
According to Hudson, the interim agreement provides for the continued use of the facilities through Saturday. Horsemen will meet tomorrow to ratify an agreement that would extend use of the stables and tracks, at a cost of $2,500 per day, through Dec. 31 with options to use the facilities as long as March 15.
"We're hopeful that the agreement will provide horsemen the needed time to identify alternative stabling for their horses," Hudson said. "The agreement also keeps a large percentage of our horse population intact in the event a buyer does emerge."
Track officials are seeking a buyer of the troubled thoroughbred racetrack in an effort to avert closure of the 6l-year-old facility.