Table games driving interest in local horse racing

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — The blonde twenty-something lifted the beers off the bar counter and distributed them amongst her friends.

"Five beers for $15," she said. "You gotta love West Virginia."

Undoubtedly used to bar-hopping in northern Virginia where $3 wouldn't buy you a soft drink, the group of yuppies had ventured outside the confines of the casino where they had been playing blackjack, roulette and poker, and discovered just a hop, skip and a jump away the engrossing pastime of wagering on the Sport of Kings.

They took turns glancing at the racing program, running down the list of horses one by one. They sipped the freshly poured beverages and discussed who they thought to be the likely winner in the next race.

A few moments later, one of the guys in the group spoke up.

"Four minutes to post," he said. "Who do you guys like? I'm going to place our bets."

And they aren't alone. Actually, far from it. For the rest of the article: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/reporters_notebooks_display.htm?StoryID=108614