The Owner Is Documented, and It Is Not Sam Huff
The Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and operated by Penn Entertainment, according to publicly published reference sources. Sam Huff, the former professional football player and West Virginia native, is not the owner. The property has a documented owner and operator, and that ownership is a matter of public record.
The venue sits in Charles Town, West Virginia, at coordinates 39.2956497, -77.8486061. It is a casino, hotel, and Thoroughbred horse racing complex. The track opened on December 2, 1933, and a hotel was added in 2008 with 153 rooms. The property has 3,500 slot machines.
Ownership of casino properties can change through sales and rebrands, so the current owner and operator should be confirmed on the property's own website or through the West Virginia Lottery Commission, which oversees gaming in the state. The documented owner and operator are as stated above, but the reader should verify current status before relying on this information for any decision.
The Venue's Fixed Position and Straight-Line Distances
The venue's coordinates are fixed. The distance from any reference point to the venue can be measured as a great-circle distance, which is the shortest path over the earth's surface. This article provides straight-line distances only, and every figure in the table below is a great-circle distance, not a road distance.
Road distance is always longer than straight-line distance. This article does not publish road mileage, driving times, or route instructions. A straight-line measurement ignores terrain, water crossings, road networks, and state boundaries, all of which add distance when traveling by car.
The venue is located in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, northwest of Washington, DC. The coordinates place it in the northern part of the state, near the borders with Virginia and Maryland. The straight-line distance to Washington, DC is 52.2 miles, which is the closest major reference point in the supplied data.
Documented Straight-Line Distances to Reference Points
The following table lists every reference point for which a straight-line distance to the venue is documented. All figures are great-circle distances, not driving distances. The measurement type column is included to prevent any confusion about what these numbers represent.
| Reference Point | Straight-Line Miles | Measurement Type |
|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | 52.2 | great-circle |
| Pittsburgh | 137.8 | great-circle |
| Philadelphia | 149.9 | great-circle |
| Rehoboth Beach, Delaware | 154.1 | great-circle |
| Atlantic City | 183.0 | great-circle |
| NYC / Manhattan | 225.7 | great-circle |
| Buffalo | 253.8 | great-circle |
| Niagara Falls | 268.2 | great-circle |
| Syracuse | 273.9 | great-circle |
| Toronto | 311.3 | great-circle |
| Charlotte | 325.7 | great-circle |
| Detroit | 343.2 | great-circle |
| Ford Field | 343.5 | great-circle |
| Lake George | 356.9 | great-circle |
| Boston | 413.2 | great-circle |
| Charleston Reddit | 462.7 | great-circle |
| Atlanta | 527.7 | great-circle |
| Chicago | 543.0 | great-circle |
| Milwaukee | 585.4 | great-circle |
| St. Louis | 664.6 | great-circle |
| Daytona Beach | 720.8 | great-circle |
| Tunica | 752.6 | great-circle |
| Orlando | 769.9 | great-circle |
| Tampa | 827.4 | great-circle |
| Biloxi | 876.9 | great-circle |
| Minneapolis | 880.4 | great-circle |
| Gulfport | 883.5 | great-circle |
| Kansas City | 894.6 | great-circle |
| Miami | 944.1 | great-circle |
| New Orleans | 945.9 | great-circle |
| Topeka, Kansas | 954.7 | great-circle |
| Shreveport | 1007.7 | great-circle |
| Tulsa | 1010.7 | great-circle |
| Lake Charles | 1071.4 | great-circle |
| Oklahoma City | 1109.5 | great-circle |
| Dallas | 1148.1 | great-circle |
| Denton, TX | 1150.5 | great-circle |
| Arlington, TX | 1166.6 | great-circle |
| Houston / Houston, Texas | 1191.9 | great-circle |
| San Antonio / San Antonio, Texas | 1356.0 | great-circle |
| Denver | 1441.4 | great-circle |
| Phoenix | 1934.4 | great-circle |
| Laughlin / Henderson | 2029.3 | great-circle |
| Las Vegas | 2034.8 | great-circle |
| Bourbon Street | 2037.3 | great-circle |
| Palm Springs | 2163.7 | great-circle |
| San Diego | 2225.9 | great-circle |
| Los Angeles | 2249.2 | great-circle |
| LAX | 2260.3 | great-circle |
| Seattle | 2270.4 | great-circle |
| Portland | 2296.5 | great-circle |
| Sacramento | 2323.0 | great-circle |
| Sacramento Airport | 2325.9 | great-circle |
| San Jose | 2367.7 | great-circle |
| San Francisco | 2386.4 | great-circle |
| Reno | 2219.4 | great-circle |
| Modesto | 2314.2 | great-circle |
| Temecula | 2203.6 | great-circle |
Why Straight-Line and Road Distances Differ
A great-circle distance is the shortest path between two points on a sphere. It is a geometric measurement, not a travel plan. The earth's surface between Charles Town and any reference point includes mountains, rivers, and state lines that a car cannot cross in a straight line.
The venue sits in the Appalachian region, where terrain is rolling and roads follow valleys and passes. The Potomac River and other waterways create natural barriers that force road routes to detour. Crossing from West Virginia into Virginia, Maryland, or Pennsylvania adds state boundary crossings that do not exist in a straight-line measurement.
Road networks are built along existing corridors, not along great-circle paths. A road from Charles Town to Washington, DC, for example, must follow available highways and surface streets, adding distance beyond the 52.2 straight-line miles. The same applies to every pair in the table above.
How to Measure From Your Own Starting Point
The venue's coordinates are fixed at 39.2956497, -77.8486061. Your starting point is not fixed, and this article does not know where you are. If your query includes "from me" or "from my location," the reference point cannot be resolved without your coordinates.
To measure from your own position, use a mapping tool that accepts latitude and longitude. Enter the venue's coordinates as the destination and your current coordinates as the origin. The tool will provide a straight-line distance and a road distance, along with a route and travel time. This article does not provide road mileage or travel times.
The table above gives you reference points to compare against. If your starting point is near one of those cities, the straight-line distance to the venue will be similar. If your starting point is not in the table, use the coordinates to measure directly.
What to Confirm Before You Go
Before traveling to the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, confirm the current owner and operator on the property's own website. Ownership and branding of casino properties change through sales and rebrands, and the documented owner may not be current.
Confirm the venue's current operating status, hours, and any entry requirements on the property's website or by contacting guest services. This article does not publish hours, prices, or current status. The West Virginia Lottery Commission is the state agency that oversees gaming in West Virginia, and its website is the authoritative source for licensing and regulatory information.
If you are driving, use a mapping tool to get current road distance and travel time from your starting point. Road conditions, construction, and traffic change daily, and no static article can provide accurate driving information.
FAQ
Does Sam Huff own Charles Town Races and Slots?
No. The Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and operated by Penn Entertainment, according to publicly published reference sources. Sam Huff is not the owner. Ownership of casino properties can change, so confirm current ownership on the property's website or through the West Virginia Lottery Commission.
How far is Charles Town Races from Washington, DC?
The straight-line distance from Washington, DC to the venue is 52.2 miles. This is a great-circle distance, not a road distance. Road distance is always longer. This article does not publish road mileage or travel times. Use a mapping tool with the venue's coordinates to get a driving route and current travel time.
What is the address of Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races?
This article does not publish street addresses. The venue is located in Charles Town, West Virginia, at coordinates 39.2956497, -77.8486061. The property's own website and contact page carry the current mailing address and directions. Use the coordinates in a mapping tool to find the venue from your starting point.
Play responsibly
Gambling should be treated as paid entertainment, never as a way to earn income or recover losses. 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738)
18+ or 21+ depending on where you are; follow the minimum age that applies to you.
This article is general information about how these mechanics work. It is not legal advice and not a recommendation to gamble or to use any particular operator. Availability and legality differ by jurisdiction — check the rules that apply where you are.