Is Mountaineer Park Really "Crooked"?
 

An old diagram from the good old days of the American Racing Manual seems to suggest that it is; that is to say, the upper stretch is closer to the grandstand/apron than the finish line. The diagram also suggests that the oval itself is asymmetrical; that is, egg-shaped.

Is either or both of these things true?

egg-shaped. yes

I do think the stretch is parallel to the grandstand though, right? Been a LONG time since I've been there. It might have been Waterford at the time.

Mountaineer Park

Urban legend says the first turn was scrunched to avoid paying higher taxes, back in 1951, on a full-mile oval.

The pear-shaped config makes it nearly impossible to get hung wide early and win. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, i once profiled an ENTIRE YEAR that saw just one horse make every pole a winner from the 9 OR 10 post at one mile OR at 1 70.

Mountaineer Park is not the only crooked racetrack in North America.

yes. and i do think its kinda egg shape. in the drf track drawing at the top shows a egg shape track. it is hard to tell standing in the apron.

mayb not:confused:

Calder/Gulfstream Park West's turf course also appears to be off-center, even though its main track is not.