Stronach Stables' homebred Something Awesome came to Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races on a roll, Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado arrived on a mission, and the two brought home the money April 21 in the $1.2 million Charles Town Classic (G2).
The West Virginia Racing Commission has approved 162 live racing dates in 2018 for Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and 123 dates for Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort.
Responding to a request by the state's governor, the West Virginia Racing Commission Feb. 5 restored funding for the $1.2 million Charles Town Classic (G2).
After the West Virginia Racing Commission put the future of the state's top race in jeopardy by voting Jan. 23 to slash its purse, the state's governor offered support of the Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2) continuing with its seven-figure purse.
The Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races 2018 stakes schedule is still up in the air after the West Virginia Racing Commission did not take action on the proposal at its December meeting.
High winds damaged three barns at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races the evening of July 5, but no horses or humans were injured and the track expects to not miss any race dates.
Three runners entered the $1.25 million Charles Town Classic (G2) April 22 for Loooch Racing and Imaginary Stables, and one got by with a little help from his friends.
"To set another record for wagering volume per race in the face of some obstacles speaks volumes about the quality and dedication of our entire team here at Charles Town," said vice president of racing operations Erich Zimny.
Jockey Jose Montano notched his 1,000th career victory Dec. 16 when he piloted Aritzia to victory in the eighth race at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.
Aqueduct, Hawthorne, Charles Town, Turfway have canceled Dec. 15 cards.
The first five months of Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races calendar for 2017 have been set, with 76 days of live racing to be conducted from Jan. 11 through May 20 on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings.
West Virginia Racing Commission staff will explore, among other things, whether capital improvement money racetracks get from a video lottery terminal fund can be used to pay for accreditation through the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance.
The West Virginia Racing Commission July 19 signed off on $1,170,000 in funding for purses for the 30th edition of the West Virginia Breeders' Classics Oct. 8 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.
Regulators and track executives in West Virginia hope to have about 50% of the starters in two upcoming graded stakes tested out of competition as part of a launch of the program in the state.
The West Virginia Racing Commission plans to launch its out-of-competition program in conjunction with the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) Aug. 6 at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort.
Two stakes that guarantee the winners berths in West Virginia Breeders Classics races at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races have been moved from August to September to avoid a conflict with new stakes at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort.
Officials with Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races told the West Virginia Racing Commission May 11 the usual protocol was followed for a track resurfacing project stalled by rainy weather and the discovery of rocks in the new material.
More than three inches of rain since April 27 has stalled resurfacing of the racetrack at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, which has canceled live racing for May 11-12.
Live racing at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races on both May 6 and May 7 has been cancelled because of unforeseen circumstances with scheduled track resurfacing following the Charles Town Classic (gr. II).
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Stanford, who just missed winning the $500,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) in his previous start, got the lion's share of a much bigger pot with a victory in the $1.25 million Charles Town Classic (gr. II) April 23.
Imperative and Page McKenney, second and third, respectively, behind Moreno in last year's Charles Town Classic (gr. II), are among 10 older horses entered in the $1.25 million event April 23 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.
In keeping with tradition, California-based horses again populate the list of nominees for the $1.25 million Charles Town Classic (gr. II), which this year will be run April 23.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races will make a $10,000 donation to CANTER Mid-Atlantic for the eighth consecutive year as part of its Charles Town Classic (gr. II) program April 23.
Pro-racing lawmakers in West Virginia took part in a March 1 Capitol press conference to discuss the economic impact of Thoroughbred racing and breeding given legislation that would decouple live racing from gaming.
Racing interests and their legislative representatives plan a rally March 1 at the West Virginia Capitol in Charleston to combat bills that call for the decoupling of live racing from gaming.
The West Virginia Senate Feb. 25 had first reading on legislation that would defund and decouple greyhound racing from gaming but maintain requirements that Thoroughbred racing receive its share of gaming revenue.
Legislation that would remove the requirement that racetracks with gaming also offer live racing has been introduced in the West Virginia Senate.
Legislation that would restore video lottery terminal-generated purse funds that have been diverted to pay down a workers' compensation debt has been introduced in the West Virginia House of Delegates.
Citing "the prolonged impact of the extreme winter weather that moved through the area this past week," Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races' Jan. 29-30 live racing programs have been recheduled for Feb. 2-3.
Citing the continued impact of the extreme winter weather that moved through West Virginia's eastern panhandle last weekend, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has canceled live racing for Thursday, Jan. 28.
The West Virginia Racing Commission, citing comments it has received, on Jan. 19 voted to conduct an evaluation of the racing surface at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has cancelled live racing for Thursday, Jan. 14 as personnel continue to repair a drainage leak under the track apron that created a hole on the outside rail of the track on Saturday.
Officials at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races report the track enjoyed record handle per race of $111,664 for its 1,447 races in 2015.
The West Virginia Racing Commission Dec. 23 approved the $1.25 million purse for the 2016 Charles Town Classic (gr. II), but the vote wasn't unanimous.
Paul Espinosa will become the full-time track announcer at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races when the 2016 meet begins Jan. 7.
West Virginia's high court has overturned a circuit court decision that vacated a WVRC order to suspend and fine seven jockeys in a 2009 case in which they were permitted to ride over the published weight.
The West Virginia Racing Commission Nov. 18 approved customary live racing dates, but the schedules for Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort are expected to be drastically reduced.
Charitable Annuity won the $450,000 West Virginia Breeders' Classic Oct. 10 for owner Mark Russell, whose other entrant, the venerable Russell Road, checked in ninth in his attempt to win the race for a fourth time.
Russell Road, the most popular horse to race at Charles Town Races since Onion Juice in the 1980s, won for the 30th time in a Sept. 19 state-bred handicap to move closer to the $2 million mark in career earnings.
The West Virginia racing industry will pursue several initiatives during the 2016 legislative session, including statutory changes that would lower the minimum number of racing dates for which tracks must apply each year.
In partnership with the West Virginia affiliate of Susan G. Komen, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has scheduled a weekend of activities dedicated to the fight against breast cancer.
After multiple extensions of their old contract, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and the Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have struck a new contract for a minimum of three years.
The West Virginia Racing Commission June 2 authorized creation of a committee that will be charged with providing information to a legislative committee that will study the state's racing and gaming industries.
Standout West Virginia-bred mare Down Town Allen was euthanized May 12 as a result of complications arising out of injuries she suffered in the Original Gold Stakes April 18 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.
A former president of the Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association who was barred from Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races for almost 10 years has won his appeal for reinstatement.
A West Virginia Racing Commission purse analysis based on revenue projections from all sources indicates the state and its racetracks have serious issues to address regarding live racing dates in the future.
Shared Belief will undergo a nuclear scan April 19, said Dan Ward, assistant to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
Robert Manfuso's homebred Taketheodds, with Mike Smith aboard, ran down front-running Flattering Bea at the wire to capture the $150,000 Sugar Maple Stakes at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races April 18.
Multiple grade I winner Shared Belief failed to finish April 18 in the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic (gr. II), eased by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith as Southern Stables' Moreno took the 1 1/8-mile test at Charles Town.
