Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races announced the 2023 stake schedule following approval by the West Virginia Racing Commission at its January 24 morning meeting.
Charles Town’s biggest day on the 2023 calendar follows a 2020 kick-off format, when Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races awards both graded bets, the $1 million Charles Town Classic (G2) dollars and the $750,000 Charles Town Oaks (G3), same Friday, August 25. The Classic and Oaks Card is underway with a special first post at 5 p.m. Eastern.
Charles Town Oaks this year received a purse boost to $750,000, making it the richest sprint for 3-year-olds in North America. Last year’s version was won by Society for owner Peter E. Blum Thoroughbred, trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Society continues to capture Cotillion Stakes (G1) at The Parx . Race in her next start, becoming a future 7th or 1st grader who won the Charles Town Oaks in the race’s 14-year history.
Society wins Charles Town Oaks 2022
For the first time since local hero Researcher won the first two editions of the Charles Town Classic, 2022 sees a repeat winner in the track’s signature event, Bruce Lunsford’s Art collector created a feat in lace-up fashion under Luis Saez. First prize-winning intern Bill Mott will be looking to add to his resume this Saturday during the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
While not comparable to the victory of his West Virginia compatriot Runnin’toluvya by David Raim Muad’dib continues the trend of success for local athletes in the Classics by finishing second last year before repeating his own record in the Sam Huff West Virginia Breeders’ Classic. Trainee Jeff Runco will be assigned back to the Charles Town Classic in 2023, looking to improve on that second-place finish under Charles Town’s reigning five-time lead driver, Arnaldo Bocachica.
In addition to Charles Town Oaks (G3), another unlimited stakes race on the Classic night card — the Robert Hilton Memorial for 3-Year-Old — received a $350,000 raise. The other unrestricted shares—Russell Road and Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon—remain at $250,000.
Since moving the Charles Town Classic and Oaks to the same card in 2020, the blockbuster show has produced three of the four biggest single-card handles in track history, with the two biggest due out in 2020. 2021 and 2022.
“We are extremely pleased with the business results of the past three Charles Town Classic shows and look forward to strengthening the card this August,” said Charlie McIntosh, racing executive for Charles Town. “The quality of the Charles Town Oaks fields is exceptional, and we feel making the Oaks the wealthiest 3-year-old wager race in the country will continue that positive momentum for years to come.”
Charles Town’s 2023 betting schedule features 24 races worth even $4 million in total. These totals do not include the West Virginia Breeder’s Classics XXXVII card slated for October 14, with amounts to be announced at a later date for the state’s first night of spend West Virginians. For the first time, all shares of the state-bred non-Future or Breeders Classics will cost $75,000 in 2023. Staking starts April 15 with Initial Gold Stakes for Horses West Virginia mares and mares, with seven other stakes bred during April, May, June and July, with another four shares scheduled for the card under Charles Town Classic and Oaks.
Another notable change to the staking program is the renaming of the Eleanor Casey Memorial to the James and Eleanor Casey Memorial, following the recent passing of West Virginia racing icon James W. Casey.
The 2023 race schedule requires 164 live race days, including a Wednesday-Saturday schedule in January, February, November and December, with races on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in time. remainder of the year. Posting time for all but Charles Town Classic and Oaks dates is 7pm ET.
This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.
