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Two-Day Festival Planned Around Aug. 27 Charles Town Classic

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is pleased to announce its 2021 Charles Town Classic will feature two days of fun and excitement on Friday, Aug. 27 and Saturday, Aug. 28. Horse racing and festival fans, beer and wine enthusiasts, foodies, table gamers, slot players and anyone seeking a weekend getaway are invited to attend a brand-new entertainment experience honoring a long-time racing tradition in West Virginia at the world-class resort destination conveniently located just a one-hour drive from the Baltimore and DC beltways.

Friday's schedule will showcase nine marquee race stakes with total purses exceeding $2 million, including the $800,000 Grade 2 Charles Town Classic which features some of the country's top horses, jockeys and trainers, as well as the Grade 3 $400,000 Charles Town Oaks. Horse racing fans of all ages and experience levels can enjoy the races which start at 5 p.m., with the Charles Town Classic itself scheduled for approximately 10:15 p.m.

Incorporating colorful, Instagram-worthy décor, in between races on Friday the event offers a variety of promotions and giveaways as well as live entertainment from 4-11 p.m. and a disc jockey spinning all evening. To add to the excitement, guests can play lawn games out on the apron, have a laugh with Emcee Brian Thomas the Mini Entertainer and interact with talented street artists. To drive home the event's theme there will also be trivia contests on horse racing, with free slot play up for grabs for winners.

Dining options include any of the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races' 7 different indoor restaurants ranging from delectable Italian eats and burgers to sweet and savory desserts at The Eatery, authentic Hong Kong cuisine at 9 Dragons, award-winning wings at the Skybox Sports Bar or entrees cooked-to-perfection at Final Cut Steakhouse.

For expedited dining, visit one of West Virginia's favorite visiting food trucks out on the apron for delicious eats like nachos and tacos from Roaming Coyote or smoked BBQ from Hog-It-Up BBQ. Libation enthusiasts will also be excited to visit the Charles Town Classic's beer and wine garden to enjoy a fresh pour of craft beer, wine or the event's signature cocktail, a Charles Town-cello, shaken up by celebrity Chef Fabio Viviani, best-known for his participation in Bravo's Top Chef seasons 5 and 8.

Live bands return Saturday starting at 4 p.m., and patrons are invited back to the casino to carry on the festivities. Those with a flair for creativity can participate in a West Virginia-themed hat contest from 4-8 p.m., with cash prizes for winners.

Guests can also join the mychoice rewards program at no cost. New members will receive $10 in free slot play and an additional $10 when they provide a valid email address. From 8 a.m. to midnight, mychoice members who earn 15 tier credits can win up to $1,000 in free slot play in the Charles Town Classic Swipe & Win Kiosk Game. For those who enjoy table games, play and earn entries all day Saturday to be one of five winners to win up to $1,000 mycash at 9 p.m.

Charles Town Classic attendance is free, and fun is mandatory. For additional information regarding the event, visit www.hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com/charles-town-classic and follow the casino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates.

Fun at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races begins long before the 2021 Charles Town Classic. Every Friday and Saturday during the month of August guests can win their share of a racehorse or up to $100,000 cash by using their mychoice rewards card. Winners are announced every hour between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

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Dubai World Cup: ‘Underdog’ Sleepy Eyes Todd ‘Tries His Eyeballs Out Every Time’

Thumbs Up Racing's Sleepy Eyes Todd continues to grow his fanbase heading into the toughest test of his career, the 10-furlong, $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) on March 27. While his propensity to pose for the morning racing media and genuine nature around the barn have earned him points with onlookers and horsemen, alike, it is his grit and consistency that flock favor to those only aware of his performance record. All of the above will likely come into play if the roan warrior is to be successful on the big day.

“He's a gentleman,” said trainer Miguel Angel Silva. “He feels really good to be around. Even though he's a stallion, he acts like a good friend. He's just gentle with everyone and he doesn't like to do anything bad or stupid to the groom or gallop-people. He's a cool guy and he likes the (media) cameras.”

A five-time stakes winner who has shown marked versatility in trip and track, the photogenic son of Paddy O'Prado is not considered a favorite in the market for the Dubai World Cup, but is respected by many as one they know will have a say in the outcome. He exits a strong-closing fifth in the $20 million Saudi Cup in Riyadh, suffering traffic issues, and has won graded stakes at nine furlongs and seven furlongs.

“We didn't get the trip we wanted in Saudi,” Silva explained. “It's just racing luck and hopefully he can have better luck this time and maybe we can get the win. This time, like last time, I would like to see him five or six lengths behind the speed, but you never know what's going to happen during the race. That was the plan last time and all of a sudden we were dead-last and had to come running.”

The eight-time winner from 17 starts will be reunited with jockey Alexis Moreno, who was aboard in the Saudi Cup. While he has yet to prove himself at the G1 level, he has been successful against G1 horses with the proverbial world watching.

On the Breeders' Cup World Championships undercard at Keeneland in November, he defeated a talented Lafayette Stakes (Listed) field, including next-out Cigar Mile (G1) winner True Timber and Burj Nahaar (G3) victor Midnight Sands. In December's Mr. Prospector (G3), he turned back G1 winners Diamond Oops and Mind Control, as well as multiple G2 winner Firenze Fire. Those efforts have been par for the course for a runner who has consistently and successfully taken his show on tour, including winning last year's Charles Town Classic (G2) over nine furlongs. He will have to stretch another furlong in Dubai, attempting 1 1/4 miles for the first time.

“I would love to see him finish the way he did on Breeders' Cup day,” Silva said. “He tries his eyeballs out every time. He's a hard-working horse who's always the underdog and we just love him. He's had issues in the races, but always managed to come back and perform well.

“He's training amazing right now and he really likes this track. The transition from Saudi to here has been great and we've had no issues so far. It's a little more similar to a U.S. track and he loves to train and gets over the track. The works have been a little bit longer with him (to build stamina), but I don't see any problem with the distance. He has been, in the last couple races, one of the only horses who is finishing in the race. In Saudi, he was the only horse really closing in on the frontrunners. If anything, the distance will be good for him.”

The ride Sleepy Eyes Todd has taken the Mexico City native on has undoubtedly been a memorable one. A second-generation horseman who has worked his way from hotwalker to head trainer, Silva is not quick to take any part of this experience for granted.

“It is an amazing experience to have him and I've been trying to take it all in,” Silva said. “Hopefully we will get more horses who have this kind of quality of racing in them after this, but we'll see. We are trying to enjoy it and are going step by step with the horse heading into the race.

“I have climbed the ladder and found my own path. It has been like a family business to work with horses, from my grandfather to my dad and to me and my brothers—we all belong to these beautiful animals.”

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Multi-Millionaire War Story Arrives At Old Friends For Retirement

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement farm based in Georgetown, Ky., announced Tuesday the arrival of multiple graded stakes winner War Story.

After a six-year career, the Kentucky-bred son Northern Afleet, now 8, has been pensioned by owners Imaginary Stables and Glenn Ellis. The gelding's last start was the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic in August.

War Story broke his maiden first time out in 2014 in a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs. He has earned seven victories in all, including the G2 Brooklyn Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park, the G3 Monmouth Cup Stakes at Monmouth Park, and the G3 Harlan's Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream.

The game chestnut never shied from top competition, however, facing eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the 2015 Kentucky Derby and again in the Breeders' Cup Classic, California Chrome in the 2016 Pacific Classic, and Arrogate in the 2017 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes.

War Story has raced coast-to-coast, from Saratoga to Santa Anita, making 40 starts in all earning eight wins, seven seconds and six thirds for total career earnings of $3,271,996.

“He is such a special horse,” said co-owner Ellis. “He could run any distance, he just never gave up, and he could do anything. I'm so happy now,” he added, “because he can just live a happy life and he's earned it.”

“I love War Story,” said Old Friends's founder and President Michael Blowen. “He always tried. I even loved him as a handicapper because he often filled out my trifectas and superfectas at a nice price. But nothing compares to feeding him mints and carrots every day. He's absolutely adorable.”

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Charles Town Classic, Oaks Will Again Be Held On Same Program In 2021

Following up on its successful August card which saw the Charles Town Classic (G2) and Charles Town Oaks (G3) run on the same day for the first time, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races will once again showcase its two graded stakes on the same program in 2021, following approval by the West Virginia Racing Commission at its Tuesday morning meeting.

The $800,000 Charles Town Classic and $400,000 Charles Town Oaks will headline the action on an Aug. 27 card that will include 9 stakes races totaling $1,850,000 in purse money. The Friday night card on Aug. 27 will get underway at a special first post of 5:00 P.M. EST.

Run for $600,000 in 2020, the Classic received a purse bump of $200,000 for 2021 while the Oaks received the same increase up to the $400,000 level for next year. The three unrestricted stakes on the Classic night undercard – the Russell Road, Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon and Robert Hilton Memorial – also received $50,000 hikes to $150,000. Four West Virginia-bred stakes, each worth $50,000, round out the stakes lineup.

The four West Virginia bred stakes on Aug. 27 will be just four of 16 state bred stakes worth $50,000 each at Charles Town in 2021 with the first coming on April 17 when older fillies and mares take the track for the Original Gold Stakes run over Charles Town's two-turn seven furlong distance.

The signature event for West Virginia-breds will take place on Oct. 9 as the West Virginia Breeders' Classics take center stage for its 35th renewal. The purses for the races comprising West Virginia Breeders' Classics XXXV will be announced at a later date.

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