West Virginia is already renowned for its exceptional horse racing scene, boasting over 300 live-racing events at Mountaineer Park in New Cumberland and Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.
However, come Saturday, West Virginia takes center stage in the world of horse racing.
The $500,000 Grade 3 West Virginia Derby is the main attraction at Mountaineer, with a special afternoon card featuring a total of nine races. This year marks the 51st edition of the derby, which covers a distance of 1 1/8 miles. The derby is scheduled as the eighth race of the day, starting at 5:35 p.m., while the entire program kicks off at 2 p.m.
This race has been won by renowned trainers Bob Baffert, Steve Asmussen, and Todd Pletcher, all of whom are Hall of Fame members.
The largest racing event in West Virginia, with a staggering one-day purse exceeding $1 million, takes place annually.
In addition to the prominent West Virginia Derby with a prize of $500,000, the supporting races consist of the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes, a Grade 3 event offering a purse of $200,000, along with five stakes races on both dirt and turf each carrying a purse of $75,000.
There is a maximum limit of 1,500 attendees allowed.
TVG allows Mountain State bettors to access the action.
Saturday is also a fantastic day for watching and betting on horse racing throughout the industry.
TVG provides access to the $1 million Whitney and the $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational for turf horses from Saratoga Race Course, allowing West Virginia bettors to join in on the action.
For those who prefer not to attend the race day, Mountaineer presents the option of advance wagering on the complete derby program on Friday at the casino off-track betting area.
Betting On The West Virginia Derby
The seven-horse West Virginia Derby includes a few esteemed contenders.
In the July Indiana Derby, Mr. Wireless emerged as the frontrunner with odds of 9-5. His performance was outstanding as he confidently pulled ahead in the final stretch, ultimately winning by a remarkable five-length lead. The race covered a distance of 1 1/16 miles, and Mr. Wireless triumphed at a favorable price of 7-2.
It is encouraging to see him running strongly in the final strides, especially as he extends his distance to 1 1/8 miles.
“Since his last start, everything has been going incredibly smoothly,” acclaimed trainer Bret Calhoun remarked. “He continues to make remarkable progress and display steady improvement. It seems as though we haven’t even come close to exhausting his endurance – he possesses an abundance of stamina.”
However, Mr. Wireless is determined to outperform Warrant, who narrowly defeated him in the Texas Derby earlier this year. Warrant exhibited impressive form during a quick 59 2/5-second workout for five furlongs at Ellis Park, indicating that he is in peak condition for this race. As the second favorite with odds of 5-2, Warrant enters the competition with high expectations.
In the spring, Bourbonic, with a 3-1 record, emerged as one of the most remarkable tales in horse racing. Against all odds, he made an incredible comeback from being in last place and swiftly overtook the entire field in the final stretch, securing a memorable victory in the Wood Memorial at an unprecedented 72-1 odds.
Despite his disappointing finishes in the Kentucky Derby (13th) and the Belmont Stakes (5th), Bourbonic finds himself in a favorable position as he steps down in class and returns to a distance he previously triumphed in – the Wood Memorial at 1 1/8 miles.
What is the current state of the field?
At odds of 3-1, Bourbonic bursts out from the rail with Eric Cancel as the jockey.
Joe Talamo pilots Kinetic Sky to a 6-1 record in post two.
In the third post, Bourbon Thunder has odds of 8-1 and will be guided by Deshawn Parker.
Out of the four post, Ramon Vazquez takes the ride on the favored Mr. Wireless.
With Florent Geroux aboard, Warrant holds the advantageous position of having the five post and 5-2 odds.
Channel Fury, ridden by Malcom Franklin and carrying odds of 10-1, emerges from the six post.
Jockey Joe Mussaro will be riding Americainaed, the 50-1 underdog in post seven.
Big Spotlight For Calhoun
Mr. Money, who was in excellent condition just like Mr. Wireless, claimed victory in the 2019 West Virginia Derby under the guidance of Bret Calhoun.
While being in Saratoga, Calhoun plans to attempt winning the favorite’s race here and then secure victory in the Whitney with an underdog, By My Standards, around the same period.
Charles Town Cha-Ching … Again
On Friday, July 30, the adored track of horse racing once again presented a colossal payday with its unrestricted and thrilling atmosphere.
The fourth race commenced with a field of eight participants, promising an exhilarating display of financial excitement.
Beyond Pretty and Carolina Bambina, two horses with odds of 50-1, crossed the finish line in first and second place respectively. Coming in third was Win Then Grin with odds of 7-2, while Mabel, the favorite with odds of 3-5, finished in fourth place.
- $2 exacta paid $1,872
- $1 trifecta paid $12,445
- $1 superfecta paid $28,463
Charles Town had just experienced its second massive payout in a span of one week, with the most recent being a $1 superfecta that surpassed $41,000.
If one were to reflect on their past experiences, they would likely discover various betting opportunities that could have potentially led them to significant financial gains.
The two horses with the longest odds on the board came in first and second place, while the horse with odds of 3-5 finished fourth.
Charles Town continues to be a favorite among nationwide bettors due to its knack for delivering exciting long shot victories.
Live meets at Hollywood at Charles Town Races take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings starting at 7 p.m.
Except for the special card on Saturdays, Mountaineer operates from Sunday to Wednesday at 7 p.m.
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