HRTV to Air Penn Gaming Racing Challenge
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Penn National Gaming announced that HRTV will provide television coverage for the remaining five events in the 2014 Penn Gaming Racing Challenge as well as the West Virginia Breeders' Classics. HRTV has provided coverage for the events for the previous six years.
The HRTV coverage begins with the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic (gr. II) April 19 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. The series also includes the May 31 Penn Mile card at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, the Race for the Ribbon program at Charles Town on Sept. 20, Zia Park's Land of Enchantment day, and Penn's Thanksgiving Eve Racing Festival, the latter two rounding out the series on Nov. 26.
The Charles Town Classic, which still rates as the country's richest race outside of the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup World Championships races, will be one of 13 races on April 19 and serves as the feature on a card that includes the $200,000 Sugar Maple presented by CANTER Mid-Atlantic, the $100,000 Robert Hilton Memorial presented by Budweiser and $50,000 Webb Snyder Charles Town Dash.
On May 31, the second running of the $500,000 Penn Mile is on tap as part of a card that also includes the $200,000 Mountainview Handicap, $150,000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup, and $100,000 Penn Oaks.
The Race for the Ribbon at Charles Town is headlined by the track's second graded race—the $500,000 Charles Town Oaks (gr. III) and includes three additional stakes worth $100,000 each.
On Nov. 26, Zia Park will play host to the second running of the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks as well as the $200,000 Zia Park Derby. Following the races in New Mexico, Penn National presents the $200,000 Fabulous Strike Handicap in addition to the $100,000 Swatara.
The Penn Gaming Racing Challenge kicked off in January with the Houston Ladies Classic night at Sam Houston and binds the six events through points awarded to owners, trainers, and jockeys based on their participation and results in addition to containing other incentives for the connections of horses participating in multiple series races.
The Penn Gaming Racing Challenge ultimately rewards the winners of the year-long series with a waiver of stakes fees at Penn Gaming tracks for an entire year as well as a trip to the Penn National Gaming-owned M Resort in Las Vegas.
While not part of the Penn Gaming Racing Challenge, the West Virginia Breeders' Classics on Oct. 18 will also be covered by HRTV. The races and purses will be released at a later date.