The Charles Town Classic is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and older over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the dirt held annually in August at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in Charles Town, West Virginia . The event currently carries a purse of $ 1,000,000.
16-408: The event was inaugurated on 18 April 2009 and was won by the second favorite (16/5) Researcher who after taking the lead shortly before entering the stretch run, drawing off to win by a 2 + 1 ⁄ 4 margin in a time of 1:49.86. In 2009 the stakes distribution was as follows: If the winner had previously won a Grade 1 Stakes Race, then the purse was $ 1,000,000. If the winner had previously won
32-403: A Grade 2 Stakes Race, then the purse was $ 750,000. If the winner had previously won a Grade 3 Stakes Race, then the purse was $ 600,000. If the winner had never before won a Graded Stakes Race, then the purse was $ 500,000. The official purse was $ 615,000. Researcher won the event again the following year. However, Researcher was owned by a new owner, Kinross (Zohar Ben-Dov), only five days before
48-522: Is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and older over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the dirt held annually in August at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in Charles Town, West Virginia . The event currently carries a purse of $ 1,000,000. The event was inaugurated on 18 April 2009 and was won by the second favorite (16/5) Researcher who after taking
64-535: Is every horseman's dream..."—a "push button" horse [3] , known for his adaptability. Researcher became a "millionaire" on April 17, 2010, when he earned $ 600,000 for winning the 2nd Annual $ 1 Million Charles Town Classic. (He had previously earned $ 800,129.) As of April 20, 2010, Researcher is listed as 2010's 4th Leading Money Earner [4] in North America. Researcher earned a record 133 Equibase Speed Figure in 2009's Inaugural Charles Town Classic . Researcher
80-462: The 2015 running of this race in order to attract the brightest stars in racing. This means that if the winner of the Classic has also won prestigious races there is $ 500,000 set aside from the purse for their Classic success. For the 2015 highly talented Shared Belief was shipped in from California and set as the 3-10 odds-on favorite but stumbled badly and was eased by his jockey Mike E. Smith . Moreno,
96-626: The 3-10 odds-on favorite but stumbled badly and was eased by his jockey Mike E. Smith . Moreno, the third favorite went on to win the event and set a new track record in 1:48:81. Charles Town Track officials announced in December 2015 that the purse for the 2016 running of the Charles Town Classic would be reduced to $ 1,250,000. In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States the event
112-539: The Classic. He was previously owned by Rutledge Farm , which was owned by the late Hermen Greenberg who had died earlier in the year in February. With the increased high stakes attributed to the racino the event immediately as attractive for four year old horses and older in the early spring. In 2011 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade 3 status. The following year
128-828: The United States. He was bred by the Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc. A horse from the most humble beginnings [1] , Researcher was bought by Rutledge Farm (Mr. Hermen Greenberg), in 2005, as a $ 5,000 charitable donation [2] to the Virginia Tech Foundation's M.A.R.E Center, in Middleburg, Virginia. One year after winning the 1st Charles Town Classic, and only a few days before winning the 2nd Charles Town Classic, April 16, 2010, Mr. Zohar Ben-Dov (Kinross Farm) bought Researcher from Mr. Greenberg's estate, for an undisclosed sum. ( Mr. Greenberg died February 28, 2010.) A rare combination of stamina and speed, "Researcher
144-424: The event was upgraded once more to Grade 2 . Charles Town Track Officials announced a new purse layout for the 2015 running of this race in order to attract the brightest stars in racing. This means that if the winner of the Classic has also won prestigious races there is $ 500,000 set aside from the purse for their Classic success. For the 2015 highly talented Shared Belief was shipped in from California and set as
160-407: The lead shortly before entering the stretch run, drawing off to win by a 2 + 1 ⁄ 4 margin in a time of 1:49.86. In 2009 the stakes distribution was as follows: If the winner had previously won a Grade 1 Stakes Race, then the purse was $ 1,000,000. If the winner had previously won a Grade 2 Stakes Race, then the purse was $ 750,000. If the winner had previously won a Grade 3 Stakes Race, then
176-416: The purse was $ 600,000. If the winner had never before won a Graded Stakes Race, then the purse was $ 500,000. The official purse was $ 615,000. Researcher won the event again the following year. However, Researcher was owned by a new owner, Kinross (Zohar Ben-Dov), only five days before the Classic. He was previously owned by Rutledge Farm , which was owned by the late Hermen Greenberg who had died earlier in
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#1732877249736192-478: The third favorite went on to win the event and set a new track record in 1:48:81. Charles Town Track officials announced in December 2015 that the purse for the 2016 running of the Charles Town Classic would be reduced to $ 1,250,000. In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States the event was moved to an August schedule and the conditions were changed to allow three-year-olds to participate. Speed Record: Margins: Most Wins: Most wins by
208-415: The year in February. With the increased high stakes attributed to the racino the event immediately as attractive for four year old horses and older in the early spring. In 2011 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade 3 status. The following year the event was upgraded once more to Grade 2 . Charles Town Track Officials announced a new purse layout for
224-473: Was moved to an August schedule and the conditions were changed to allow three-year-olds to participate. Speed Record: Margins: Most Wins: Most wins by a jockey : Most wins by a trainer : Most wins by an owner: List of American and Canadian Graded races Researcher (horse) Researcher (foaled May 5, 2004, in Virginia ) is a Thoroughbred racehorse who competed mostly in
240-481: Was named 2009 Champion Virginia-bred Older Male on the strength of his wins in the 2009 $ 500,000 Charles Town Classic Stakes (L) and his second-place finish in the 2009 $ 100,000 Queens Country Handicap Gr. III at Aqueduct. By Two Smart, out of Wild Magnolia by Apalachee, Researcher won four other West Virginia stakes races while earning $ 492,859 for 2009. [7] 14: 12 - 2 - 0 (14 starts: 12 wins - 2 places - 0 shows) Charles Town Classic The Charles Town Classic
256-467: Was the lone local horse, in a 10-horse field, when he beat Commentator to steal the show [5] at Charles Town Races and Slots, winning the 1st Annual Charles Town Classic , on April 18, 2009. On April 17, 2010, Researcher defended his title [6] , in the 2nd Annual $ 1 million Charles Town Classic by winning over a game Awesome Gem . His time was just a fraction off the track's record he set on 3/28/2009. repeated The late Hermen Greenberg’s Researcher
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