The West Virginia Breeders Classic is a

thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

horse The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 mi ...

race for

West Virginia West Virginia is a mountainous U.S. state, state in the Southern United States, Southern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau and the Association of American ...

breeds run at a distance of one and one/eighth mile on the dirt. Open to three-year-olds and up, it takes place each year at the

Charles Town Races Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is a casino, hotel and Thoroughbred horse racing complex located in Charles Town, West Virginia, 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Washington, D.C. It is owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and operated ...

Charles Town, West Virginia Charles Town is a city in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States, and its county seat. The population was 6,534 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. The city is named for its founder Charles Washington, youngest brother of Pres ...

, and currently offers a purse of $500,000. Along with this race are eight other West Virginia Breeders’ races on the same day for West Virginia-bred horses. In its 29th running as of 2015, the West Virginia Classic and its complement of similar races was created in 1987 by retired

Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East ...

and

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The ...

football great

Sam Huff Robert Lee "Sam" Huff (October 4, 1934 – November 13, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins. He played college footba ...

. Huff owns thoroughbreds and was born in West Virginia. In 2014, Russell Road won his third West Virginia Classic, aged 8.

Past winners

* 2015 - Charitable Annuity ( Christian Hiraldo) * 2014 - Russell Road ( Jose Montano) * 2013 - Fred High ( Wesley Ho) (Russell Road placed) * 2012 - Lucy's Bob Boy ( Gustavo Larrosa) * 2011 - Russell Road ( Luis Perez) * 2010 - Sea Rescue * 2009 - Russell Road * 2008 - Ghostly Thunder (Travis Dunkelberger) (Eastern Delite, placed) * 2007 - Eastern Delite (Oscar Flores) * 2006 - Speed Whiz (Anthony Mawing) * 2005 - Speed Whiz (Anthony Mawing) * 2004 - A Huevo (Ramon Dominguez) • * 2003 - Cape Power (Anthony Mawing) * 2002 - Confucius Say (Larry Reynolds) * 2001 - Confucius Say (Larry Reynolds) * 2000 - Coolmars * 1999 - Rebellious Dreamer * 1997 - Take Aim * 1996 - Ardent Arab * 1995 - Cavada (filly) * 1994 - EBF Express * 1993 - Coin Collector Owner Mark Hopkins's A Huevo, trained by Michael Dickinson, was disqualified from first and placed last in the 1999 edition of the race after a post-race test revealed traces of clenbuterol. Wind N'Springs Farms Eastern Delite, trained by Freddie Johnson was also disqualified from first and placed last in the 2002 race, after the post-race test revealed a positive for caffeine. However, 2nd place finisher Confucius Say was not awarded the purse for some time, due to litigation. The ruling was upheld, allowing two-time winner of this race, both times ridden by Larry C. Reynolds, Confucius Say to surpass the $1 million plateau in earnings.

References

{{reflist

External links

Charles Town Race Track

West Virginia Breeders’ Cups

An article about Sam Huff.
Horse races in the United States Graded stakes races in the United States