Following up on a successful 2020 season 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, it was announced Dec. 15.
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 nine stakes races totaling $1.85 million in purse money. The Friday night action will get underway at 5:00 p.m. ET.
The Classic received a purse bump of $200,000 for 2021 while the Oaks received the same increase. Three unrestricted undercard stakes—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 West Virginia-bred stakes run Aug. 27 will be just four of 16 state-bred stakes worth $50,000 each at Charles Town in 2021, with the first coming April 17. The West Virginia Breeders' Classics take center stage Oct. 9, with purses to be announced at a later date.
| Charles Town 2021 Stakes Schedule | ||||
| Date | Purse | Race (Grade) | Condition | Distance |
| April 17 | $50,000 | Original Gold Stakes | F&M 3&up (WV) | 7 Furlongs |
| April 24 | $50,000 | Confucius Say Stakes | 3&up (WV) | 7 Furlongs |
| May 1 | $50,000 | It’s Binn Too Long Stakes | F 3YO (WV) | 4 1/2 Furlongs |
| May 8 | $50,000 | Coin Collector Stakes | 3YO (WV) | 4 1/2 Furlongs |
| May 29 | $50,000 | Fancy Buckles Stakes | F&M 3&up (WV) | 4 1/2 Furlongs |
| June 5 | $50,000 | It’s Only Money Stakes | 3&up (WV) | 4 1/2 Furlongs |
| Aug. 27 | $800,000 | Charles Town Classic (G2) | 3&up | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Aug. 27 | $400,000 | Charles Town Oaks (G3) | F 3YO | 7 Furlongs |
| Aug. 27 | $150,000 | Russell Road Stakes | 3&up | 7 Furlongs |
| Aug. 27 | $150,000 | Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon Stakes | F&M 3&up | 7 Furlongs |
| Aug. 27 | $150,000 | Robert Hilton Memorial | 3YO | 7 Furlongs |
| Aug. 27 | $50,000 | Robert G. Leavitt Stakes | 3YO (WV) | 7 Furlongs |
| Aug. 27 | $50,000 | Sylvia Bishop Memorial | F 3YO (WV) | 7 Furlongs |
| Aug. 27 | $50,000 | Sadie Hawkins Stakes | F&M 3&up (WV) | 7 Furlongs |
| Aug. 27 | $50,000 | Frank Gall Memorial | 3&up (WV) | 7 Furlongs |
| Sept. 18 | $50,000 | Rachel’s Turn | F 2YO (WV) | 4 1/2 Furlongs |
| Sept. 18 | $50,000 | Henry Mercer Memorial | 2YO (WV) | 4 1/2 Furlongs |
| Oct. 9 | TBD | West Virginia Breeders’ Classic | 3&up | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Oct. 9 | TBD | WV Cavada Breeders’ Classic | F&M 3&up | 7 Furlongs |
| Oct. 9 | TBD | WV Breeders’ Classic Distaff | F&M 3&up | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Oct. 9 | TBD | EV Onion Juice Breeders’ Classic | 3&up | 7 Furlongs |
| Oct. 9 | TBD | WV Division of Tourism Breeders’ Classic | F 3YO | 7 Furlongs |
| Oct. 9 | TBD | WV Lottery Breeders’ Classic | 3YO | 7 Furlongs |
| Oct. 9 | TBD | WV Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders’ Classic | F 2YO | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
| Oct. 9 | TBD | WV Moscarelli Memorial Breeders’ Classic | 2YO | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
| Oct. 9 | TBD | WV Dash for Cash Breeders’ Classic | 3&up | 4 1/2 Furlongs |
| Oct. 30 | $50,000 | Eleanor Casey Memorial | F 2YO (WV) | 7 Furlongs |
| Nov. 6 | $50,000 | A Huevo Stakes | 3&up (WV) | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Nov. 13 | $50,000 | My Sister Pearl Stakes | F&M 3&up (WV) | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Nov. 27 | $50,000 | West Virginia Futurity | 2YO (WV) | 7 Furlongs |
