In partnership with the West Virginia Breast Health Initiative, Inc., Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races will once again present a day of activities dedicated to the fight against breast cancer for the tenth straight year. On Saturday, September 22, Hollywood Casino will host a 5K fun run, the tenth annual Race for the Ribbon track walk, a silent auction, a night of Thoroughbred racing and other events at the property throughout the day. The nine prior Race for the Ribbons have raised approximately $140,000 for breast cancer care and treatment in the state of West Virginia.
As stated by WVBHI’s President – Debbie Townsend, “We are overjoyed with the support of Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. Over the last 9 years, the Race for the Ribbon event has rapidly evolved into one of West Virginia’s largest fundraisers for breast cancer charities. All of the funds raised at the Race for the Ribbon event are supporting West Virginia families by supporting breast cancer detection and treatment efforts and by also easing the financial burdens that families experience when coping with the treatment of breast cancer creating more time and energy to focus on healing. I am honored to be part of such a great fundraising event.”
Events for the tenth annual Race for the Ribbon on Saturday, September 22 begin at 8:30am with the fourth running of the Race for the Ribbon 5K that will start and finish at Hollywood Casino. The event is a stroller friendly walk/run open to runners and walkers of all ages and abilities with details on registration for the Race for the Ribbon 5K available at: www.imathlete.com/events/racefortheribbon5k2018. All participants in the Race for the Ribbon 5K will receive a swag bag and t-shirt with Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races donating all entry fees to the West Virginia Breast Health Initiative.
Following the 5K is the ceremonial walk around the track at noon where each $25 donation for participation in the walk will come with a commemorative t-shirt. Throughout the day, patrons are also invited to check out the pink lemonade stand, silent auction and pink hat contest, which will award cash prizes for “best hats in show.” 5pm will see the kickoff of an evening of world class Thoroughbred racing that includes six stakes races.
Saturday’s full schedule is as follows:
- 8:30am – Start of 5K at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races (rain or shine)
- 10:30am – Registration for the Breast Cancer walk around the track
- 12:00pm – Breast Cancer walk around the track (weather permitting)
- 5:00pm – Start of silent auction on the mezzanine level of the grandstand
- 5:00pm – Post time for the 1st race
- 8:00pm – Judging for Pink Hat Contest on the track apron, with $500 prize to the winner
- 9:45pm – $50,000 Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon Stakes
- 10:00pm – Silent auction ends
- 10:30pm – $300,000 Charles Town Oaks (G3)
“We’re honored as a property to be able to hold an event like the Race for the Ribbon for a tenth year and raise money for services and treatments for a disease that’s touched many lives and keep that money here locally in West Virginia,” said Scott Saunders, Charles Town’s General Manager. “I’m hoping to personally take part in the 5K run once again and look forward to seeing even more fellow local businesses and community leaders participating as well.”
The night of racing includes eight stakes races altogether and is headlined by the second graded race on Charles Town’s calendar – the $300,000 Charles Town Oaks (G3) for three-year-old fillies. New for 2018 is the naming of the Pink Ribbon Stakes in honor of Misty Bennett, the West Virginia Breast Health Initiative’s Mission and Outreach Coordinator who passed away in March of this year.
“We’re not only excited to host a marquee race like the Charles Town Oaks, but to also honor the memory of Misty who was so instrumental with not only the West Virginia Breast Health Initiative but with the Race for the Ribbon itself,” said Charles Town’s Vice President of Racing Erich Zimny. “It’s another example of being able to weave in the horse racing traditions of our facility with a great cause and our partners for the day.”
The full stakes lineup at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races on Race for the Ribbon day is comprised of:
- Charles Town Oaks (G3), $300,000, Fillies 3YO, 7 furlongs
- Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon S., $50,000, Fillies & Mares 3&up, 7 furlongs
- Frank Gall Memorial S., $50,000, WV-bred 3&up, 7 furlongs
- Sadie Hawkins S., $50,000, WV-bred Fillies & Mares 3&up, 7 furlongs
- Rachel’s Turn S., $50,000, WV-bred Fillies 2YO, 4 ½ furlongs
- Henry Mercer Memorial, $50,000, WV-bred 2YO, 4 ½ furlongs
The Race for the Ribbon card is responsible for five of the six largest non-Charles Town Classic day all-sources handle figures in track history with the 2013 card holding the record for wagering volume on a non-Classic program with over $2.2 million wagered. In its short history, the Charles Town Oaks itself has seen the likes of multiple Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Groupie Doll as well as Grade 1 winners Her Smile, Book Review and So Many Ways take to the gate to contest it.
The stakes laden card will be televised by TVG2, who will provide in-studio coverage of the event and can also be heard on the Horse Racing Radio Network.
