At its Tuesday June 6th meeting, the Virginia Racing Commission approved the HBPA’s request to fund a series of races that will be contested in Maryland and West Virginia this year. Three showcase race days at Laurel will feature a slate of Virginia-bred turf stakes while ten individual restricted races will be contested at either Laurel or Charles Town from July through November.
Rose Brier is shown winning the 2016 Bert Allen Stakes for the third straight year at Laurel. The 8 year old Mizzen Mast gelding also won the ’16 Edward Evans Stakes. Photo by Jim McCue. own winning the Bert Allen Stakes
Virginia Breeders’ Day at Laurel kicks off the schedule on June 24th with second editions of the $75,000 Edward Evans, Nellie Mae Cox and White Oak Farm Stakes, and the inaugural Tyson Gilpin Stakes. Virginia Day at Laurel follows on August 5th with a four-pack of new offerings — the $75,000 Hansel, William Backer, Meadow Stable and Camptown Stakes. The campaign concludes with Commonwealth Day at Laurel on September 30th with five long running staples — the $60,000 Bert Allen, Brookmeade, Punch Line, Oakley and Jamestown Stakes. A pair of Virginia-bred maiden sprints will complement the June 24th card while a pair of one mile maiden races will join the August 5th program. Specific dates and conditions of the ten individual events can be found at vabred.org and virginiahorseracing.com.