Wyomissing, PA (January 27, 2015) – Beginning with the $1,500,000 Charles Town Classic (G2) at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races on April 19, Horse Racing Radio Network (“HRRN”) - the Eclipse Award-winning broadcast organization based in Lexington, Kentucky - will once again serve as the exclusive radio home for the remaining 5 events in the 2015 Penn Gaming Racing Challenge. In addition to Charles Town Classic day, the HRRN team will provide coverage of Penn National’s Penn Mile card on May 30, the Race for the Ribbon program at Charles Town on September 19 as well as Zia Park’s Land of Enchantment day and Penn’s Thanksgiving Eve Racing Festival, both of which take place on November 25 and round out the series.
Much as it has the previous two years, HRRN’s live Charles Town Classic coverage will originate on site and can be heard nationwide on SiriusXM and will be available worldwide via live streaming on the HRRN website, www.horseracingradio.net. Additional information along with specific broadcast times and channels will be announced prior to April 18.
“As the exclusive radio home for both the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, HRRN has become an industry leader in terms of live radio coverage of our sport’s biggest events,” said Erich Zimny, Charles Town’s Vice President of Racing Operations. “As we continue to try and build the profile of our events, we’re happy to have them on board to cover all of the Penn Gaming Racing Challenge cards once again as well as host them on site for both the Charles Town Classic and Penn Mile.”
HRRN’s award-winning broadcast team will be anchored by HRRN President, Mike Penna.
“The entire team at Penn Gaming has done a remarkable job in elevating their premier races to be among the best quality stakes races in the country,” said Penna. “HRRN is proud to be the exclusive radio partner and help showcase these races to our worldwide audience.”
The Charles Town Classic, which still rates as the country’s richest race outside of the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, will be one of 13 races on April 18 and serves as the feature on a card that includes the $150,000 Sugar Maple presented by CANTER Mid-Atlantic, the $100,000 Robert Hilton Memorial and a trio of West Virginia bred stakes. The Charles Town Classic card will be held during the day for the first time and carries a first race post of 12:45pm EST.
On May 30, the third running of the Penn Gaming Racing Challenge Series’ newest graded race – the Grade 3, $500,000 Penn Mile – takes center stage. The Penn Mile, which achieved graded status in its first year of eligibility headlines a card that also includes the $200,000 Mountainview Handicap, $150,000 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup and $150,000 Penn Oaks. The first two Penn Mile cards, also covered by HRRN, are responsible for the two largest single card handles in track history with the third edition kicking off at Penn’s standard first post of 6:00pm EST.
On September 19, Charles Town offers up the Race for the Ribbon, headlined by the track’s second graded race – the $350,000 Charles Town Oaks (G3). The Oaks is joined by the $100,000 Wild & Wonderful and Pink Ribbon as well as a series of WV bred stakes in advance of the West Virginia Breeders’ Classics on October 10.
The final two events in the Penn Gaming Racing Challenge take place on November 25. On its third Land of Enchantment card, Zia Park will play host to the third running of the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks as well as the $200,000 Zia Park Derby. Following the races in New Mexico, Penn National takes the spotlight with its Thanksgiving Eve Racing Festival featuring the $200,000 Fabulous Strike Handicap in addition to the $100,000 Swatara.
The Penn Gaming Racing Challenge kicked off this past Saturday night with the Houston Ladies Classic night at Sam Houston and binds the 6 events through points awarded to owners, trainers and jockeys based on their participation and results in addition to containing other incentives for the connections of horses participating in multiple series races. The Penn Gaming Racing Challenge ultimately rewards the winners of the year-long series with a waiver of stakes fees at Penn Gaming tracks for an entire year as well as a trip to the Penn National Gaming owned M Resort in Las Vegas. In 2014, Ken and Sarah Ramsey took the title as leading owner in the series, while Chad Brown and Javier Castellano walked away with the leading trainer and jockey crowns.
About Penn National Gaming, Inc.
Penn National Gaming, Inc. (PNGI), is the largest operator of racetracks in North America, operating 12 pari-mutuel facilities in ten different states, including thoroughbred tracks Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Sam Houston Race Park, and Zia Park Casino, Hotle and Racetrack and Casino. PNGI’s portfolio also includes five off-track wagering locations plus eBet USA and WinLine, both regional Advance Deposit Wagering services. In 2013, PNGI racing pari-mutuel properties conducted nearly 1,200 live racing dates and processed more than $1 billion in on-track, import and export wagering. Penn National Gaming is also one of North America’s leading gaming companies with 20 casinos. For more information, visit http://www.pngaming.com/