Whitney & Test Stakes, Hambletonian Trot, West Virginia Derby Highlight August 5th Simulcast Extravaganza

The last several weekends have provided great horse racing action, and we’d like to thank all the race fans that have come to our new Off Track Betting (OTB) Centers in Richmond to enjoy the action.

This coming Saturday August 5th is one of the biggest days of the year for both thoroughbred and harness enthusiasts. Saratoga hosts a pair of Grade I events — the $1.2 Million Whitney Stakes and $500,000 Test Stakes — and another trio of stakes on the under card.

Breakers Sports Grille OTB features both smoking and non-smoking sections, and a full menu.

Two tracks that normally run in the evening will host afternoon racing on their respective  biggest days of the year. Mountaineer Park has the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (Gr. 3) and six under card stakes. The Meadowlands presents the $1 Million Hambletonian Trot and an array of other major stakes including the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks, $300,000 Cane Pace, $300,000 Jim Doherty Trot, $300,000 John Cashman Memorial Open Trot, $300,000 Peter Haughton Memorial Trot and four more!

Del Mar chips in with a pair of Grade 2 stakes and Saturday also is the second special Virginia-bred day of racing at Laurel Park this year. A four-pack of $75,000 stakes will make their debut — the William M. Backer, Meadow Stable, Hansel and Camptown Stakes.

Queen Caroline captured the Nellie Mae Cox Stakes June 24th at Laurel. She has been nominated to the August 5th William Backer Stakes. Photo courtesy of Jim McCue.

Nominations closed this past Thursday with 20, 17, 27 and 21 horses respectively in the quartet. Queen Caroline (show here winning the recent Nellie Mae Cox Stakes) nominated to the Backer Stakes. A pair of $30,000 one mile maiden events will also be featured — one for males and one for fillies/mares.

The Richmond OTBs are at Breakers Sports Grille (in the west end) and at Ponies & Pints (downtown). Virginia residents can also bet on line at TVG.com, XpressBet.com, TwinSpires.com and NYRABets.com.