Charlestown is up 10% from the upcoming phrases e book, a transfer made attainable by the passage of West Virginia Senate Invoice 75. The legislation was signed by Governor Patrick Morrisey to revive important funds to the pockets accounts of jockeys affected by the 2014 “Haircut Invoice.” With additional exhibits of dedication to the racing neighborhood, Charlestown will add three race days to its 2025 calendar.
This constructive improvement highlights West Virginia’s management in supporting the horse racing business, an essential financial and cultural asset for the state, significantly within the jap Panhandle. The rise in wallets and growth of calendars underscore West Virginia’s dedication to selling a vibrant, sustainable racing future.
“The horse racing business in West Virginia is a vital financial engine, supporting hundreds of jobs and chasing hundreds of thousands of incomes in our state,” Morrissey stated. “Senate Invoice 75 restores crucial funding to jockeys’ pockets accounts and ensures that horse racing continues to thrive as a cornerstone of our agriculture and tourism sector.”
Senate Invoice 75 was defended by Senator Patricia Rucker, the invoice’s lead sponsor, and co-hosts by Jason Barrett, Darren Thorne and Tom Willis.
“The passing of Senate Invoice 75 is a victory for the Japanese Panhandle, the place horse racing is greater than a sport. It is a lifestyle for our neighborhood,” Barrett stated. “By restoring funds to jockey pockets accounts, we help native jobs, small companies and households who depend on robust racing industries. We prioritize this laws from the Jefferson County Finance Board and proceed to profit from the financial and cultural contributions of races in West Virginia.”
“This can be a small enterprise employment invoice,” stated Joe Funkhauser, the consultant who co-hosted the invoice for West Virginia Legislatures. “It supplies the steadiness and development of steady and elevated funding within the ecosystems of farmers, breeders, trainers, veterinarians, feed outlets, tourism, banks, insurance coverage farmers, breeders, trainers, veterinarians and provide shops. These are native and state taxpayers who depend on steady industries that present hundreds of jobs and livelihoods to hardworking Western virgins.”
“The ten% pockets improve enabled by Senate Invoice 75 will improve the standard of our races in Charlestown as we goal to supply followers and horse racing with much more engaging and thrilling merchandise.” “We’re deeply grateful to the West Virginia Legislature for our management in restoring these crucial funds. Their dedication ensures that our racing neighborhood continues to thrive.”
Charlestown will broaden its 2025 racing calendar by including three race days. The truck misplaced 5 days to winter weather-related cancellations earlier this yr, however solely two of the 5 needed to conform to an settlement between the truck and the jockey. Nevertheless, following the passage of Senate Invoice 75, each side agreed to complement all 5 days by including all 5 Wednesdays in October to the racing calendar.
“The rise in wallets and the addition of days could have a constructive impact on the Charlestown Race Program,” stated Jim Miller, president of Charlestown HBPA. “House owners’ revenues will improve and supply funding for alternatives to spend money on racing and breeding in West Virginia.”
The reside race will proceed in Charlestown on a Thursday-Saturday schedule by means of September.
