We catch up with the weekend highlights from Charles Town Races which raced Thursday-Saturday but lost most of the Saturday card when racing was canceled after the first because of storms We keep an eye on things - so you don't have to COMMENTdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "afffce8cecdc672fa3135faf5f326220" );document.getElementById("hd0d9363dc").setAttribute( "id" Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress Join our mailing list to get our latest news delivered to your inbox each week we never sell our lists or share your info with outside parties Racing at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has canceled the remainder of its May 3 card after an extended weather delay After the first race was run without incident a weather delay ensued as a result of lightning in the area After approximately 45 minutes of heavy rain and persistent lightning that was expected to continue the decision was made to cancel the remainder of the card Canceled races will be brought back as extras on overnights starting next week Live racing is slated to resume on Thursday May 8 at its standard first race post time of 7:00 p.m Sign up for BloodHorse Daily Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInLAKE CHARLES (KPLC) - Tommy Bilbo defeated Priscilla Sam for Lake Charles City Council’s District C seat in Saturday’s election Calcasieu Parish voters also approved five tax renewals Saturday’s results are complete but unofficial from the Secretary of State’s Office went to a runoff for the seat that will be vacated by Rodney Geyen who did not run for reelection after serving seven terms Charles Gallien and Amanda Fontenot Johnson did not make the runoff Voters approved the renewal of a 0.5% sales tax that helps fund the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office The tax was first passed in 2006 after Hurricane Rita The tax will continue to be collected from 2026 through 2036 Westlake voters approved the renewal of a property tax that funds the city’s fire department The 10-mill tax will continue to be collected from 2026 to 2035 Westlake voters approved the renewal of a property tax to fund the city’s police department Westlake voters approved the renewal of a 1% sales tax that funds the fire department recreational facilities and supplements pay for city employees It will continue to be collected for 10 years starting in 2027 Westlake voters approved the renewal of a 0.5% sales tax that funds the police department After the first race was run over a track labeled sloppy riders decided in the interests of safety to not continue with the card The West Virginia track also canceled the remainder of its Friday night card in the interest of safety after the first three races were run on a sloppy track April 17 at its standard first race post time of 7:00 p.m The $75,000 Original Gold Stakes – part of Saturday’s canceled card – will now be run on Friday The race will be restricted to its original nominees but will be redrawn as a part of Friday’s card Other canceled races will be brought back as extras on the overnight next week and the debates surrounding trainer Bob Baffert      The Virginia State Bureau of Criminal Investigation is actively probing the alleged misuse of a credit card that belongs to the Town of Cape Charles      A special prosecutor has been appointed and “we are coordinating with them on getting business records related to the alleged misuse,” Anaya said      No other details were available.  We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and 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based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has canceled the remainder of its Saturday night card The $75,000 Original Gold Stakes—part of Saturday's canceled card—will now be run on Friday but will be redrawn as a part of Friday's card unseated two-term Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter in a contentious runoff election Saturday Hunter (R) received 48% of the votes (7,049) Simien is an attorney who served on the Lake Charles City Council from 2005 to 2013 Hunter posted the following statement to Facebook following his defeat: “I just called Marshall Simien to concede this election “Marshall is a good man and Lake Charles will be just fine moving forward I committed to him that it will be as seamless a transition as possible My family and I are doing well and ready for the next chapter God has in store for us It’s been a great ride and we’ve accomplished a lot.” Khalid Taha (R) and James Steward (No party) did not make the runoff Simien said as mayor he plans to prioritize economic development attracting tourists and protecting local businesses which raced Thursday-Saturday and conducted the first two stakes of the year Horses featured here include: Mendys Honey "a633f1a197b2e3ff009567cc5a83dc20" );document.getElementById("hd0d9363dc").setAttribute( "id" Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Skippylongstocking wins the 2024 Charles Town Classic at Charles Town Hollywood Casino At Charles Town Races has released its 2025 stakes schedule and announced the addition of an Early Pick 5 to its daily wagering menu both following approval by the West Virginia Racing Commission Charles Town's biggest day on the 2025 calendar follows a format that started in 2020 as both of its graded stakes—the $1 million Charles Town Classic (G2) and $750,000 Charles Town Oaks (G2)—will be on the same Aug The Classic and Oaks card gets underway with a special first post of 5 p.m and would appear poised to attempt to become the first three-time winner of the Classic later this year The $500,000 Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes and $250,000 Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon Stakes join the Classic and Oaks as the remaining unrestricted stakes races on the program Since moving the Charles Town Classic and Oaks to the same card in 2020 the blockbuster program has produced five of the six largest single-card handles in track history Charles Town's 2025 stakes schedule features 20 stakes races worth more than $3.6 million in total purses These totals exclude the West Virginia Breeders' Classics XXXIX card scheduled for Oct with purses to be announced at a later date for the state's premier night for West Virginia-breds The stakes schedule kicks off April 12 with the Original Gold Stakes for West Virginia-bred fillies and mares with seven more state-bred stakes to follow over the course of April and two more scheduled for the Charles Town Classic and Oaks undercard The 2025 racing calendar calls for 160 days of live racing including a Wednesday through Saturday schedule in January Post time for all but Charles Town Classic and Oaks day is 7 p.m Horseplayers will have a new nightly opportunity with the addition of an Early Pick 5 wager to Charles Town's wagering menu The wager will cover the first five races of the card nightly and features the same player-friendly 12% takeout as the Late Pick 5 The new wager will be offered starting March 6 when Charles Town returns to its Thursday through Saturday racing schedule which raced Wednesday-Saturday and conducted the Its Binn Too Long Stakes Horses featured here include: Allformenoneforyou "a7352a95bc915278f2cd930e1463d33b" );document.getElementById("hd0d9363dc").setAttribute( "id" Picks and analysis for this evening’s card from Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races: CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO RACE 7 – Its Binn Too Long Stakes 1.You’d be crazy to bet against”Bashful Daisy”but “Beach Blonde”can be a bomb 2.I’ll look afar on our”Brightest Star” and sick with “J Wick 3.I can”Readthefineprint”but in this sprint some”Changes”will be made 4.I’m “All Aboard” but like”Collecting Angels”,”Far More” to score 5.I see”Riverlee”but”Bull Rider” will be right beside her 6″Flying Mayan” is trying and”Jazman Can” complete the exacta 7.”Diakonnissa”may not get the “First Print”in this sprint 8.Oh Boy,Joy looks good but McKee may make these”Maidens Blush” "a45d57348e2f4fa7e43723ad9218c6e3" );document.getElementById("hd0d9363dc").setAttribute( "id" Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has canceled live racing for Wednesday February 12th due to the winter storm that impacted the area Tuesday into the early morning hours today February 13th at its standard first race post time of 7:00 p.m A .boston.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the City of Boston was recently released to share progress the City has made in the neighborhood Read about three of the projects featured in the report In February 2025, the PAC released Progress Report: Charlestown an interactive storymap highlighting the status of major public investments the City is making in the neighborhood.  The projects highlighted in the report are informed by PLAN: Charlestown a comprehensive neighborhood plan published in September 2023 following four years of community engagement The storymap features eight sections: Mobility we’re excited to spotlight three of the many city investments included in the storymap Ryan Playground has been a staple of the Charlestown community for over a century due to its unique waterfront location on the Mystic River this community treasure is particularly vulnerable to flooding and contributes to a greater flood pathway for the rest of the neighborhood the City launched the $25 million Ryan Playground improvement project to mitigate climate risk and ensure the playground can serve generations of Charlestown families to come The project is supported by both the City’s capital budget and the Charlestown Community Impact Fund “We’re excited that the Ryan Playground renovations reflect the priorities and vision of the Charlestown community,” said Liza Meyer “Residents emphasized the need for both active and passive recreation and preserving waterfront views of the Mystic River—priorities that are at the heart of this design From new multi-use fields and a revitalized hockey rink to shaded seating and a waterfront promenade We look forward to delivering a park that will serve Charlestown for generations to come.” The project’s design was supported and shaped by community feedback from numerous local organizations including the Charlestown Youth Sports Association and the Mystic River Watershed Association.   The anticipated park opening is fall 2026.  The City of Boston is working closely with the MBTA to improve bus service through targeted transit priority measures These efforts aim to make bus travel faster and more consistent—especially in areas where riders face the worst delays By focusing on key corridors and high-ridership routes the City and MBTA are creating a more dignified and dependable experience for bus passengers.   One example is the new Bill Russell Bridge, a critical gateway into Charlestown. The new bridge’s design includes an inbound bus lane as a dedicated transit priority feature. With construction scheduled to be completed in spring 2025, this long-planned improvement will soon provide dedicated space for buses enhancing travel time reliability for thousands of riders commuting into downtown Boston These mobility improvements are in line with PLAN: Charlestown which replaced the North Washington Street Bridge earned its name in October 2024 in honor of civil rights activist and Celtics legend William Felton ‘Bill’ Russell Russell’s achievements didn’t stop on the court he participated in the first player boycott of a game as a civil rights protest after two of his teammates were refused service at a restaurant Russell went on to become an active member of the Civil Rights Movement attending the March on Washington and supporting the creation of an integrated basketball camp in Mississippi.  “As this bridge plays a vital role in connecting communities and literally bringing people together it is fitting that it is named after Bill Russell a man who did those very things throughout his life,” said Monica Tibbits-Nutt “Our hope is that the thousands of people who cross this bridge on a daily basis are reminded of the indelible legacy that he left behind not only in the city of Boston but across the country The City is making a major investment in renovating BCYF Clougherty Pool a public pool operated by Boston Centers for Youth & Families the renovations prioritized the facility’s modernization and increased accessibility The pool reopened in summer 2024 and renovations on the bathhouse and roof terrace will be complete in summer 2025.   “The beloved BCYF Clougherty Pool is a vital community resource that has been serving Charlestown families for generations and connect with neighbors,” said Marta Rivera “The recent renovations demonstrate Mayor Wu’s commitment to investing in our neighborhoods and creating spaces where families can thrive." The renovations to Clougherty Pool are part of a larger investment the City is making in modernizing the 18 city-owned pools. The Mayor is committed not only to ensuring Boston’s youth have access to pools, but increasing access to free swim lessons through Swim Safe so they can enjoy the City's pools and coastlines safely To read more from the Planning Advisory Council click here.  National Park Service Photo/Susan Salvatore 2019 During the two centuries that the Jefferson County Courthouse has existed in Charles Town it has hosted two nationally significant treason trials In 1859 it served as the setting for militant abolitionist John Brown’s treason and murder trial after his ill-fated raid on the Federal armory at Harpers Ferry The courthouse where Brown was convicted was heavily damaged in the Civil War and substantially rebuilt between 1871 and 1872 the second-floor courtroom of the 1872 courthouse witnessed another treason trial that of coal miner and union activist William Blizzard and his compatriots In the aftermath of the Battle of Blair Mountain a union-led coal miner’s strike that led to the largest pitched battle in American labor history West Virginia Governor Eli Morgan sought federal charges against the union miners who had surrendered to federal troops The federal government declined to bring charges and instead continued an ongoing Senate investigation into conditions in the coal counties When federal charges failed to materialize the state of West Virginia took up the mantle of prosecuting the miners the state indicted over 500 miners on charges of murder the charge that received the most attention was that of treason against the state of West Virginia which was leveled against 20 members of the United Mine Workers (UMW) District 17 which actively worked to unionize the West Virginia coal fields throughout the early 1900s but also for the struggling labor movement as a whole The key fear among labor leaders was that if the prosecution prevailed the draconian anti-union tactics revealed by these trials would be legitimized and could spread to other industries in regions far beyond the borders of West Virginia the secretary-treasurer of UMW District 17 helped to establish the Mingo County Defense League and global call for donations to the “Miners Defense Fund,” and soon the fund amassed over $50,000 The funding of both the defense and the prosecution illustrates the wider issues that undergirded the mine wars The money raised on behalf of the accused miners demonstrated the support they received from the labor movement even among industries wholly unconnected to coal mining While organized labor paid for the legal defense of the accused miners the coal mine operators supplied the immediate funding for the prosecution (although they would later bill the state for $125,000 in legal fees) For the duration of the trials the prosecuting attorney for Jefferson County and the state attorney general did not participate the state abdicated its legal responsibility to private coal barons The first to be tried was Bill Blizzard who was charged with treason against the state The sheer amount of media attention paid to the treason trials turned these regional labor issues into a national conversation Media coverage was most extensive in coal-rich Pennsylvania as papers from cities and towns like Altoona and New Castle reported daily on the progress of the trial The Scranton Republican was the most comprehensive in its reporting Several papers in New York City also kept their readers apprised of the trials with the Brooklyn Citizen and the New York Times covering the daily events reporting on who testified and the key details of each testimony The trial rested on the legal merits of the prosecution’s indictments Because the first trial pertained to the charge of treason Blizzard’s case set the standard for the rest of the proceedings Blizzard was the leader of the march; but the question being disputed at his trial was whether he was at the helm when the marchers reached Blair Mountain witnesses for the prosecution and defense presented conflicting testimony Some miners who had turned state’s witnesses against their compatriots testified that Blizzard was commanding the miners’ army during the entire march to Logan County and the Battle of Blair Mountain claimed to have seen Blizzard in Charleston during the march while others said that Blizzard helped to broker the marchers’ surrender after the army interceded Army infantry captain who stated that he never heard any miners talk of going to war against the government; rather they sought to “protect the women and children” from Chafin’s deputies in Logan County miners and local sympathizers celebrated in Charles Town some contemporary observers claimed that the verdict had deeper implications “In a large measure the state of West Virginia was on trial in the Blizzard case and the verdict of acquittal as to Blizzard was equivalent to a verdict of ‘guilty’ against the state.” The treason trials that played out at the Jefferson County Courthouse in 1921 were a major turning point in the West Virginia mine wars and the American labor movement While the Battle of Blair Mountain and its aftermath drew national attention to West Virginia miners and their fight for basic rights as laborers and citizens the lengthy and expensive treason trials ended the decade-long fight in the coalfields of the state District 17’s treasury was nearly depleted and local union leadership could no longer support the mining families that were continuing to strike throughout the state UMW national leaders decided to completely cut off additional funding for District 17 and Keeney’s two year mining strike was officially ended Download the NPS app to navigate the parks on the go 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- (OTC:PTBS) — BCT-Bank of Charles Town was elected chairman-elect of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) for 2025-26 Her term begins March 14 at the conclusion of ICBA LIVE in Nashville "I'm ecstatic for this opportunity to stand up for our nation's community banks as ICBA chairman-elect," Frazier said "Our institutions leverage relationship-based banking and our success is tied to the communities we serve Advancing ICBA's advocacy with policymakers and delivering on innovation and education to our members will further an environment where community banks help local economies flourish." Frazier serves in many leadership roles at ICBA She is a member of the ICBA Executive Committee and board of directors a member of ICBA's Federal Delegate Board and its Policy and Nominating Committees She also serves as the Executive Committee liaison for the Minority Bank Advisory Council and the Safety and Soundness Subcommittee Frazier previously served on the ICBA Executive Committee as secretary from 2019-21 She serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Board and is past chairman of the Virginia Association of Community Banks She currently serves as treasurer on the WVU East Hospital System and for the Loudoun Economic Development Authority "Alice is one of the most dedicated advocates for community banking and I'm excited that she's helping to guide our industry," said ICBA Chairman Jack Hopkins president and CEO of CorTrust Bank in Sioux Falls "With her knowledge and the respect she holds among peers we are fortunate to have her counsel on ICBA's Executive Committee as we drive change in Washington and continue our steadfast dedication to community banking." ICBA is the only national advocacy organization dedicated exclusively to promoting the interests of locally operated community banks and savings institutions high-touch banking services that consumers expect community banks offer the best financial-services options for millions of consumers For more information, visit ICBA's website: https://www.icba.org/ The Independent Community Bankers of America® has one mission: to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish We power the potential of the nation's community banks through effective advocacy America's community banks leverage their relationship-based business model and innovative offerings to channel deposits into the neighborhoods they serve and fueling their customers' financial goals and dreams is a wholly owned subsidiary of Potomac Bancshares With approximately $877 million in assets as of December 31 the Company conducts operations through its main office BCT's offices are located in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties (WV) The Bank offers commercial lines and term loans residential and commercial construction loans The Bank is also a Small Business Administration (SBA) Preferred Lender The Residential Lending division offers secondary market and portfolio mortgage loans as well as home equity loans and lines of credit BCT Wealth Advisors has provided caring and personalized trust services growing into a premier financial management The Bank also provides convenient online and mobile banking for individuals and local governments plus free access to over 55,000 ATMs through the Allpoint® network plus another approximately 675 free access ATMs through another partnership BCT was voted WINNER in the LoudounNow 2024 Loudoun's Favorites readers' poll in four categories: Bank American Banker selected BCT as a "Top 200 Community Bank," an annual listing of the best performing banks in the United States with assets under $2 billion BCT was voted a "Best of the Best" winner in the 2023 Journal-News Readers' Choice Awards in four categories: Bank The Bank was named a "Best Bank To Work For" by American Banker five of the last six years The Company's shares are quoted on the OTC Pink Sheet marketplace under the symbol "PTBS." For more information about Potomac Bancshares, Inc., and the Bank, please visit our website at https://www.mybct.bank (OTC:PTBS) - Yesterday at the first House Small Business Committee hearing of the 119th Congress today presented their newly renovated Martinsburg Banking & Financial Services Personnel Announcements Do not sell or share my personal information: Florida-bred Mystic Lake - ©Renee Torbit/Coady Media Florida-bred Mystic Lake added another graded stakes at yet another race track to her resume Friday night with a nearly six-length triumph in the Grade 2 Charles Towns Oaks at Charles Town Races In seven starts this year at six different tracks the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained filly has won four stakes This year she has won the $75,000 Gasparilla and $100,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies in January and March respectively at Tampa Bay Downs and the Grade 3 Miss Preakness at Pimlico on May 17 She was also second to Emery in the Grade 3 Victory Ride during the Belmont at Big A meet on July 4 and second to fellow Florida-bred Sabatini in the CA$128,000 Star Shoot over the synthetic main track at Woodbine in April With Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard for the seven-furlong Charles Town Oaks Mystic Lake raced a length off longshot Overnight Pow Wow through quarter-mile splits of :23.16 and :46.51 Mystic Lake eased past Overnight Pow Wow while three wide in the second turn then distanced her nine rivals in the stretch to finish in 1:24.18 on the fast track a neck faster than Princess Madison in the third Deviletta and Nay V Belle completed the order of finish Mystic Lake paid $14 to win with generous odds of 6-1 The victory improved her career record to five wins in 11 starts with three seconds and a third while banking $758,554 for owners C2 Racing Stable LLC and Stefania Farms LLC She is a two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales Agent Tom McCrocklin purchased her for $3,500 out of Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield consignment at the 2022 OBS October Yearling Sale then pinhooked her back through the 2023 OBS March Sale where Turf Express Racing Partners took her for $130,000 Mystic Lake is by Mo Town and is the only foal out of the unraced Itsmyluckyday mare Salty Soul Return to the August 24 issue of Wire to Wire © Copyright 2012 - 2025 The Florida Horse / FTBOA | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Built by Blue Million for The Florida Horse 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- (OTC: PTBS) – Potomac Bankshares the parent company of Bank of Charles Town (the "Bank") Shane Bell as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Bell joins the Company following the recent retirement of Dean Cognetti the former Executive Vice President and CFO Bell will oversee the financial activities of the Company and the Bank His duties will include financial planning and accountability in support of the Company's strategic efforts Bell brings more than 22 years of banking experience to BCT where he was responsible for implementation of new accounting standards designed and implemented internal controls over financial reporting developed financial plans to support expansion into new markets and acquisitions of businesses all while maintaining compliance with rules and listing standards of publicly-traded companies and consulting services to clients in the banking industry while collaborating with his team to expand services into the West Virginia market Shane has established deep relationships with teammates and the community to deliver responsible financial oversight and guidance," stated Alice P "Shane is well positioned to build on Dean's legacy and lead us to further success in current and future markets as we develop the full breadth of BCT's capabilities ultimately improving our clients' financial lives while strengthening BCT's bottom line." in Accounting from Frostburg State University and completed coursework through the AICPA National Banking School at the University of Virginia and the Graduate School of Investments and Financial Management at the University of South Carolina Bell previously served on the Virginia Bankers Association CFO Committee where he planned educational programs for finance and accounting professionals Bell is the embodiment of a community banker He currently serves on the Board of Directors and Finance Committee of Blue Ridge United a non-profit organization that provides access to youth soccer to more than 1,800 athletes in the region Previous community service includes serving as the Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of Braddock Street United Methodist Church a board member and officer of non-profit organizations that support public school programs and a volunteer coach and manager for youth athletic teams in his community Bell is a long-time resident of the Winchester area where he enjoys spending time with family and friends With approximately $871 million in assets as of September 30 The Bank's offices are located in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties (WV) The Bank provides various banking products and services including free access to over 55,000 ATMs through the Allpoint® network plus another approximately 675 free access ATMs through another partnership The Bank provides convenient online and mobile banking for individuals The Bank also offers commercial lines and term loans The Residential Lending division of the Bank offers secondary market and portfolio mortgage loans BCT was voted Winner in the LoudounNow 2024 Loudoun's Favorites readers' poll in four categories: Bank Additionally, BCT was voted a "Best of the Best" winner in the 2024 Journal-News Readers' Choice Awards in four categories: Bank the Bank was named a "Best Bank to Work For" by American Banker The Company's shares are quoted on the OTC Pink Sheet marketplace under the symbol "PTBS." For more information about Potomac Bancshares, Inc. and the Bank, please visit our website at www.mybct.bank the bank holding company of Bank of Charles Town (the "Bank" or "BCT") The Board of Directors of Potomac Bancshares the holding company for Bank of Charles Town (BCT) 1.I can’t find a more “Dashing Lass” Than “Rezquia”so “Goodbte Romance” let’s dance the night away 2.I’m smitten by “Joyful Kitten”,but I can see McKee and Knudson getting some 3.Tabby has “Evanesco” ready to go but “Powered By Love” should come out above 4.My “Lucky Blonde” is a “Runaway Beauty” and a real cutie 3,Tabby was my saver for $18.60 and the lousy $14,670 exacta hardly worth cashing 🙂 4.No”Lucky Blonde” for little ricky tonight 5,I’m gonna put the Finger on “Talented Lino” to “Gimmiethatsugar” 6.”Soul Catcher” can “Break the Chains” and snatcher victory 7.”Jungle Beast” should feast on these although “No Love For Juba” could be a “Surprise Boss” 8.”Gericault” can vault over “He’s A Commisioner” who’s a good finisher Got a little of “Gimmiethatsugar” “…Lino”got bumped out of it 6.My “Soul Catcher” did snatcher and playing my lucky number 3×5 got me $82 more 7.”No Love For Juba” or the “…Beast” 8.”Gericault” stopped like he was shot but “He’s a Commissioner” finished my day with a winning play $11.20,good money My chalk fouled my 13-1 shot,not a good start Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has canceled its Thursday card as a result of the bitter cold and single-digit forecasted wind chills Live racing is slated to resume Friday at its usual first post time of 7PM ET Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCHARLES CITY Iowa (KTTC) – According to KTTC staff on scene Old Highway Road is still closed to through traffic and the building is still actively smoking Iowa (KTTC) – The Charles City Fire Department were dispatched around 8:40 p.m Sunday to a report of a fire coming from a building along Old Highway Road in Charles City Arriving first responders noticed heavy smoke and fire coming from a large commercial building and quickly worked to extinguish the exterior of the building Several area fire departments and other agencies were called to the scene to assist Nearly 70 firefighters battled the blaze until around 11:30 p.m when it was decided the scene became unsafe due to several stored materials within the building All personnel near the immediate scene were ordered to evacuate to a safer location The Floyd County Sheriff’s Office also asked residents within a half mile of the fire in the downwind direction to evacuate due to risk of the smoke Officials said there is no immediate danger to the public outside of the scene and evacuated area Several agencies remain on scene as it continues to monitor the situation According to Floyd County Assessor records the building is owned by Hawkeye Mold and Design Company Officials have closed down multiple roads leading to or close to the fire including Highway 27 from Nashua to South Grand Avenue Officials ask residents to stay away from the area near the fire and to not attempt to go around any barricades Find stories like this and more, in our apps Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has canceled its live racing program for Wednesday January 22 due to forecasted frigid temperatures set to impact the region The temperature Wednesday evening is projected to be 14 degrees at the track’s 7:00 p.m Races from Wednesday’s canceled card have been brought back on the overnight as extras for Saturday’s card January 23rd at its standard first race post time of 7:00 p.m There were an abundance of highlights to peruse during the year-round racing slate at Charles Town in 2024 but several moments formed an Elite Eight that stood above the rest Since finding a new home on the calendar in late August the Charles Town Classic has emerged as one of the premiere events on the East Coast for older horses during the summer Skippylongstocking concluded his campaign with three wins and nearly $1.5 million from eight seasonal outings Skippylongstocking joined Imperative (2014 Art Collector (2021-2022) and Researcher (2009-2010) as the only two-time Classic winners and the latter two as the only three to win it consecutively Skippylongstocking’s Charles Town Classic win this past August gave his trainer a clean sweep of Charles’ Town’s two graded races coming as it did one race after Mystic Lake had won the Charles Town Oaks that a single trainer had swept both races “That’s pretty amazing,” Joseph said and we brought a full string today that we thought we had good chances.” she had previously won the Grade 3 Miss Preakness and later took the Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream Park she ran fourth in the Grade 1 Cotilloin at Parx Racing Skippylongstocking used the Charles Town Classic to help prepare for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile but In 2023 he finished third in the Breeders’ Cup A horse who had a better result – though not quite a winning one – in this year’s Breeders’ Cup was Society The Steve Asmussen trainee finished an oh-so-close second in the Filly and Mare Sprint after leading for much of the way winning the 2022 CT Oaks and 2023 Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon Mystic Lake won five of nine starts and nearly $840,000 in nine seasonal outings and could potentially follow in Society’s footsteps next summer and return for the $500,000 Pink Ribbon Stakes and then make an appearance in the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Even with purses enhanced by slot machine revenue over the last 30 years West Virginia-bred runners eclipsing the $1 million plateau in career earnings have been few and far between But last fall both Coastal Mission and Muad’dib both of which boast Sam Huff West Virginia Breeders Classic scores and West Virginia-bred horse of the year honors already on their resumes surpassed the $1 million plateau in lifetime earnings the reigning state-bred horse of the year for owner-trainer Jeff Runco won three of nine starts last year and earned $535,000 and recorded lucrative scores in both the Grade III $250,000 Forty Niner Stakes at Aqueduct and the $300,000 Parx Dirt Mile as well as finishing a solid fourth in the Grade II Charles Town Classic in his only local outing Coastal Mission now has 14 wins and over $1.1 million banked from 26 career outings Muad’dib, the state-bred horse of the year in 2021 and 2022 for Runco and owner David Raim, posted a 3-2-3 slate from nine seasonal tries and actually surpassed the $1 million mark when second in the $75,000-added Randy Funkhouser Memorial before concluding his campaign with a narrow victory in a two-turn allowance Muad’dib sports 17 wins and just over $1 million from 29 career tries and is expected to return for another season in 2025 at age eight In the weeks leading up to the West Virginia Breeders Classics trainer Cynthia McKee admitted that she had more than her fair share of anxious moments widow of former longtime local owner-trainer-breeder John McKee was prepared to saddle 2023 WVBC race winners Direct the Cat and No Change as well as a pair of runners with upset prospects in Overnight Pow Wow and Catch the Humor McKee would depart with four trophies on Classics night as Direct the Cat Overnight Pow Wow and Catch the Humor all triumphed Overnight Pow Wow had upset Direct the Cat in the Sylvia Bishop then finished a respectable fourth in the Charles Town Oaks On WVBC night they went into separate events with Direct the Cat winning the $75,000 Division of Tourism BC for three-year-old fillies and Overnight Pow Wow scoring in the Cavada No Change successfully defended his title in the Onion Juice and Catch the Humor prevailed sharply in the West Virginia Lottery in only the second start of the year and third of his career McKee gave at least some of the credit to her late husband “I told him today, I said, ‘I got them to the head of the lane, honey. You’ve got to send them from there,’” she said narrowly beating 1-9 favorite Jubawithatwist and stablemate Muad’dib Runco also won three other races on the card He sent out Annapolis Road to score in the Vincent Moscarelli Memorial for two-year-olds colts; Duncan Idaho the full-brother to Late Night Pow Wow and Muad’dib to win the Dash For Cash; and Change The World to capture the Roger Ramey Distaff by two lengths Familiar names topped the jockey and trainer standings Arnaldo Bocachica won 181 races at a 31% strike rate to win his billionth consecutive riding title (possibly an exaggeration – it’s actually seven straight) who in his second full year of riding improved from 42 wins in 2023 to 62 in ’24 His 59 wins at Charles Town were tied for fifth most and his $1.1 million banked was also good for fifth In the training ranks, Anthony Farrior who earned his 1,000th win during the year led all trainers by wins for the third consecutive year Farrior ($1.8 million) was second to Jeff Runco If it’s possible to burst quietly on the scene Murdock had won with a solid 11 of 55 lifetime starters entering 2024 primarily training for longtime owner Robert L while generating purse earnings of over $400,000 Murdock also registered his first two stakes wins, both by Teachintherelease who won the Frank Gall Memorial and Randy Funkhouser Memorial those sandwiching a runner-up finish in the WVBC Onion Juice A glimpse at the bloodlines of several of the top West Virginia-bred runners in training in 2024 showed a strong correlation to stars of years past Duncan Idaho and Overnight Pow Wow – all by Fiber Sonde and out of the Indian Charlie mare Holy Pow Wow and bred by the late John McKee — all enjoyed solid campaigns in 2024 and twice all three competed in stakes races on the same night all are also kin to retired multiple graded stakes winner Late Night Pow Wow winning eight of 11 starts and over $285,000 for owner-trainer Cynthia McKee capped by victories in both the Cavada BC and the Sylvia Bishop Memorial Duncan Idaho posted four wins in seven starts including victories in both the West Virginia Dash For Cash BC and the It’s Only Money for Runco and Raim while Muad’dib continued to deliver respectable efforts in state-bred stakes and eventually eclipsed the $1 million plateau in career earnings the first foal produced by former state-bred star Moonlit Song won six of 11 outings and over $115,000 for trainer Tim Grams state-bred millionaire Runnin’toluvya posted a solid 3-4-1 slate and $82,000 banked from nine starts for owner-trainer-breeder and former local jockey Leslie Cromer in West Virginia and in Maryland — since 1987 and is now in his fourth decade on the beat He is president of the Maryland Racing Media Association Charles Town Races kicked off its 160-day 2025 racing schedule Thursday evening with an eight-race program Thursday evening Racing continues Friday and Saturday with eight-race cards both days we took a minute to look over last year’s statistics with an eye towards answering this question: which trainers and jockeys were the most bettable in 2024 we had to decide what bettability looks like We settled on two factors for this purpose: percentage of purse money earned and how frequently s/he wins versus what their odds would predict or “wins above expectations.” Percentage of purse money earned lets you know how often the person’s horses are in the hunt while wins above expectations gives you a sense of whether his or her horses outrun their odds Why not use ROI (return on wagering investment) We believe the two measures above are more replicable more likely to be representative of how trainer or jockey’s horses will perform going forward is subject to a lot of noise; a single 100-1 winner could massively impact a person’s ROI for quite a while even though it’s unlikely to be replicated we considered only trainers who had sent out at least 40 starters at Charles Town in 2024 and riders who had 50 or more mounts One thing you’ll note: every rider and trainer in the top grouping won more races than their odds would have predicted jockey Grant Whitacre won over 20% of his races (and over 18% of available purse money) while recording 2.38 wins per 50 starts above expectations the second highest rate of any rider on the grounds that made him the most bettable of local riders with 2.53 wins above expectations per 50 starts who earned nearly 25% of available purse moneys in the races he rode Below are the top 10 (with ties) of 36 qualifying riders Though he wins a lot and at a high percentage the betting public bets his mounts heavily Though he nevertheless wins more often than expected his approximately 3 wins above expectations in 592 starts translates to a middling 0.25 wins above expectations per 50 starts The short answer to all trainer questions in 2024 was: Stephen Murdock an absurdly high percentage that translated to 8.55 more wins than his odds would have predicted (4.46 added wins per 25 starts) it’s no surprise that he also led the colony by nabbing over 35% of available purse money far more than nearest competitor Anthony Farrior (21.7%) The “total rating” counts wins above expectations as more important than percent of purse money earned although he wins a lot and at a high percentage – nearly 26% — the betting public is onto him: he wins less often than his odds would predict and thus ends up with an overall score of 48 that places him 29th in bettability – but there were some good performances to note at Charles Town over the racing weekend Among them were a couple of nice maiden scores and a hard-fought allowance win by some horses that seem to be taking to their surroundings in West Virginia Plus we take a look at the jockey and trainer standings Most of us don’t give any more thought to racetrack chart callers than we do to baseball statisticians the company which employs the chart callers to centralize many of them at a hub in Lexington rather than having them at the tracks they cover The first track which will go with fully remote chart-calling is Charles Town Races and that is expected to begin in the new year the soon-to-retire longtime chart caller at Charles Town Races wrote on X “Another step in the steady decline of the industry,” one commenter responded has been the lone chart caller at Charles Town for several years use a hybrid system with one caller on-site and another person remote Equibase pitches the change in part as a way to increase consistency and quality “It seems like a lot of times that our chart callers have kind of all been out on an island by themselves a little bit,” said Equibase president Kyle McDoniel but I think at the same time we’ll be a lot better if we can have multiple people looking at one watches the race live and makes the call and so on – he or she calls out where each horse is and how far ahead of the next one including the comments we see in our past performances (e.g. in an era where relatively few people are interested in racing to start with Combine that with relatively short racing seasons in many places and the concomitant need for chart callers to travel to where the racing is and you have the recipe for a shortage of top-quality callers Yet it’s vital to the betting public “As we’ve lost race days and things like that it gets harder and harder to get somebody a full-time job at a track that’s running three days a week,” McDoniel said “So I think what we’re trying to do is just get more and more efficient.” McDoniel said that the plan is for the Lexington hub to have access to more cameras than are typically shown on the track’s feed some things may be hard to see for one reason or another: a horse who loses a rider briefly before the start of a race or another fractious prior to loading in the gate Those are things chart callers routinely pick up by watching races live The possibility that that information will go missing bothers Sassin “We won’t know if there’s a horse loose in the parade or fractious in the paddock or flipped or whatever,” he said there’s a faceless person with no accountability.” What’s more, cameras typically are trained on the horses actively in the race. They may not locate a horse who, for example, is far behind the next closest horse or one who stumbles, loses the rider, and then turns around and runs back in the direction he’s just come. That latter situation took place a decade ago in a race at Charles Town McDoniel believes that the company can control for this “This is one of those things that as we start to go through it we may figure out we need some additional cameras in different places,” he said “That’s something that we’ll evaluate in an ongoing basis.” Charles Town’s director of racing operations said that he expects to meet with Equibase staff in December and is taking a wait-and-see attitude on the change until he learns more But he is very clear on what he doesn’t want to see impacted “One thing I don’t want to do is compromise the accuracy and the quality of our current charts,” McIntosh said “I don’t want to back up with the footnotes at the bottom of the chart I’d have to have some assurances that we won’t compromise with that.” that’s precisely the concern: how can a chart dependent on cameras that may or may not capture everything that happens before and after a race be as good as one with a human being on-site “This decision may save a few $$ but would seriously undermine credibility in data gathering,” former turf writer Marty McGee posted on X “Can think of so many reasons why this would be a horrible idea for bettors and all others invested in the sport,” responded Jay Privman another (mostly) retired former turf writer Another concern is that racing’s introduction of new technologies has typically been ragged. When, for example, Laurel Park switched to the GMax timing system a few years back, the times were so inaccurate that the track had to switch back to the old beam timing until GMax could iron out the kinks the chiclets showing the running order at many tracks routinely have horses in the wrong order to have remote chart-calling in the coming years “We’re committed to putting the best product out there that we can Are there things we’ll learn and things we’ll improve over time But I’m happy to hear whatever criticism people have because that’s how we learn and that’s how we get better.” Frank Vespe, the founder and publisher of The Racing Biz, has owned, bought, sold, claimed, written, and talked about horses, in varying combinations, for a decade. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on twitter @TheRacingBiz asked for patience.” He’s actually stating the people in the field who aren’t at a major track The majority of seasoned professionals in horse racing including owners and trainers think this is a bad idea with zero previous experience in horse racing thinks it’s a great idea This move simply consolidates the all content available to bettors is controlled by one source The calks are important to my handicapping but occasionally I see mistakes.I suspect remotely will greatly increase them