The 54th annual West Virginia Derby is set to take place on August 4 at Mountaineer with a total of 38 three-year-old horses nominated for the $500,000 Grade III race. Among the nominees are five recent derby winners, including Dragoon Guard who won the Indiana Derby. Trainer Bob Baffert has nominated two horses, Muth and Parenting, for the 1 1/8-mile race. Other notable nominees include Batten Down, Henro, and Pandagate. The Governor’s Stakes, with 55 nominations, includes last year’s winner Red Route One and Coastal Mission.
The Derby program will take place on a Sunday evening this year, following a successful shift from a Saturday afternoon to a Sunday twilight program in 2023 that saw an increase in wagering. General admission tickets for August 4 are $10, or $15 with a West Virginia Derby glass. Food trucks will be available starting at 1 p.m., with live entertainment and activities such as bounce houses and a caricature artist from 1-4 p.m.
Entries for the race program will be taken on Tuesday, and tickets for attendance can be purchased online or at the gate on the day of the event. With high-profile nominees and an exciting lineup of events, the 2024 West Virginia Derby promises to be an action-packed and entertaining day at Mountaineer.
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