The 2024 West Virginia Derby, set to take place on August 4th at Mountaineer, has received nominations from 38 3-year-old horses, including winners of five derbies in their most recent starts. Trainer Bob Baffert has nominated Muth and Parenting for the 1 1/8-mile race, with Dragoon Guard and Timberlake nominated by trainer Brad Cox. Other contenders 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 be held on a Sunday with a post time of 5 p.m., following the success of a similar schedule change last year. General admission for the event is $10, or $15 including a West Virginia Derby glass. Food trucks will be available starting at 1 p.m. with live entertainment, bounce houses, and a caricature artist from 1-4 p.m. Tickets for the event can be purchased online or at the gate on the day of the race.
Last year’s winner of the West Virginia Derby was Mathas Amour, who went on to win four of his next five races. The event promises to be an exciting showcase of top talent in the 3-year-old division, with trainers and owners vying for the $500,000 Grade III purse. Entries for the event will be taken on Tuesday, so stay tuned for the final lineup of contenders for this historic race.
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