Charles Town adds fundraiser to big night

Charles Town has expanded its second big event night of the season by adding a stakes and promoting a fundraiser for breast cancer research.

The card on Aug. 1, which has a special 6 p.m. Eastern first post time, will now feature five stakes, headed by the inaugural running of the $250,000 Charles Town Oaks at seven furlongs.

As announced earlier this year, the Oaks card will also include three stakes worth $100,000 apiece - the Charles Town Juvenile at seven furlongs; the Miss Shenandoah, a 4 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies; and the West Virginia Sprint Derby for 3-year-olds going 4 1/2 furlongs.

In conjunction with the track's partnership with the West Virginia affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Foundation, Charles Town has created the Pink Ribbon Derby, a seven-furlong race for fillies and mares with a purse of $75,000.

Proceeds from a walk conducted on the racetrack at noon and a silent auction one hour before the first race will be donated to the Susan G. Komen West Virginia affiliate.