Charles Town Raises Purses 7.5%, Open Maiden Purses $32,900 Feb. 11

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races announced a 7.5 percent across-the-board purse increase that will take effect with the condition book beginning Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. Open maiden special weight purses are set to rise to $32,900, part of a push the track says will strengthen its overnight program and draw larger, deeper fields for winter and spring racing.

The increase builds on a 10 percent boost announced in July 2025, when Charles Town also added three additional race days to the calendar. Jim Miller, president of the Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent Protective Association, framed the newest escalation as the product of industry and legislative work. "The Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent Protective Association, in cooperation with Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is pleased to see purses increase a full 7.5 percent effective February 2026," Miller said. "This increase follows a recent 10 percent increase in July 2025. The increase in purse growth is the result of the continued efforts and support of the WV Thoroughbred industry by our local Eastern Panhandle legislative representatives Senator Jason Barrett, Senator Patricia Rucker, Delegate Joe Funkhouser and Delegate Wayne Clark."

Charlie McIntosh, Charles Town’s director of racing operations, tied the funds to prior legislative work to restore purse-account resources that had been constrained after the 2014 "Haircut Bill." “We’re thrilled to roll out this 7.5 percent purse increase as we head into the heart of our winter/spring racing season. These additional funds, supported by prior legislative efforts to restore critical purse account resources, allow us to attract larger, deeper fields and deliver more competitive racing for our participants and horseplayers. It’s a clear win for the entire Charles Town racing community, and we’re committed to building on this momentum to keep our program growing stronger,” McIntosh said.

The track described the increase as applying to overnight races. Day-of-racing listings available from routine entries pages show examples of current purses such as Race 3, a 4 1/2-furlong $5,000 claiming race for fillies and mares 4 and up listed at $13,600, and Race 8, a 4 1/2-furlong allowance for fillies and mares 4 and up listed at $32,800. The announced $32,900 figure for open maiden special weight is the official target for that category; the $32,800 entry listing appears in independent race-entry listings and is reported here alongside the press announcement without an explicit reconciliation from track sources.

Beyond immediate purse math, the move has business and cultural ramifications. Higher overnight purses tend to pull horses downstate and across state lines, shifting entry patterns and potentially increasing on-track and simulcast handle. For owners and trainers, the incremental dollars change campaign calculations for sprinters and young stock that rely on maiden special weight and allowance opportunities. For the Eastern Panhandle, the legislative role credited by Miller signals the continuing interplay between state policy and racing economics after long-standing disruptions to purse-account funding.

Charles Town also recently finalized its 2026 stakes schedule after approval by the West Virginia Racing Commission, giving owners and trainers a clearer roadmap for the season. For horseplayers and participants, the immediate item to watch is the Feb. 11 condition book to see the updated overnight schedule, the practical effect on entries, and whether the increased purses translate into deeper gates and more competitive cards through the spring.