Charles Town, WV -- The $500,000 West Virginia Breeders' Classic will once again highlight an all-stakes card when the Silver Anniversary edition of the West Virginia Breeders' Classics is held at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races on October 15th. While official approval is still needed from the West Virginia Racing Commission, nine stakes, worth $1.345 million in total, are expected to comprise the Breeders' Classics card.

In addition to the featured, $500,000 Breeders' Classic, the card will be supported by the $250,000 West Virginia Jefferson Security Bank "Cavada" Breeders' Classic and seven additional stakes, each carrying a $85,000 purse.

The Breeders' Classics, recently named one of the regions "Top 20 Events" by the Southeast Tourism Society, has experienced growth that even its co-founder and President Carol Holden marvels at.

"It's just incredible to look back and reflect on how much the West Virginia Breeders' Classics has grown and prospered throughout the last 25 years," she said. "We started in 1987 with 5 races worth $200,000 and in 2009 it became the first $2 million race day in this country for horses bred in one state. That would have been hard to imagine when this all started."

$500,000 West Virginia Breeders' Classic horse race betting at Off Track Betting .

While not the $2 million in purses offered in 2009, the $1,345,000 expected in 2011 represents an increase of $70,000 over last year's total prize money for the event. However, purses for the West Virginia Breeders' Classics aren't the only item that's grown with the event, as interest from bettors has seen a spike also. In 2010, the West Virginia Breeders' Classics set an all-time record for handle on the card, shattering the previous mark by 27%.

"It's become a great day showcasing the best the West Virginia breeding program has to offer", Holden added. "We hope to see the fan interest in the West Virginia Breeders' Classics continue to move forward."

West Virginia Breeders' Classics XXV will once again be aired live during a thirty-minute broadcast on Comcast SportsNet, with a replay on Fox Sports affiliates the following morning. Additionally, TVG will cover the event and HRTV�,,� will provide live, in-studio coverage of the entire Breeders' Classics card as it has done the previous three years.

Post time for the first race on October 15th will be 7:15pm EST.

West Virginia Breeders' Classics XXV
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
October 15, 2011
$500,000 West Virginia Breeders Classic, 3&up, 1 1/8 miles
$250,000 West Virginia Jefferson Security Bank "Cavada" Breeders' Classic, F&M, 3&up, 7 furlongs
$85,000 West Virginia Breeders' Classic Distaff, F&M, 3&up, 1 1/8 miles
$85,000 West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders' Association "Onion Juice" Breeders' Classic, 3&up, 7 furlongs
$85,000 West Virginia "Dash for Cash" Breeders' Classic, 3&up, 4 1/2 furlongs
$85,000 West Virginia Lottery Breeders' Classic, 3YO, 7 furlongs
$85,000 West Virginia Division of Tourism Breeders' Classic, F 3YO, 7 furlongs
$85,000 West Virginia Vincent Moscarelli Memorial Breeders' Classic, 2YO, 6 1/2 furlongs
$85,000 West Virginia Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders' Classic, F 2YO, 4 1/2 furlongs