From a Penn National release
The Thanksgiving Eve Racing Festival at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, set for Wednesday, November 27, will feature the $250,000 Fabulous Strike Handicap, an All-Stakes Early Pick 4, and the “Food for Friends” charity food drive.
The Fabulous Strike, run at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up, is named after one of the most accomplished horses ever to compete at Penn National. Fabulous Strike, a lightning-fast sprinter trained by the locally-based Todd Beattie for Tea Party Stable, broke his maiden at Penn National on February 23, 2006, and went on to earn more than $1.4 million on the track.
First post is 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve, with an All-Stakes Early Pick 4 that includes the Fabulous Strike, the $150,000 Lady in Waiting (six furlongs, fillies and mares), the $150,000 Swatara (1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds and up), and the $75,000 Blue Mountain (six furlongs, PA-Bred 2yo fillies).
In addition to the terrific racing action, Penn National will host the “Food for Friends” charity food drive on-track to support the Racetrack Chaplaincy Food Bank. All guests ages 18-and-up who bring a non-perishable food item will receive a free mystery wagering voucher worth between $2 and $100. The donation drop off stand will be on the second floor next to the program seller stand.
“We are very excited to offer customers a terrific night of Thanksgiving Eve racing with a full slate of stakes action,” said Dan Silver, director of racing operations for Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. “The ‘Food for Friends’ charity food drive will allow our fans to help the local community and support a great cause.”
HRTV, The Network for Horse Sports, will provide race day coverage of the Thanksgiving Eve Racing Festival at Penn National, including in-studio commentary and analysis by network talent in addition to TV and online features and promotion during the week leading up to the event.
The Thanksgiving Eve Racing Festival is the second of two major stakes days at Penn National in 2013. Penn National hosted the inaugural $500,000 Penn Mile on June 1, which saw new records set for all-sources handle, on-track handle, and single race handle.
In 2014, Penn National Gaming, Inc. (PNGI) will launch the Penn Gaming Racing Challenge, tying together more than 20 stakes races worth over $5.5 million at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Sam Houston Race Park, and Zia Park. The Challenge includes tie-ins between groups of races in the series, as well as bonuses and prizes that include free nominations, refund of entry and starter fees, and trips to the PNGI owned M Resort in Las Vegas.
(Featured image by B & D Photography.)
