Record Stakes Schedule at Penn National

Updated: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 8:36 AM

The 40th running of the $200,000 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup at five furlongs on the turf highlights a record $1.95 million stakes schedule at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.

A pair of $75,000 stakes for Pennsylvania-breds kicks off the added money season on June 1. The track’s annual Governor’s Cup Racing festival weekend is slated for July 27-28.

Three added-money events for fillies and mares will be held on Friday, July 27, including a pair of turf stakes in the $100,000 Jennie Wade and the $100,000 Red Carpet. The July 28 program features the Governor’s Cup, along with the first edition of the $175,000 Mountainview Handicap at 1 1/8 miles over the dirt, and the $100,000 East Hanover going 1 1/2 miles on the grass.

Stakes races will continue through the summer and early fall and conclude on Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, Nov. 21. Penn National has also announced that the track’s richest main track race will headline that pre-holiday program and has been renamed the $200,000 Fabulous Strike Handicap. The race was called the Six Bits when Ravalo won its inaugural running last year.

“Fabulous Strike was the most popular locally grown stakes star in track history,” said vice president of racing Mark Loewe, “and he went on to become a multiple grade I stakes winner of more than $1 million. He won the first and last races of his career at home, along with stakes races, and we are honored to name the race after a horse generally regarded as one of America’s fastest sprinters in recent years.”