This year is the 90th anniversary of thoroughbred racing in Charles Town, WV, and a new documentary produced by an Eastern Panhandle production company explores the history and legends of the industry.
“When we started this project, I thought it would be a cool story about an industry that has been a big part of Jefferson County,” said Clint Gaige, owner of Growth Media Productions and director of the documentary entitled Horses, Heroes and History. “But the more we dug into it, the more interesting stories there were to tell. Charles Town had both the first female jockey to ride and win in a pari-mutuel race, and the first female African American Trainer in thoroughbred racing. We have families that have been in the business for generations, and we have horses that are descended from racing royalty.”
From the early days of racing through the founding of the West Virginia Breeders Classics by football legend Sam Huff, to the next generation of horsemen making their mark on the industry today, Horses, Heroes and History dives into the people and the horses that made their mark on the racing industry in the state.
Horses, Heroes and History has aired on WV PBS continuously since December of 2023.
