07/06/09

FOR RELEASE:  IMMEDIATE
CONTACT:  TAMARA PETTIT
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
304-387-8335(OFFICE) 304-479-8097(CELL)

CHESTER, WV – Hall of Fame Jockey Mike Smith will ride Mine That Bird in the Grade II West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort on August 1. Smith, who was inducted into Racings Hall of Fame in 2003, received the coveted Eclipse Awards as North America’s champion jockey in 1993 and 1994.

Smith, who won the 2005 Kentucky Derby aboard Giacomo, finished 2nd place on Mine That Bird in the Preakness this year. Smith has also garnered media attention as one of the featured personalities in the reality series “Jockeys,” which airs on Animal Planet.

No stranger to the West Virginia Derby, Smith finished sixth on Wanna Runner in 2006.

The $750,000 West Virginia Derby is the richest graded race in West Virginia. Nine races will be carded on Derby Day with a total purse distribution of $1.5 million. First post time is 2:00 p.m. with the West Virginia Derby post time slated for approximately 5:45 p.m.