Charles Town Classic features showdown between past winners

The 18th running of the Grade 2, $1 million Charles Town Classic will take place on Friday night at Charles Town Races. The 1 1/8-mile dirt race features a competitive field of 10 older horses competing for a seven-figure purse.

In a rare matchup, past winners Banishing and Skippylongstocking will face each other. Banishing, the 2025 winner, seeks to join a select group of two-time victors. He enters the race following a victory in the Godolphin Mile (G2) at Meydan. Skippylongstocking, who won in 2023 and 2024, aims to become the first horse to win the event three times after recovering from an electrolyte imbalance that hindered his 2025 performance.

Other notable entrants include Barbadian Runner, Dragoon Guard, and Willy D’s. The race is expected to be shaped by the bullring track, where early speed and inside draws may play significant roles.