DERBY FEVER
Visionaire walks off of the track during the morning training for the Kentucky Derby on April 28, 2008 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Smooth Air (l) runs on the track during the morning training for the Kentucky Derby on April 29, 2008 at Churchill Downs. (Photo by… Continue reading
VA-OWNED REBELLION (GB) WINS GRADE 2 STAKES
Hickory Tree Stables’ Rebellion, idle since running eighth in the Oct. 27 NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT), stormed down the lane April 12 to catch longshot Elite Squadron by a head in the final strides in the $400,000 Commonwealth Stakes (gr. II) (VIDEO) on the Keeneland Polytrack.
Trained by Graham Motion, Rebellion was eighth and six-wide after a half-mile in the seven-furlong event. It was not until the stretch drive that the 5-year-old son… Continue reading
PICTURE OF THE DAY 2
In this photo released by Gulfstreatm Park, Peach Flambe, with jockey Eddie Castro up, captures the Cicada Stakes horse race at Gulfstream Park, Saturday, April 19, 2008 in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Cicada (foaled on May 9, 1959) at Christopher Chenery‘s Meadow Stud in Virginia, was considered by many the best horse Meadow Stud ever bred up until the arrival or Secretariat.
A bay filly by Bryan G, she was out of Satsuma whose dam was Hildene, a “blue hen”… Continue reading
GEORGIA CUP TO GOOD NIGHT SHIRT
Virginian Harold “Sonny” Via’s Good Night Shirt, the reigning champion steeplechaser, returned to action with a convincing victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Georgia Cup (NSA-G1) at the Atlanta Steeplechase.

RANDOM NOTES FROM STRAWBERRY HILL
The folks with the Virginia State Fair that organize the Strawberry Hill races were kind enough to invite us to a reception at the races Saturday. Colonial Downs also offered us a nice invite to their infield tent as well.
Watching a steeplechase meet from the 4th floor Turf Club and sky suites was an interesting experience. It provided a great bird’s eye view of the course and the sea of tents and people that were parked on the Colonial… Continue reading