Virginia Racing Commission Meeting Recap From Wednesday April 27
The Virginia Racing Commission (VRC) held its monthly meeting yesterday at the John Tyler Building in downtown Richmond and the members of the Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) provided progress updates on the upcoming Virginia Gold Races, Off Track Betting Centers, harness racing at Shenandoah Downs and thoroughbred racing at Morven Park.
Dr. Will Allison, President of the Gold Cup, said they are expecting a record crowd of over 70,000 for the May 7th event at Great… Continue reading
Virginia-Breds Enjoy a Prosperous Saturday
Saturday was a big day for Virginia-bred horses as four got to the winners circle, all at different tracks. Rose Brier, bred by William Backer, captured the $75,000 Henry Clark Stakes at Laurel while All Call, bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm, won a starter optional claimer at Hawthorne. Lockport, bred by the Hart Farm, was victorious in a claiming race at Parx and Virginia Rose, bred by David Ross, prevailed in a fillies and mares claimer at Penn… Continue reading
TVG, XPressBet & Twin Spires Show March Business Increases From Virginians
Wagering figures are in for the month of March and once again, TVG, XPressBet and Twin Spires showed significant increases in betting handle from Virginia residents when compared to the same month a year prior.
Total combined handle from the trio in March was $5,661,814, and when added to January’s $5,771,149 and February’s $5,504,056, brings the 2016 first quarter total to $16,937,019.
TVG remained the front runner with a March total of $2,663,816, or $7,895,436 for the quarter.… Continue reading
Pair of Virginia-Breds Set To Compete Saturday In Laurel’s Henry Clark Stakes
Special Envoy and Rose Brier, both Virginia-bred horses, will compete in Saturday’s (tomorrow’s) $75,000 Henry Clark Stakes at Laurel. The former was last year’s third place finisher in the Clark while the latter has won two straight races including the 2015 Bert Allen Stakes. A field of 11 will compete one mile on the turf and will go to post at 5:53 PM. It will be race 10 on the card.
Rose Brier is shown here… Continue reading
$1,250,000 Charles Town Classic is This Saturday, April 23rd
The Kentucky Derby prep race season may be over as horseplayers await the May 7th “Run for the Roses” from Churchill Downs, but there is still plenty of action to watch and wager in the days & weeks leading up to thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown.
This Saturday, April 23rd, nearby Charles Town Race Track in West Virginia plays host to their biggest annual race program, highlighted by the $1,250,000 Charles Town Classic (Gr. II). The stellar under card includes… Continue reading
Virginia-Breds Exaggerated & Tough Weather Are Streaking
With victories over the weekend, a pair of Virginia-bred horses continued impressive streaks that has seen each win five times in their last seven starts.
In winning Saturday’s $100,000 Giant’s Causeway Stakes at Keeneland, Exaggerated bettered her career record to that stellar 5 of 7 mark while at Penn National the day prior, Tough Weather’s victory established her own 5-for-7 streak, though the 5 year old Wiseman’s Ferry mare has made 22 career… Continue reading
General a Rod To Compete in Grade 3 Stakes Saturday at Keeneland
A pair of Virginia-breds — Exaggerated and Rapid Rhythm — will compete in this afternoon’s $100,000 Giant’s Causeway Stakes at Keeneland while another horse bred by the Hare Forest Farm of Orange, Virginia will vie in the Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes earlier on the same card.
General A Rod winning the Gulfstream Park Derby. Photo courtesy Leslie Martin.
General a Rod was bred by Anne Poulson, who owns the Hare Forest Farm, and in… Continue reading
A Pair of Virginia-Breds Will Start Next To Each Other in a Saturday Stakes at Keeneland
Two Virginia-bred 4 year old fillies will start next to each other in this Saturday’s $100,000 Giants’s Causeway Stakes at Keeneland! Exaggerated, bred by the Hart Farm, will leave from gate position 9 while Rapid Rhythm, bred by the Lazy Lane Farm, will depart from post 10.
Exaggerated (shown here courtesy of Jim McCue), by Blame out of Miz United States by Valid Appeal, won her only start this year and is 4-for-6 lifetime. She captured the $60,000 Oakley Stakes… Continue reading
Pair of Virginia-Breds Now Boast 6-Digit Career Bankrolls Thanks to Wins Sunday at Laurel
A pair of Virginia-breds upset their respective fields this past Sunday at Laurel Park and in winning back-to-back races on the card, saw their career bankrolls zoom into the six digit category.
Made Bail, a 4 year old Closing Argument gelding bred by Susan Cooney, captured a $45,000 allowance optional claiming race while Just Funnin’ Ya, a 5 year old daughter of City Zip bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, III, was best in an $18,000… Continue reading
VTA Awards Reception Slated For Friday May 6 At Great Meadow
Celebrate Virginia’s finest breeders, owners & trainers on Friday May 6th at the annual trackside awards reception in the VTA’s Turf Club Tent at Great Meadow. The event is from 5-8 PM and features an open bar, hor d’oeuvres, betting on the Kentucky Oaks (that day) and advance betting on the Kentucky Derby (the following afternoon). Casual dress is encouraged.
Hronis Racing’s Stellar Wind and jockey Victor Espinoza win the Grade I $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks Saturday, April 4, 2015… Continue reading
