By Michel Carter, for Shenandoah County Fair

Congratulations go out to Explore, who won his third straight race at Mountaineer Park yesterday (Monday) and became the first Virginia-bred to score a third bonus for his owner as part of the new HBPA/VTA incentive program that began July 1st.

Explore rolled to an 11 1/4 length victory at Mountaineer August 10th and secured his second straight owners bonus for the LVR Stable. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

The 5 year old Stroll gelding (shown here winning the 2nd… Continue reading →

Another five Virginia-bred horses won a race in the Mid-Atlantic region this past week and in doing so, collected an additional 25% owners bonus on top of their purse winnings courtesy of the new HBP/VTA incentive program which began July 1st.

Grace Is Ready, Mr. Magician, Frankin Storm, Titan Alexander and Runninginthevale all earned bonuses while another trio — Compose, Front Nine, and Cherokee Salute — captured races in other parts of the country.

Grace… Continue reading →

The biggest race horse racing card since Belmont Day is happening this Saturday, August 27th at Saratoga, when six Grade I stakes will go to post including the afternoon headliner — the $1,250,000 Travers Stakes which features a deep 14 horse field.

The six-pack of elite stakes will be run consecutively as races 6-11. Here’s the order:

*$750,000 Personal Ensign Stakes – Race 6 (2:23 PM)

*$500,000 Ballerina Stakes – Race 7 (2:59 PM)

*$500,000 King’s Bishop Stakes… Continue reading →

(WOODSTOCK, VA — 8/24/16)—-Finishing touches to an extensive harness track renovation project at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds in Woodstock, Virginia are now complete. In recent days, pylons have been placed on the track, safety fencing has been added around the outer perimeter of the half mile oval and camera towers are now in place.

Another summer weekend means another great round of stakes races to watch and wager from tracks around the country.

On Saturday, the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Pacific Classic at Del Mar will pit three powerhouse horses against one another — California Chrome, Beholder and Dortmund. At Saratoga, the undefeated Songbird puts her 9 for 9 streak on the line in the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes, which has been won by 21 different Eclipse award winners. Both… Continue reading →

Richmond, VA—8/18/16) —- The Virginia Racing Commission gave unanimous approval at its Thursday (August 18) meeting to bring pari-mutuel harness racing back to the Commonwealth this fall at Shenandoah Downs. The limited license request was submitted by the Virginia Downs Foundation. The Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) will provide race office personnel and conduct the races, and the Virginia Harness Horsemen’s Association (VHHA) will provide $800,000 from its purse account to fund the races.

Harness… Continue reading →

Perfect Trace was one of six Virginia-bred horses to score an owners bonus in the past ten day period by winning an overnite race in the Mid-Atlantic region. The 4 year old daughter of Pleasantly Perfect captured a $22,000, 5 1/2 furlong claiming race August 6th at Laurel. Jockey Horacio Karamanos led the gate to wire effort in a large twelve horse field. The Reid Nagle trainee was bred by Larry Johnson and is owned by… Continue reading →

Congratulations to Porte Cochere and Explore, the first Virginia-bred horses to win a second bonus for their owners since the new HBPA/VTA incentive program began July 1st.

Porte Cochere captured a $28,000 starter optional claiming sprint Friday at Laurel while Explore romped to an 11 1/4 length victory Wednesday in a $6,600 claiming event at Mountaineer Park. The former was bred by Legacy Farm & Larry Johnson and is owned by the Sheffield Stable while the latter was… Continue reading →

Below are the yearlings that were either Virginia-bred, owned or consigned at the Fasig-Tipton select sales at Saratoga. Congratulations to all the Virginians involved.

Hip #11 – Louisa Lenehan’s Curlin colt out of Dress The Part sold for $240,000 to Lothenbach Stables, Inc.

Hip #38 Louisa Lenehan’s filly by Animal Kingdom out of Garden District was a $45,000 rna.

Hip #53 – Virginia-bred Paynter colt out of Hottie Dancer sold to Saratoga Seven Racing Partners for $255,000.

 … Continue reading →