The following article appeared in the Virginia Pilot December 24th and was written by Victoria Bourne. Photos were taken by Stephen Katz.

The old gang is back together.

So said Don McDowell, who has been coming to Buckets Bar and Grill three times a week since it started offering off-track betting last month. “I’m a fixture,” the Chesapeake resident said. “You’ll meet some characters here.”

On a gloomy Wednesday afternoon last week, 20 to 30 people filled the newly expanded… Continue reading →

The following appeared in Bloodhorse.com and takes a look back 10 years ago at a Virginia-bred named Christmas Kid.

Look Back: Christmas Kid Thrives in Cold at Keeneland
Christmas Kid won the 2007 Ashland Stakes.
Today, 6:00 AM

Christmas Kid is shown after winning the Ashland Stakes in 2007.

On a weekend when temperatures more resembled Christmas in New York rather than Easter in Central Kentucky, and wool coats replaced fancy spring frocks, a Virginia-bred filly named Christmas Kid found… Continue reading →

Greyvitos may have captured headlines with his big stakes win Sunday in Remington Park’s $400,000 Springboard Mile Stakes, but other Virginia-breds scored nice wins recently including River Deep, Bird Call and Swordfish.

River Deep, a 3 year old Arch colt, began his racing career with just one “in the money” finish in his first four starts. Since then, he has bagged a third, second and most recently, four straight wins including a dominating 7 1/4 length triumph this past weekend… Continue reading →

When the new Virginia Residency program began in July, there was plenty of reason for industry optimism but nobody could predict how successful it would or would not be by year’s end.  The purpose and details of the incentive program are pretty straightforward. Horses who enter the program must board or train at a certified Virginia farm or training center for six consecutive months prior to December 31st of their two-year-old year.… Continue reading →

The following appeared in The Paulick Report December 18th.

Handling the outside, number 12 post in the $402,400 Springboard Mile was easy for winner Greyvitos, considering everything the colt has been through in the past two weeks. The gray opened up to win Remington Park’s top race for 2-year-olds by 2-1/4 lengths under National Racing Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza.

Greyvitos (blue silks) heads to the finish ion the $400,000 Springboard Mile Stakes December 17th at Remington. Photo by… Continue reading →

The following appeared in Bloodhorse.com December 14th.

The following sappearedSurvivor of San Luis Rey fire carries hopes for connections in one-mile test.
By Alicia Wincze Hughes

Virginia-bred Greyvitos will compete in Sunday’s Springboard Mile at Remington Park.

You go on because that is what life dictates.
You press forward past the grief, putting things that still need emotional processing in a corner of one’s mind until a better moment arises. You try and regain a sense a normalcy… Continue reading →

Four Virginia-breds reached the winners circle this past week including Galaxy Express and Wing Fighter, a pair bred by Lady Olivia at North Cliff.

Galaxy Express, who was 4th in the 2016 Jamestown Stakes, was best December 9th in a $27,000, one mile claiming race at Parx. The 3 year old Cosa Vera gelding beat eight others courtesy of a three wide rallying  move at the top of the stretch. The winner crossed in 1:40.86, one-half length better… Continue reading →

The following appeared in The Martinsville Bulletin November 30th. 

COLLINSVILLE-Off-track betting will soon arrive at Collinsville’s Dutch Inn.

On Wednesday, the Henry County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) granted a special use permit to the hotel, which will allow for off-track betting – state-sanctioned satellite wagering on horse racing – at the hotel’s restaurant and bar.

Speaking on behalf of the Dutch Inn, Jim Farrell said that the hotel recently closed The Flying Dutchman Lounge for extensive renovations, and… Continue reading →

Congratulations to trainer Jonathan Thomas and Catholic Boy, who prevailed in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes December 2nd at Aqueduct. Jonathan is the son of Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) Track Superintendent John Dale Thomas.  The following piece appeared in bloodhorse.com. 

It remains to be seen if Catholic Boy prefers turf or dirt, but trainer Jonathan Thomas is surely confident of something the 2-year-old son of More Than Ready  relishes. As far as distance goes, it’s… Continue reading →

The following appeared in Bloodhorse.com November 25th and was written by Claire Novak-Crosby.

Something about the month of November agrees with Scuba.

One year after he won the Marathon Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, the 6-year-old Tapit  gelding once again found his way to the winner’s circle—this time in the $150,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup (G3) at Hawthorne Racecourse.