Nominations For The August 5th Virginia Day At Laurel Park Are In
This Saturday, August 5th, is the second special Virginia-bred day of racing at Laurel Park this year! A four-pack of $75,000 stakes will make their debut — the William M. Backer, Meadow Stable, Hansel and Camptown Stakes. Nominations closed this past Thursday with 20, 17, 27 and 21 horses respectively in the quartet. A pair of $30,000 one mile maiden events will also be featured — one for males and one for fillies/mares.
The third event — Commonwealth Stakes… Continue reading
Stellar Wind All Heart In Defeating Vale Dori In Sunday’s Clement Hirsch Stakes At Del Mar
The following appeared in The Paulick Report July 30th.
Kosta Hronis’ Stellar Wind had to put every ounce of her heart on the line to defeat Vale Dori in Sunday’s Grade 1 Clement L Hirsch Stakes. The two rivals, one-two in the same order in the G1 Beholder Mile last out, were dead even at the head of the lane, but Victor Espinoza was able to get just a bit more out of the dead game Stellar Wind to put… Continue reading
2016 Champion Sprinter Drefong, Co-Bred By Virginian Anthony Warrender, To Compete In July 29 Bing Crosby Stakes
2016 Champion Sprinter Drefong was co-bred Frederick Allor, Michael Barnett and Anthony Warrender, who is from Middleburg, Virginia. This story previews the July 29th Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar and appeared on bloodhorse.com.
If not for his gray stablemate’s late-season ascension, Baoma Corporation’s Drefong would have been the brightest rising star of 2016.
Drefong’s rise—albeit in the sprint division and a bit more stretched out in time—in many ways mirrored Arrogate‘s. Both lost their respective debuts for trainer… Continue reading
Virginia Betting Handle Figures Are Strong For First Half Of 2017
Halfway through 2017, Virginia handle numbers on horse racing from the four Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) companies and both new Off Track Betting (OTB) Centers continue to trek impressively.
The three ADW — or on line betting companies — that are licensed in Virginia and have been conducting business for an extended period, had their second best month of the year in June. TVG handled $3,551,229 compared to $3,223,864 for TwinSpires and $1,160,388… Continue reading
Cooney’s Carolina Shag Records Solid Stakes Performance; Firestone-Bred Horses Continue To Sizzle In July
Susan Cooney’s Carolina Shag recorded her best stakes performance to date July 24th, when the six-year-old Bop mare took third in the $200,000 Caress Stakes at Saratoga. She took the lead briefly in the upper stretch but was caught 70 yards from the wire and finished third. Miss Ella was 1 1/2 lengths the best. Carolina Shag’s previous stakes outings were both in New York — an 8th in the Intercontinental at Belmont in June, 2015… Continue reading
3 EZ Steps For Farm & Horse Owners To Take Advantage Of New Virginia Certified Thoroughbred Program
3 EZ Steps To Take Advantage Of New Virginia Certified Residency Program
Since the Virginia Racing Commission recently approved a new Certified Residency Program that is expected to contribute to the long term economic prosperity of Virginia agriculture and encourage preservation of Virginia farmland, it is now up to industry participants to take advantage of these new opportunities.
Modeled after the very successful Delaware Certified Program, the new Virginia-Certified Thoroughbred Program… Continue reading
Popular Maryland Horse Ben’s Cat Euthanized July 19th
by Frank Vespe
Ben’s Cat, the 11-year-old gelding who won 26 stakes, helped catapult owner-breeder-trainer King Leatherbury into the Hall of Fame, and along the way captured the hearts of most of the racing world, was euthanized today because of complications that arose from July 6 colic surgery.
His death was reported in the The Blood-Horse.
Ben’s Cat, a Leatherbury homebred, won 32 of 63 career races, earning more than $2.6 million in the process. Despite not making… Continue reading
Virginia-Bred Weekend Captures Maiden Special Weight Restricted Race Saturday At Laurel
Congratulations to 3-year-old filly Weekend, who captured a $25,000 maiden special weight race exclusively for Virginia-bred fillies and mares Saturday July 15th at Laurel.
Bred and owned by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone, the daughter of Henny Hughes was best in a field of seven, who competed six furlongs. She prompted the pace outside Cross Roads initially, overtook the leader turning for home, then beat runner-up Daniella by 4 1/2 lengths, crossing in 1:09.33. Weekend,… Continue reading
Dortmund Back Training At Los Alamitos
The following appeared in Bloodhorse.com July 14th. It was written by Jeremy Balan.
Multiple grade 1 winner Dortmund, who was retired from racing in April, is back in training at Los Alamitos Race Course, trainer Art Sherman said July 13.
Los Alamitos’ stable records indicate Kaleem Shah’s 2015 Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner arrived at the Cypress, Calif., racetrack June 19. Sherman said the massive son of Big Brown has been going through some “slight training”… Continue reading
Queen Caroline Set For Indiana Grand Stakes Saturday July 15th; Plenty Of Simulcast Stakes To Watch & Wager
Best of luck to Virginia-bred Queen Caroline, whom will compete in Saturday’s $100,000 Indiana General Assembly Distaff Stakes, part of the Indiana Derby under card at Indiana Grand Racecourse.
Queen Caroline won the Nellie Mae Cox Stales for the second straight year at Laurel June 24th. Photo by Jim McCue.
Queen Caroline successfully defended her title the $75,000 Nellie Mae Cox Stakes. The 4 year old Blame filly, bred by the Morgan’s Ford Farm, went gate to wire… Continue reading
