Monthly Archives: August 2018

New Upgraded Betting Terminals Installed At Virginia Bets OTBs In Time For Travers Weekend

Horseplayers that frequent the four Virginia Bets OTBs in the state will be in for a nice surprise on their next visit .

Am Tote, who is the Virginia Bets Tote provider, has brand new betting terminals and they are being installed at all four sites this week.  The Richmond install at Breakers Sports Grille and Ponies & Pints took place Wednesday morning.

The install at the Buckets Bar & Grill… Continue reading

Combined OTB & ADW Horse Racing Handle In Virginia Is Up Almost $10 Million Thru July

Virginia’s handle on horse race wagering is up nearly $10 Million over the same seven month period of a year ago courtesy of increases in both Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) and Off Track Betting (OTB) handle.

In the month of July, the four licensed ADWs — or on line betting partners — handled over $6.7 million from Virginia residents. TVG handled the most with $3,009,450 while Twin Spires was next with $2,616,924.… Continue reading

Thanks To Catholic Boy, Thomas No Longer Racing’s Best Secret

The following appeared in Thoroughbred Racing News and was written by Bill Finley

He was a valued and respected assistant to Todd Pletcher and was hired by Bridlewood Farm as their trainer, which gives him access to their first-class facility in Florida to train not only their horse but those for outside clients. Jonathan Thomas, just 38, has been busy building the groundwork for a top stable, one that some day could rival that of the premier trainers in… Continue reading

A Maryland and West Virginia-Bred, Both Virginia Certified Two Year Olds, Win $40,000 Maiden Events At Laurel

Maryland-bred No Mo Lady and West Virginia-bred Burnin Ring O Fire, both Virginia Certified horses, captured respective $40,000 maiden special weight sprint races for two year olds August 10th at Laurel. The 5 1/2 furlong turf events were open to Virginia-bred, sired or certified horses.

Maryland-bred No Mo Lady spent her Virginia residency at Legacy Farm in Bluemont. Photo by Jim McCue.

No Mo Lady, a Mike Trombetta trainee, won by two lengths as the betting favorite against four others.… Continue reading

Pair Of Virginia-Bred, Sired & Certified 2 Year Old Maiden Races Set For Laurel On Friday August 10th

Two divisions of Virginia-bred, sired and certified two year old sprinters will square off in a pair of 5 1/2 furlong turf events Friday August 10th at Laurel. The races have been carded as the first and fifth, and each carries a $40,000 purse.

Candy’s Delight, a John Salzman trained Kentucky-bred, is early 3/1 favorite in the first while the Mike Trombetta trained Tracy With a Y, bred in Maryland, is second pick at 7/2.… Continue reading

Cooney Leads Virginia-Bred Trainer Bonus Standings; Three-Way Tie For Top Spot In Owners Category

Trainer/Owner Bonus Award Standings Update For 2018 Virginia-Bred/Sired Events

The second series of races in the 2018 Virginia-bred/sired stakes race program being held at Laurel Park is now complete, and updated trainer and owner standings for both bonus award divisions have been announced.

The first part of the series kicked off respectively on June 15th and 23rd. A $40,000 maiden race for fillies & mares was first, followed … Continue reading

Paulita, Altamura Prevail In William Backer And Camptown Stakes At Laurel’s Commonwealth Day Card

The following is from a Laurel Park press release

Paulita Captures $75,000 William Backer Stakes

LAUREL, MD – More than two years after his passing, influential advertising executive and successful Thoroughbred owner and breeder William M. Backer was represented in the winner’s circle Saturday by a horse he bred winning her stakes debut in a race named in his honor.

Hat Creek Racing’s Paulita ($3.40) stalked pacesetter Secret Or Not for a half-mile before putting that rival away and… Continue reading

River Deep, Homespun Hero Capture Hansel and Meadow Stables Stakes At Laurel’s Commonwealth Day Program

The following was from a Laurel press release.

River Deep Returns To Form With Dominant $75,000 Hansel Win

LAUREL, MD – Morgans Ford Farm homebred River Deep, unsuccessful in four tries since ending 2017 on a four-race win streak, made an emphatic return to that late-season form with a dominating 7 ¼-length victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Hansel Stakes at Laurel Park.

The Hansel and the $75,000 Meadow Stable at 5 ½ furlongs, both for 3-year-olds and up, were among four… Continue reading

Vincent Van Gogo Kicks Off Commonwealth Day at Laurel With A Maiden Victory

Congratulations to Virginia-bred Vincent Van Gogo, who kicked off Commonwealth Day at Laurel with a nice maiden special weight triumph.

Vincent Van Gogo captured his furst lifetime win in a $40,000 maiden special weight event for Virginia-breds August 4th at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

The 3 year old Paynter gelding rode the rail from fourth in the one mile dirt event and passed a trio of frontrunners in the stretch to prevail. He was bred by Jim Fitzgerald &… Continue reading

Delacour, Firestones Aim For Laurel Stakes Sweep On August 4th

Special Envoy Goes After Fourth Stakes Win in $75,000 Hansel
Armoire Carries Momentum into $75,000 William M. Backer
Well-Rested Determined Vision Targets $75,000 Meadow Stable
Virginia Fable Looks to Change Plot in $75,000 Camptown

LAUREL, MD – Led by stakes winners Special Envoy and Armoire, Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Firestone and trainer Arnaud Delacour will have an imposing presence when a quartet of stakes for Virginia-bred/sired horses returns to Laurel Park Saturday, Aug. 4.

Special Envoy, with his seasonal debut… Continue reading