We are very saddened to report that former VTA Executive Director, Glenn Petty, passed away on May 11. Mr. Petty served three separate terms as Executive Director of the VTA. He was instrumental in getting pari-mutuel legislation passed in the 1990’s and was involved in promoting many other racing & breeding initiatives. His obituary that appeared fauguiernow.com follows.

Glenn Douglas Petty, 65, of Warrenton, passed away May 11, 2022, at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, after complications… Continue reading →

Edit

The 2022 Virginia Thoroughbred Association Championship Awards Ceremony kicked off Virginia Gold Cup weekend at Great Meadow in The Plains on May 6th, first time the awards have been held at the trackside Turf Club chalet since 2019. A rainy and cool evening could not damper the celebration which was welcomed by all. The 2020 edition was cancelled due to Covid and 2021’s was held at Colonial Downs, with award winners being recognized between races.

The weather turned colder… Continue reading →

Edit

Condition Books Now Available with Major Horsemen Incentives and Bonus Money Offered over Expanded 9-Week Meeting 

NEW KENT, Va. (May 12, 2022) — With its much-anticipated return just under eight weeks away, the Colonial Downs Racing presented by Woodford Reserve ─ “More Racing, More Money and More Fun” ─ 2022 season promises to be the biggest horsemen-incentive meeting in the New Kent, Va. track’s history.

Now in its fourth year under the management of the Colonial Downs Group and… Continue reading →

Edit

Meet Jeff Sanders, a schoolteacher in Bristol, Virginia who bought his first thoroughbred race horse at the Keeneland Yearling Sale in 2019 for $2,000 after teaching himself about the racing business for several years.

He brought his newly purchased mare, Eowyn, to Bristol where he soon realized he needed an actual trainer to find success on the track. After looking through a list of conditioners via the Jockey Club website, he reached out to Eric Reed, who just happened… Continue reading →

Edit

The 97th running of the Virginia Gold Cup races took place May 7th at Great Meadow in The Plains with a card of six steeplechase races and one flat race. Featured event was the $100,000 Virginia Gold Cup, won by 2019 champion Andi’Amu — a 12-year-old gelding making his 41st career start. The finish, after four miles of competition, brought loud cheers from tailgating fans trackside.

Both spectators and wagering returned, though Mother Nature chose not to cooperate. Rain,… Continue reading →