Virginia-breds took center stage nationally Sunday afternoon by winning the day’s two biggest stakes races, held respectively at Del Mar and Monmouth.

Stellar Wind, bred by the Keswick Stables and Stone Street Thoroughbred Holdings LLC, captured the Grade III Torrey Pines Stakes on the west coast while Edward Evans’ Valid was victorious in the Grade III Iselin Stakes on the east coast.

Hronis Racing’s Stellar Wind jockey Victor Espinoza win the Grade III, $100,000 Torrey Pines Stakes, Sunday, August 30,… Continue reading →

The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select sale kicks off tomorrow night. Take a look at the high-quality Virginia-bred and Virginia-owned yearlings on offer at the sales grounds.

Hip 37, Louisa Lenehan’s Harlan’s Holiday colt out of Artisanal, bred in Kentucky and consigned by James Herbener. Purchased by Starlight Racing for $250,000.

Hip 64, Bill Backer’s Exchange Rate colt out of Dinah Lee, consigned by Chilly Bleak Farm. Purchased by Ken McPeek, agt. for $110,000.

Hip 81, Audley Farm’s Bodemeister (himself bred by… Continue reading →

Virginia-bred made it a hat trick in the Saskatchewan Lotteries Handicap at Marquis Downs on Saturday, lodging a driving victory by the better part of 3 lengths. Owned by Wind Dancer Stable and Bill Meikle, the 3-year-old gelding is by Larry Johnson’s Legacy Farm’s Street Magician and out of the Nureyev mare Dance Gaily. He was adding to a 4-length allowance victory at this same venue and a 2 3/4-length maiden win at Assiniboia last month.

Meanwhile, at Saratoga,… Continue reading →

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association’s 30^th annual National Awards Dinner will be held Friday, September 11 at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Lexington, Ky. The National Awards Dinner honors the achievements of Thoroughbred owners in the four major North American racing regions and breeders in 23 states and Canada. For the tenth time since 2000, the Estate of Edward Evans has been named Breeder of the Year in Virginia: 2000, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011,… Continue reading →

Loudoun and Fauquier counties are considering conducting a joint study on the feasibility of having an equine quarantine facility at or near Dulles Airport, reports Loudon Business. The facility would act as a port of entry for horses coming to compete Great Meadow in The Plains, Loudoun Supervisor Janet S. Clarke told the publication. The study, if it’s approved, could take up to a year to conduct.

“This would substantially increase the viability of bringing international horses to world-class… Continue reading →

Lazy Lane Farm-bred horses scored a double over the weekend, kicked off with homebred Rapid Rhythm at Pimlico on Friday. The 3-year-old daughter of Successful Appeal won a Laurel Park allowance by a gutsy nose after a fierce duel in the straight. The Susan Cooney trainee broke her maiden in her debut in March, scoring by the better part of 2 lengths at Fairgrounds.

Strong Stipulation, now owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, put in an impressive allowance win at Delaware… Continue reading →

Ruxton Farm’s Virginia stallion Fierce Wind lodged his first winner over the holiday weekend when Nellie Mae Cox and Concepts Unlimited Stable’s Frankin Storm broke his maiden by 1/2 lengths at Laurel. The 2-year-old bred by Susan Minor is out of the Storm Boot mare Stormy Heroine and was making his second start.

A son of Dixie Union, Fierce Wind was a multiple stakes winner for Minor Stables, lodging wins in the Challenger Stakes and the Sam F. Davis… Continue reading →

The Virginia Racing Commission met last week to discuss a number of items that have an impact on future of Virginia racing. Here’s what you need to know:

1. The VHBPA has been approved as the majority horsemen’s representative and the Virginia Equine Alliance has been designated as the industry stakeholder organization.

These were designations provided for under the recent legislative amendments and the Commission approved the groups’ requests yesterday. Both groups have been formally recognized for the next three… Continue reading →

Grade I Santa Anita Oaks winner, the Virginia-bred Stellar Wind, returned victorious in the Grade II Summertime Oaks on Saturday. Kept three wide through the final turn, the daughter of Curlin edged out Tara’s Tango in the shadow of the wire in the 1 1/16-mile dirt test. The Keswick-bred miss is now three-for-three at Santa Anita.

Virginia-bred Stellar Wind wins the Grade I $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks April 4, 2015 at Santa Anita.

As for what’s next?… Continue reading →