COX, Nellie Mae (Stonnell), 75, of Goochland, Virginia, died peacefully on February 24, 2015, surrounded by loved ones. Born January 2, 1941, in Richmond, she was the daughter of the late Clayton Anderson and Nellie Sheldon Stonnell. She was preceded in death by her son, Michael Wray Cox; and sister, Carolyn Stonnell Baber. She is survived by her husband, Sidney B. Cox Jr.; children, Sidney Barbee Cox III, Robin Cox Petrine; and son-in-law, Dave Petrine and Lisa Cary Cox; sister, Janet Stonnell Gray and her husband, Cameron Gray; and brother-in-law, Penny Baber; seven grandchildren, Brandi Cox, Lindsay Cox, Brigitte Petrine Fanelli and her husband, Michael Fanelli, Marc Petrine, Caroline Petrine, Scout Towell, Sheldon Towell; and two great-grandchildren, Gabrielle Fanelli and Tess Fanelli.

Nellie Mae Cox passed away at the age of 75 on February 24th. Photo courtesy of Virginia Living Magazine.

Nellie grew up on Greenfield Farm in Cumberland, Virginia. She commented recently that visiting the farm in Cumberland “was always beautiful and did my heart and soul so much good.” Nellie and her husband, Bobby, founded S.B. Cox Inc., which has been in business for 53 years. Nellie continued to be active in the business throughout the years. Nellie bred, raised and raced thoroughbred horses. She was the breeder of Showing Up, who finished sixth in the 2006 Kentucky Derby. In the same year, she was ranked as the sport’s second leading breeder in North America. Featured in Virginia Living, she said, “You can’t help but fall in love with them all.” Nellie lived at historic Rose Retreat Farm in Goochland for 50 years, surrounded by her precious dogs and beautiful horses and cattle. There, she raised her children, in whom she took great pride. She took an active role in her grandchildren’s lives and activities. She always said that one of her favorite quotes was, “Grandchildren furnish me great resources and happiness.” (Thomas Jefferson)

The family will receive friends Friday, February 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the West Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 11020 West Broad Street, Glen Allen, Va. 23060. A funeral service will be held Saturday, February 27, at 10 a.m., at All Saints Episcopal Church, 8787 River Road, Richmond, Va. 23229. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to one of the following in Nellie’s honor: Goochland County Fire-Rescue Department, 2938 River Road W, Bldg 1, P.O. Box 247, Goochland, Va. 23063 or Goochland Free Clinic and Family Services, P.O. Box 116, Goochland, Va. 23063.

A trio of Virginia-bred horses — Simmstown, Star of Magic and Callipella — reached the winners circle on a mild Saturday (February 20) in the Mid-Atlantic region. Star of Magic and Simmstown, respective 7 and 8 year old geldings with a combined 75 starts between them, both captured six furlong sprint races in very different fashion.

7-year-old Star of Magic scores a gate to wire victory February 20th at Penn National in his 48th lifetime start. Photo courtesy of B & D Photography. 

The former, bred by the Braeburn Farm Corporation, went gate-to-wire with jockey Chris Torres in the irons while the latter, an Audley Farm product, came from fifth at the half to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Star of Magic, who was making his 48th career start, showed speed from the outset, drew clear from the outside midway through the backstretch, took a 1 1/2 length lead into the top of the stretch and crossed in 1:10.62. The heavy betting choice, who is by Medalist, out of Rumbling Girl by Thunder Rumble paid $3.60. The Mario Serey, Jr. trainee was making his 48th start and earned his 8th victory.

Simmstown, an 8-year-old Limehouse gelding, earns a 1 1/2 length triumph February 20th in a $19,000 claiming race at Penn National. Photo courtesy of B & D Photography.

Simmstown, by Limehouse, out of Ruler’s Charm by Cape Town, captured his $19,000 race by 1 1/2 lengths over fast closing Megalith in 1:10.86. Trainer Mark Salvaggio’s charge faced a field of nine others and got away slowly. Sent off at 10-1, Simmstown was locked in early — seventh at the quarter and fifth at the half — before finally finding daylight in the stretch. Rider Andrew Wolfsont directed the gelding in his 27th start, and he’s now won two of his three most recent races, all at Penn National.

Callipella scored a tight one-half length win the same evening in a seven furlong, $24,000 allowance race for fillies and mares at Charles Town. The 4 year old daughter of Yes It’s True faced eight challengers, settled off the early pace three wide and remained in that spot through the turn. She edged clear in the upper stretch and held off fast charging Madeitouttaharlan in 1:28.38. The winner was bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm, is trained by Ollie Figgins, III., and is out of the Kafwain mare, Desert Quail.

Carolyn Rogers, a longtime owner, breeder, buyer, seller, and patron of the Thoroughbred industry, died Feb. 14 in Leesburg, Va., at the age of 88.   Just a day before, Rogers had cheered on her homebred Lovable Lady to a commanding four-length victory at Laurel Park in the fourth race.

Carolyn Rogers, shown here courtesy of LoudounNow, passed away February 14, 2016.

Rogers and her late husband, Sam Rogers Jr., owned White Oaks Farm in Virginia and had been mainstays at the major East Coast sales and races since the early 1960s.    Rogers, who at one time had been a licensed Thoroughbred trainer, was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Phin and Frances Medearis Horton. She was raised in Winston-Salem and attended Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia. Having learned how to ride horses from her father at a very early age, she became an accomplished horsewoman and successfully showed both Saddlebreds and hunters in the highest level of horse shows along the east coast and even Canada.

Sam and Carolyn Rogers’ home-bred Lovable Lady, won a $45,000 allowance race at Laurel February 13th, the day before she passed away.

Together with her husband of 68 years they bred, raced, or pinhooked over 50 stakes winners including Summer Guest, Sharp Cat, Grab the Green, Splendid Try, Diamond Stripes, Recapturetheglory, Changing World, Advice, Irish Playboy, and Miss Golden Circle. In addition, they are tied for the longest consecutive yearling consignors at Fasig-Tipton’s Saratoga yearling sale at 50 years.

The Rogers’ were one of the earliest weanling-to-yearling pinhookers, and notable graduate Sharp Cat, winner of 7 Grade I stakes, is shown here.

Rogers was preceded in death by her husband four months ago, and is survived by three children: Lyn Rainbow (Bill) Acorn Farm, Ocala, Fla., Susan Parks(Ken) Leesburg, Va., and Sam Rogers III (Matthew Hamblet) Jefferson, Md., as well as four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at Hall Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m. Interment will be in Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Old Friends Equine Retirement, 1841 Paynes Depot Rd., Georgetown, KY 40324 www.oldfriendsequine.org

John Dale Thomas, Track Superintendent of the Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA), spent two weeks at the Middleburg Training Center in December and directed a much needed track improvement project to the facility’s racing surface. The VEA donated his time, which enabled Thomas to conduct the effort. “Several of the trainers based at Middleburg asked if I could do something about it and the VEA gave me their blessing and encouraged me to move forward on the project.”

VEA Track Superintendent J.D. Thomas is pictured showing a horse

Thomas took the cushion of the 7/8ths mile track off all the way to the base —  about 14 inches — and pushed that material to the outside and higher parts of the track to inspect the areas along the inside rail. “The track had been very uneven but the base was in great shape,” said the veteran trackman. “Paul Mellon did a great job building this oval, but It’s probably been 30 years since a real grader has been on it. The project took some doing, but the trainers are happy now,” added Thomas, who put the cushion back evenly and has graded it several times since.

J.D. Thomas was former Track Superintendent at Colonial Downs. He is shown here overlooking the 180 foot wide Secretariat Turf Course

The training center, based an hour west of Washington, DC, was founded in 1956 by philanthropist Paul Mellon as his private training track. The surface is a combination of dirt and sand, and the track features a short chute and a starting gate. The complex contains are 20 horse barns, tack rooms, grooms quarters, 20 paddocks and National Hunt fences for steeplechase training. The center is great for breaking yearlings or giving racetrack weary horses a refreshing change of pace and scenery.

1931 – 2016

Samuel Charles Deane passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 15th, surrounded by his loving family.  Born June 15, 1931 to Floyd Deane and Cornelia Dickerson, Sam was raised in Charlottesville, Virginia by his sister, Florence Burnett.  He was a Korean War veteran, serving two years as an airplane and helicopter mechanic while stationed in Germany.  Upon returning stateside in 1955, he married his sweetheart, Barbara Jane Rose of Fairfax, Virginia, and they remained devoted to each other throughout their 60 years of marriage. Sam was a loving father to four children and an adoring grandfather to eight grandchildren.  Among his many friends and the community, Sam, along with his wife Jane, was well known as the proprietor of The Atoka General Store.  Sam’s life-long passion was training Thoroughbred racehorses.  Training his racing prospects largely from his own backyard, he proved very successful in the Mid-Atlantic region with numerous winners to his credit.  Sam is survived by his wife Barbara Jane Deane; his sister, Florence Burnett; his four children, Laura Karoll of New Jersey, and John Deane, Mark Deane, and Angela Deane of Virginia; and seven beloved grandchildren, John Michael Hill, Taryn Deane, Katelyn Deane, Jacob Deane, Jesse Deane, Jenna Deane, and Morgan Carriero.  Sam was predeceased by his grandson, Sam Deane.  A celebration of Sam’s life will be held on Thursday, February 18 at 3:00 p.m. at the Middleburg Methodist Church, Middleburg, Virginia.  After the service, a reception will follow at the church.

Virginia betting handle figures from Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) are in for calendar year 2015 and despite a drop of 15% from 2014, there are  reasons for optimism. A total of $79,478,622 was handled in 2015 versus $93,858,388 in 2014.