The Virginia Thoroughbred Association (VTA) has announced that Jill Byrne will take over as the organization’s Executive Director. Debbie Easter will remain an integral part of the VTA but will now focus more time and energy on a wider range of industry initiatives with the Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) of which she is President. Byrne will also continue to serve in her existing role as Vice-President of Marketing & Strategic Planning for the VEA.  

Byrne is a Virginia native and graduate of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and has come full circle in a sense. After spending several decades in various roles around the country — as on-air host and handicapper with TVG, Senior Director of Industry Relations with the Breeders’ Cup and Director of Broadcast Operations with Churchill Downs, she returned to Virginia to serve as VP of Racing Operations at Colonial Downs during the 2019 “Racing Revival” season and remained in that capacity for three more years before joining the VEA in 2023. With her combined VEA and VTA responsibilities, Byrne is once again based in Charlottesville where she works and resides. 

“I look forward to continue to represent the Virginia horsemen and women, and work with all stakeholders as our racing and breeding programs in the state are growing and prospering,” said Byrne. “Virginia has a renowned history in the thoroughbred industry and our future is brighter than ever.” 

“Our Virginia Equine Alliance team has accomplished so much over the last 7 years, but we need to continue to keep our foot on the gas if we are going to see continued growth for our Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries,” added Easter. ” Jill has done a fantastic job heading up marketing for the VEA and I am so pleased that she is willing to also take on a roll with the VTA. With her marketing knowledge and passion for Virginia’s Thoroughbred industry, the VTA will be in very good hands.  This move will allow me to enhance my role as President of the Virginia Equine Alliance.  I can work even closer with Jeb Hannum (VEA Executive Director) to concentrate on the larger industry initiatives that will keep us moving forward into the future.”

“I’m pleased that Jill Byrne is taking on an even larger role in Virginia racing,” said Turner Kobayashi, VTA President and General Manager of Audley Farm Equine in Berryville. “She has tremendous experience and has been a major player for a long time. Her new role allows Debbie (Easter) to help in other important areas. They are both great leaders and we are lucky to have both these talented professionals to lead us into the future.”    

The Virginia Thoroughbred Association was organized in 1941 to cultivate the development of the Commonwealth’s heritage as a producer of quality Thoroughbred horses. Today, more than 80 years later, the VTA boasts a membership base of about 700 members and is responsible for implementing a number of successful bonus programs including the Virginia Breeders Fund and the Virginia Certified Residency program — which was instrumental in keeping the native industry not just afloat, but vibrant, after Colonial Downs initially ceased thoroughbred operations after the 2013 season.

The Certified Residency program, which started in 2017, requires horses to spend at least six consecutive months at a registered Virginia farm or training center before they turn three years of age. Since the program began, a total of 5,031 horses have participated and on average, each horse has stayed eight months in Virginia. Between 2018 and 2023, the program paid out a total of $14.6 million in bonuses and has had a total economic impact of $86.2 million, supporting 825 jobs in the Commonwealth.

The VEA is a non-profit, 501(c)6 organization which is comprised of the Virginia Harness Horse Association (VHHA), the Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, the Virginia Gold Cup Association and the VTA. The purpose of the VEA is to sustain, promote and expand the horse breeding and horse racing industries in Virginia. The VEA represents the interests of horsemen at meetings of the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Department of Agriculture, the Virginia Racing Commission along with other racing, horsemen and breeder associations.     

                                                                                                                  -30-

The Old Dominion Hounds Point to Point was held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Ben Venue farm in Washington, Virginia. The exciting day of racing featured 10 races, including 3 races sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association (NSA). Two of the point-to-point races had so many entries that they split into 3 & 2 divisions, respectively. The eight race was cancelled due to a lack of entries. leading to 12 competitions throughout the card.

The first race was an amateur/novice rider hurdle. For four-year olds and up going about 2 and a half miles over fences. This race was won by Lydford (GB) ridden by Even Dwan, owned by Maranto Manor, LLC and trained by Thomas Garner.

Second was the Hunter’s Rest maiden hurdle, for horses four and up who have never won over hurdles. Racing about two and a quarter miles. Ziggy Wiggy (IRE) was the winner for owner Mrs. S. K. Johnston, JR, and trainer Neil Morris. The 5-year-old mare was ridden by James O’Sullivan.

They ran a second division of this race that was won by Dream North, ridden by Dylan McDonagh for trainer Jack Fisher and owner Northwoods Stable.

With 29 entries in this condition, they had to split the Hunter’s Rest maiden into a third class which was won by Baseline Beater for owner Mrs. George L. Ohrstrom, Jr, and trainer Richard L. Valentine. The Kentucky bred gelding was ridden by Mell Boucher

The next event was the Old Dominion Hunt Cup for amateur & novice riders over foxhunter timbers. Similarly, too the Hunter’s Rest the race over filled and had to be split into 2 divisions the first of which was won by Bet the Pot for owner Vincent M Bonanni and trainer Neil Morris. The Pennsylvania bred gelding was ridden by Conor Tierney.

The second division scratched down to just one-horse Straw into Gold who was ridden by Sam Cockburn for owner Kinross farm and trainer Julie Gomena.

The first of the NSA sanctioned races was the fourth. A maiden hurdle race going 2 and a quarter mile, competing for a $30,000 purse. This race was won by Winning Spirit (GER) for owner Bonnie Rye Stables, and trainer Julie Gomena. The German 5-year-old was ridden by Gerard Galligan.

The fifth race was the Piedmont Equine NSA Maiden Hurdle, sponsored by the Virginia Equine Alliance. The $30,000 race was for horses four and up going two and a quarter miles. The race was won by Mission North notching another win on the card for owner Northwoods Stable, and trainer Jack Fisher. The Virginia-certified gelding was ridden by Graham Watters.

The next race The Meeting House Mountain Open Hurdle was not NSA sanctioned. The race was won by Madaket Stables LLC & The International Venture’s Going Country (IRE). The Irish gelding was ridden by Declan Carroll and trained by Keri Brion.

The seventh was the final race sanctioned by the NSA; the Leeds Don NSA Allowance Timber sponsored by the Virginia Equine Alliance going for $20,000. The race was won by Hard Strike trained by Todd McKenna and owned by Upland Partners. The winner was ridden by Gerard Galligan making it a double header for Gerard in NSA races on the card.

The eighth race the Aiken Classic restricted young adult flat race ended up scratching down to zero horses and did not end up being ran.

The ninth race was the High Thicket novice rider flat race for four-year-olds and up for novice riders, going a mile and a half on the flat turf. The race was won by Cadogan Place (GB) ridden by Mell Boucher, giving her two wins on the card. It was also a second win for owner Mrs. George L. Ohrstrom L. and trainer Richard L. Valentine.

The last race on the card was The Dark Horse Virginia-Bred or Virginia-Sired Flat races sponsored by the Viriginia Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association. The nightcap was won by Avalanche is Comin, ridden by Sarah Cundith for owner/trainer Jean L. Rofe.