In pari-mutuel wagering, 80% of a wagering pool (on average) is paid back to bettors while the remaining 20% is considered “takeout”. The takeout rate is the percentage of each wagering pool that is withheld by the track. This money is used to pay for many things including purses for races, for operating the facility and for profit to the track owner. Takeout is necessary in order to put on the show.

In Virginia, three other important industry entities receive a small statutory percentage of wagers placed as well. The Virginia Tech Vet School, Virginia Horse Industry Board and Virginia Horse Center each benefit. Between 2016 – 2019, the Horse Center received between $41,000 – $49,000 annually, made up from bets placed at live race venues, simulcast locations and from four on line betting providers.

Here’s a closer look at the latter of those three.

The Virginia Horse Center, based in Lexington and convenient to both I-81 and I-64, is an economic and cultural asset to both Rockbridge County and the Commonwealth. It is an important resource to the East-Atlantic competition circuit and it hosts all disciplines of equestrian sport, standing at the forefront of Virginia’s $1.2 billion equine community.

The Virginia Horse Center was responsible for $94.9 million in economic activity in 2019, supporting 896 jobs..

Their mission is to provide a world class facility hosting regional, national and international equestrian events. Their vision statement speaks of providing a unique, bucolic landmark to honor and celebrate the timeless, special bond between mankind and the horse through safe, fair and spirited equestrian competition.

The Virginia Horse Center is operated by a nonprofit foundation that heavily relies on donations to operate and thrive.

Prior to the Covid-19 related business/economic shutdown, they were scheduled to host 22 events between late March and June 10 — the end date of Governor Northam’s Executive Order. During that time, they hoped to show off a slate of improvements to the complex that ranged from installation of large fans and new lighting in the coliseum to a renovation of Barn 1, a new and vastly expanded dressage ring, major aesthetic and green space enhancements, and a complete IT overhaul.

The Center features a 4,000 seat Coliseum that has played host to wrestling matches, dog agility shows and polo matches in addition to horse shows.

“This winter, we had eight contractors here at any one time,” said Horse Center GM Leroy Troxell. “Normally the off season is a slower time but this year we were very busy. It was a nice challenge to work with all the contactors and make sure the projects all progressed within their respective timelines.”

GM Leroy Troxell has overseen a number of recent renovation projects.

Troxell is still fairly new in his GM role though he has spent eleven years at the Horse Center. He took a non-traditional route to land in his current position. “I retired as a Lieutenant from the Department of Corrections after 23 1/2 years but had a family with two daughters going to college, so I needed to keep working,” he said. “I started as a part time security officer here in 2010, went full time a year later, got promoted to Assistant Chief of Security then Chief of Security.” He held that position for four years before taking over as GM in 2019.

“This wasn’t the plan when I started here,” he laughed, “But I enjoy it. It’s a challenge and it’s exciting. Every weekend is something different. Getting to deal with different show managers, different horse breeds and different sets of needs for every event makes it fun.”

Wiley is one of ten outdoor arenas at the Lexington complex.

The Horse Center encompasses 600 acres and features a 4,000 seat Coliseum, a cross country eventing course, four schooling rings, four campgrounds, eight barns, 743 horse stalls and 800 parking spots along with a Welcome Center, concessions building and other amenities.

“This place has a huge economic impact on the local economy,” he said. “Before the Horse Center was here, Lexington was known as a small college town with a few hotels but not much going on. Now, there are lots of jobs, hotels and restaurants. Places like Walmart and Tractor Supply came in after the Horse Center was established and that’s where horse people go now to get supplies and shavings.”

The newest outdoor arena at the complex is located in front of Wiley.

Debbie Easter is President of the Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) and Executive Director of the Virginia Thoroughbred Association (VTA) and is an advocate of Horse Center funding. “The VEA is unique in that we are bringing horse groups together in order to grow the horse industry and agriculture in Virginia,” she said. “The horse industry as a whole has a large economic impact in the Commonwealth and while the VEA is mainly a horse racing organization, we understand the economic importance of other equine activities in the state and want them to flourish.”

A total of 743 stalls are available but if the size of a show dictates, another 300 temporary stalls can be set up.

“If you just look at the economic growth around the Horse Center over the last twenty years you can understand how important horses are to a locality like Lexington,” she continued. “As much business as the Horse Center brings to the region, they have to have funds to continually upgrade so they can stay competitive with similar facilities in surrounding states. Since there are no state funds to help keep them competitive, I think that racing and the VEA need to support the Horse Center and as Historical Horse Racing (HHR) revenues grow, that we are able to do more.”

Besides the Coliseum, there are five other indoor arenas on the property.

Besides the obvious equine-related competitions and shows they host, the Horse Center also looks for non-traditional events to help fill the annual calendar that can bring in additional participants, spectators and revenue. In January, they hosted the BMX Blue Ridge Nationals (bike event) for the first time, and it took place over a three day period. “I think we filled up every hotel within a 75 mile radius,” Troxell said. “We’re always looking for something extra in the wintertime. Canine agility shows bring in 300-400 dogs every January and February. We fielded a tremendous amount of phone calls in the past year from people looking to book shows and some of them are over multiple days. Many of them are new events we’ve never had before.”

With 600 acres, the Horse Center offers a picturesque setting with the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop.

Location is something Troxell and his staff have going for them. “We are situated nicely in between the north and south and right off major highways,” he said. “You can get here easily from New York and other Mid-Atlantic states. We’re also a good layover spot if we don’t have a show going.”

New 24 foot fans in the Coliseum will provide more of a climate controlled environment.

Even with the great location, Troxell noted there is competition for shows from event sites like the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina. “We’ve been here for over 30 years and continue to build and upgrade to make the Horse Center competitive with everyone else. People like it here because it’s not spread out — everything is close knit and condensed. Between the four campgrounds, you can walk pretty much anywhere on the grounds. We have security around the clock and a set of rules all guests must adhere to. But our philosophy is, we want you to follow the rules and enjoy it here, and once you leave through the front gates, you can’t wait to come back.”

The recent Covid-19 pandemic certainly took its toll on the early spring Point-to-Point and sanctioned steeplechase meets scheduled in March, April and May, but as talk heats up about re-entry into a “new normal”, light can be seen at the end of the tunnel. Plenty of equine racing action is scheduled in the Commonwealth beginning in June and extending all the way through November. Whether we are able to run our scheduled races  will depend how quickly Governor Northam relaxes the Covid-19 restrictions.  (As of May 1st, it is still unclear when we will be racing in Virginia again. Ongoing talks with the Administration will determine if the scheduled racing at Middleburg and The Gold Cup will be happen. If allowed to go forward both meets likely will be run without spectators. Updated information will be posted as soon as we receive it.)

The first sanctioned event on the revised slate is the Middleburg Spring Races, Virginia’s oldest steeplechase. Established in 1921, the 100th running will take place Saturday June 13 at Glenwood Park. Middleburg’s traditional spring date had been the third Saturday in April. For additional race details, go to Middleburgspringraces.com.

Deposit was one of two sons of Gio Ponti to win allowance races at Great Meadow on the 2019 Gold Cup under card. Photo by Douglas Lees.

The 95th running of the Virginia Gold Cup Races are now scheduled two weeks later at Great Meadow in The Plains on Saturday June 27. Originally scheduled for May 2 in conjunction with the Kentucky Derby simulcast, the new date will not feature “Run for the Roses” betting since that has been pushed back to September 5. The Gold Cup traditionally has drawn 70,000 people at its annual spring renewal on the first Saturday in May. Tickets are on sale at vagoldcup.com.

A trio of Point-to-Point meets were cancelled — the Piedmont Fox Hounds, Orange County Hounds and Loudon Hunt — but three were rescheduled. The Middleburg Point-to-Point is now June 7 followed by the Old Dominion Hounds on September 12 and the Blue Ridge Hunt on September 19.

Menacing Dennis (ridden by Shane Crimin) and Feisty (ridden by Jacob Roberts) compete in the Orange County Point-to-Points’s Open Hurdle in 2019. Photo by Douglas Lees.

Pari-mutuel thoroughbred racing is back for a six week stand at Colonial Downs beginning July 23. The 18-day season will continue through August 29 every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 5:30 PM. In its “Racing Revival” comeback last summer, 90% of the races were contested over the Secretariat Turf Course, widest grass surface in the country. An annual controlled burn of the turf oval took place March 30. Virginia Derby Day, the annual season highlight, will close out the meet on the 29th and feature four grass stakes. In addition to the Grade 3 Derby, the Virginia Oaks, Kitten’s Joy and Rosie’s Stakes will be carded that evening.

#6 Charmn Charlie Ray, who leads early, went on to win the first race back at Colonial Downs last August after a six year absence. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

Harness racing will return to the Shenandoah County Fair with four programs on September 2 – 5. The sport has a 100-plus year history at the Fairgrounds in Woodstock. The Shenandoah Downs pari-mutuel meet will follow at the same venue from September 18 – October 17. Racing will take place Fridays at 3:30 PM and Saturdays at 2 PM. A special card is also planned for Sunday October 4. The annual $300,000 Virginia Harness “Day of Champions” program will be held October 3.

The fifth annual  Shenandoah Downs pari-mutuel harness meet will be held in Woodstock this fall.

A four-pack of sanctioned steeplechase events will round out the fall calendar. The Foxfield races, located just outside of Charlottesville, kick it off on Sunday October 4. Tickets and details are at foxfieldraces.com/fall. The Middleburg Fall races are up next on Saturday October 10 with the International Gold Cup card two weeks later on Saturday October 24. The Montpelier Hunt Races, located four miles west of the Town of Orange, close out the 2020 calendar on Saturday November 7. Tickets and more details are at montpelierraces.org.

The following appeared on The Racing Biz website.

Fasig-Tipton will offer online bidding at all its future live auctions, the company announced today. The platform will be available for Fasig-Tipton’s next scheduled auction, the Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, to be held June 29-30 in Timonium, Maryland.

“The addition of online bidding to our live auctions is a service we are pleased to offer,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “At no other time has this service been more crucial or needed. As we all work to conduct business in the current COVID-19 environment of adjusted social norms, online bidding ensures the best possible marketplace for our buyers and sellers in 2020. Looking beyond 2020, we envision this service being an integral component of all future auctions.”

Hip 150, a son of Jump Start, brought a top bid of $130,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling sale. Photo by The Racing Biz.

As an additional service to buyers, the company will also further expand its long-established phone bidding program for the remainder of 2020. The service allows prospective buyers – who are not on site at an auction – to bid on horses through a member of Fasig-Tipton’s staff.

Fasig-Tipton will also launch a timed, online only auction platform at a future date, when appropriate. The platform will complement the company’s live auction lineup, offering buyers and sellers additional transaction opportunities that fall outside of the traditional live auction calendar.

“In the world that we live in, companies need to be flexible and willing to adapt,” continued Browning. “Fasig-Tipton will always seek to be innovative and ready to adjust our sales models to best serve the marketplace.”

While tracks, OTBs and locally — Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums — began shutting down throughout the month of March, Virginia-based horseplayers had only one wagering option left as effects from Covid-19 took a toll on the sport. Four on-line betting partner companies continued to operate and display available product, which diminished greatly though, as March rolled into April.

Despite less tracks to wager of late, first quarter handle from the four combined is up 9.3% over the same three month period a year ago. In March alone, handle was up 2.5% at $7,587,1275 compared with $7,430,656 in 2019. TVG was top performer for the month with $3,927,960 in handle while Twinspires was next with $2,217,722. Xpressbet took third spot with $1,126,698 and NYRABets, newest of the four, handled $314,793 from Virginia residents.

Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in Vinton closed on March 16 due to Covid-19.

For the quarter, $21,735,026 was wagered versus $19,880,582 a year ago. And that 2019 figure was 5.34% over 2018’s three month tally. TVG is trending highest of the four so far with handle up 17% over 2019. They have accepted $11,482,621 in bets in 2020 compared with $9,744,527 a year ago. NYRABets, lowest performer of the four, still is up 84% with a handle of $818,615 this year versus $445,004. Xpress Bet’s numbers are up 4.5% while Twin Spires is off 6%.

“Derby” Bill Watson is a former Colonial Downs on-camera handicapper and his selections have been heard for 20 years on the weekly “Off To The Races” radio show, powered now by The Racing Biz. He is also an avid horseplayer. Watson finds the on line play can offer a similar experience as spending a day playing horses with his friends at an OTB. “Facebook allows small groups to enjoy the sport in the same framework of a table at the track or OTB with a more focused limited wagering experience,” he said. “A few friends of mine will all share text exchanges back and forth as we bet the day’s races on line to see who likes which horses. We’ll compare notes with each other that way.”

Buckets OTB in Chesapeake is one of four VA-Horseplay sites in the Commonwealth.

“I think the quarantine has driven some sports watchers & bettors to horse wagering,” he added. “Oaklawn is the top track running thru Arkansas Derby Day on May 2. They have solid 10-12 race cards.” All sources handle on Oaklawn’s card April 11 was $16.9 million, a new record.  Other U.S. tracks currently running include Tampa Bay Downs, Gulfstream Park, Will Rogers Downs and Fonner Park.

On line handle may up but Historical Horse Racing (HHR) wagering and horse race simulcasting numbers (at four Rosie’s sites and the four VA-Horseplay OTBs) is off dramatically due to Covid-19. Those sites shut down March 16 and comparison numbers to the month prior highlight the absence of play. HHR handle for February was $205,324,358 while in March with just half the days, it was $103,652,921. A total of 2,150 terminals are in operation at locations in New Kent, Richmond, Hampton and Vinton.

OTB handle in February was $3,216,482 while the March total was $1,637,297. The Buckets OTB site in Chesapeake was the top performer with $357,457 in handle while the Breakers OTB in Henrico was next with $332,885.

Powhatan Plantation in King George is one of many Virginia farms/training centers that is wrapping their arms around the Virginia Thoroughbred Association (VTA) and Virginia Harness Horse Association (VHHA) Certified Residency bonus initiative programs, which bring young horses into the state to be raised for a six month period of time before they begin racing.

Located 16 miles east of Fredericksburg and three miles west of Route 301, Powhatan is a 1,000 acre farm that was built in 1829. The property was purchased in 1952 by Raymond Guest, a former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, who owned, raced and bred thoroughbred horses in England, Ireland, France and the U.S.. Formerly a major agricultural center that traded with ships from England from its dock on the Rappahannock River, Guest designed and laid out a farm upon purchase based on his interest in thoroughbreds.

His racing resume is impressive. Guest is one of three horse owners in history to have won both the Epsom Derby (with Larkspur in ’62) and the Grand National at Aintree (steeplechase with L’Escargot in ’75). In the States, his Tom Rolfe won the Preakness Stakes in 1965 — with jockey Ron Turcotte aboard — and was named American Champion 3 Year Old Male Horse that year. In 1958, Guest served as President of the Virginia Thoroughbred Association. He was a past Chairman of the National Steeplechase & Hunt and also played polo in the “Golden Age of Polo” and was inducted into that sport’s Hall of Fame.

Guest passed away in 1991 and his son Achille now lives in the property’s main house which is currently undergoing renovations. The Plantation property itself includes a 3/4 mile oval training track, a main training barn, broodmare barn and a yearling barn. 600 of the acres feature well fenced pastures and paddocks. A long airstrip that divides the expansive complex allows horse owners to fly in. There are currently 210 horses on the grounds now, all of which are polo horses except for 13 which are recent standardbred arrivals courtesy of that breed’s new residency program.

Holly Layne is Farm Manager at the Potomac Plantation. A Charlottesville native, she has been there three years now and stays quite busy boarding professional polo horses from top ten players and teams. In the past couple months, they have added standardbreds to the mix.

Layne has a staff to tend to the horses and maintain the large property. Her assistant Gena Nelson lives in a house on the grounds. Her son Wyatt and niece Lucy help with cleaning stalls. A team of four maintenance workers do everything like fixing fences, cutting trees, weed eating, mowing, bush hogging, dragging and fixing equipment.

“It’s great to have the extra help here now,” she said. “For a while, it was just Jena and myself. That was it for a long time. We both live at work and work from home so we’re always here.”

When Layne arrived in spring of 2017, there were 36 horses on the grounds. In 2019, that number rose to 300. “That increase is due to a lot of hard work. I always make myself available to owners, network with them and make them feel like their horses are well cared for,” she said. “We have the staff to do it. Every horse is checked after twice a day. We have a hands on approach. It’s a lot of work but every horse on the farm gets touched and eyeballed. They get the best care we can give.”

Layne goes out her way to help owners whether it be sending them pictures and videos of their horses, getting health certificates or providing overnight accommodations for drivers who ship horses in and out. “Positive word of mouth has been the biggest help with advertising Powhatan,” she added. “I stay in contact with the owners. I know who all the horses are and where they are. Owners can contact me any time for whatever their needs are.”

The three years spent at Powhatan have been a learning experience for Layne because she never played polo or even watched a match before arriving in King George. “I grew up riding hunter ponies then started doing speed events like team penning and barrel racing,” she said. “I managed my own farm, bred and raised quarter horses and paints and pretty much worked for myself like most breeders. I do have a variety of experience,” she added. “I’ve come through the ranks and have worked with some really good mentors. There’s been a lot to take in and learn here.”

For more information on the Powhatan Plantation or boarding prices for horses in the thoroughbred and standardbred Certified Residency programs, call 540-775-4434 or e-mail powhatanplantation1@gmail.com.

Here are several other photos from the Powhatan visit.

For the past two-weeks, a different Virginia Breeders Awards winner has been announced through this website and via the VTA’s facebook page.  To access the other award winning announcements, scroll back thru the “News” archive. The award recipients were to be recognized during a reception Friday June 19 at Great Meadow. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, the awards’ reception has been postponed. A new date will be announced as soon as we have the okay to reschedule.

The final award winner is 2019 Horse of the Year – Mr. Buff.

The 6-year-old Virginia-Sired gelding, who won five black-type stakes last year on the NYRA circuit, is a New York-bred by Friend or Foe who stands at Robin Mellen’s Smallwood Farm in Crozet.

Virginia-Sired Mr. Buff wins his third straight stakes race Feb. 22 at Aqueduct. Photo courtesy of Adam Coglianese.

Owned and bred by Chester and Mary Broman — who have been among New York’s leading breeders for more than 20 years — Mr. Buff won the Jazil, Saginaw, Evan Shipman and Alex Robb Stakes along with the Empire Classic Handicap. He also competed in a pair of Grade I’s — the Clark Stakes at Churchill and the Woodward at Saratoga — and bankrolled $455,750 for the year.

Mr. Buff started off a successful 2019 campaign by winning the Jazil Stakes. Photo by Elsa Lorieul.

The John Kimmel trainee is already 2-for-2 in 2020 and with a February 22 win in the Haynesfield Stakes, saw his earnings soar to $1,051,536. Mr. Buff is out of the graded stakes placed Speightstown mare Speightful Affair, an $80,000 purchase at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February Mixed Sale.

Friend or Foe stands at Robin Mellen’s Smallwood Farm in Crozet.

Although Friend Or Foe never won in graded company, he did earn a title as champion New York-bred 3-year-old colt and ran four triple digit Beyer Speed Figures with a top of 109. The Bromans have continued to send Friend or Foe a few mares every year. So far, from four crops of racing age he has sired 21 foals, 11 of which have started and seven have won, Mr. Buff being the standout.

The following appeared on the website www.nationalsteeplechase.com April 8 and is a letter from NSA President Dr. Al Griffin

Dear Steeplechase Family,

The members of the National Steeplechase Association Board of Directors and I hope that you are safe and well in these most difficult of times. None of us have experienced anything like this coronavirus pandemic in our lifetimes. We have all been affected in so many ways by this global crisis. We are small business owners, horse owners, trainers, and race-meet officials. You have questions, we know, and we want to answer them to the extent that we can in a rapidly changing environment. Beginning with this letter, we will keep you abreast of what the NSA is doing, and hoping to do, in the coming weeks and months.

Dr. Al Griffin is President of the National Steeplechase Association.

Our director of racing, Bill Gallo, has been in constant contact with our horsemen and our race meets. He is working diligently to put together a strong, well-balanced schedule for June that serves the needs of as many of our horsemen as possible. He also is working to put together a summer schedule, although the race tracks that play host to our races, especially Saratoga Race Course, have yet to solidify their plans. Like us, these racetracks do not know when they will be able to run and to what extent.

We also recognize that our horsemen, the owners and trainers, are in a difficult financial position with no racing and thus no race purses. They are taking care of their horses and doing so without purse income. We are working to develop a knowledge of the federal relief programs that were recently enacted, and especially the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses. Our general manager, Peter McGivney, is exploring the program for the NSA, and Communications Director Don Clippinger is evaluating it for his company and other clients. Do not hesitate to call on them if you have questions. Horsemen’s groups have had webinars on the federal programs and have welcomed steeplechase participation.

We also are concerned for our jockeys, who depend upon racing for a great part of their income. While we have postponed some of our meets, all National Hunt races in England and Ireland have been canceled for the rest of the season. We also have a very promising crop of young riders coming along, some of them third- or fourth-generation steeplechase participants. The loss of almost all point to point races this season has deprived these very capable young riders of the valuable experience necessary to graduate to the NSA apprentice ranks, despite our best efforts to create these opportunities at race meets that also eventually had to cancel. We are still trying to create opportunities within the context of a very limited schedule.

Our race meets also have suffered. To date, we have had 11 spring cancellations, and those meets have fixed and continuing expenses that must be paid. The race meets that have postponed until June are confronting unanswerable questions. Will they be able to run? Will their volunteers be available? Will their usual crowds attend. We also are concerned for our race meets’ charitable beneficiaries; many of them depend on the meets’ contributions to balance their budgets. Several of them are hospital systems, and they are under great professional and financial stress now as they treat the growing number of patients afflicted with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. There are a lot of questions and no easy answers.

What has brought me great joy during these tumultuous times is the enthusiasm, dedication and understanding displayed by everyone in the NSA constituency as we have tried to re-invent this Spring season on a daily, and sometimes hourly basis. This task will continue to be challenging, but the steeplechase community is an extended family, and we will attack it with perseverance and resolve, both for what remains of the Spring and Summer schedule and beyond.

I urge all of you to take the necessary steps to stay safe. Please observe the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for social distancing and, more recently, wearing face masks when out in public. Please stay healthy, and we look forward to seeing you on that bright day when steeplechase racing resumes.

Sincerely,
Dr. Al Griffin Jr.
President

The following speared on the MATCH Series website on April 8, 2020. It was written by Tom LaMarra. Colonial Downs had been scheduled to host a round of five $100,000 MATCH Series stakes races on Saturday August 15. 

The partners in the highly acclaimed Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships Series (MATCH), during an April 7 meeting, agreed to cancel the 2020 edition of the Series given the ongoing uncertainty of racing schedules and concerns about available purse money in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) shutdown.

The Series, which has established itself as a popular part of the Mid-Atlantic racing calendar, was set to debut for its third straight season with a split schedule at Laurel Park and Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races on April 18. But live racing in the region is on hold for the foreseeable future, and with the Series stakes scheduled for Preakness weekend also up in the air, there appeared to be few good options.

Page McKenney wins a MATCH Series race in 2018 at Monmouth.

“Obviously, we are all disappointed, but it was the right thing to do,” said MATCH Series creator and THA Chairman Alan M. Foreman. “No one wanted to compromise the quality of the event and the brand we are building. MATCH is a luxury, and the monies contributed by the horsemen’s organizations, racetracks and breeders organizations to support the Series can be better used for the benefit of day-to-day racing when live racing returns. We have the template ready to go for 2021 and will be back bigger and better than ever.”

The 2020 Series, the schedule for which was developed in a spirit of cooperation among racing stakeholders in six states, was expected to the best since the Series returned in 2018. Two new partner tracks who were members of the Series when it debuted in 1997–Colonial Downs and Charles Town–along with their respective horsemen’s associations and breeders’ organizations, joined the fold; a fifth division was added; and the Series was expanded from five to seven big-event racing programs.

The MATCH Series indicated April 7 that it hopes the Series can return in 2021, using the 2020 schedule as the template for 2021.

The MATCH Series is an innovative regional racing series, and the only one of its kind in horse racing, that combines rich stakes and bonuses for participating owners and trainers who compete over a seven-month span. Horses competing in MATCH earn points based on participation and order of finish in each series race, and the leading point earners in each of the series divisions, as well as the overall owner and trainer point leaders, win lucrative bonuses.

The Series partners are the Charles Town HBPA, Delaware THA, Maryland THA, New Jersey THA, Pennsylvania THA, Pennsylvania HBPA and Virginia HBPA; Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Colonial Downs, Delaware Park, the Maryland Jockey Club (Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course), Monmouth Park, Parx Racing and Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course; and the Delaware Certified Thoroughbred Program, Maryland Horse Breeders Association, Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey, Virginia Thoroughbred Association and West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

Chowda, a 3-year-old Virginia-Certified colt, who was one of 108 horses to win a bonus award in the first quarter of 2020 as part of the VTA’s residency program initiative.

The New York bred earned a capped reward of $10,000 — highest of any — from a victory in the $100,000 Gander Stakes (black-type) at Aqueduct where he was sent off at 15-1 odds. The Gary Sciacca trainee is 2-for-2 this year and overall, has bankrolled $142,793 from six starts. He scored at Aqueduct previously in a January allowance race where he earned a $9,240 reward, and in a maiden special weight last November. Out of the Chief Seattle mare, Salty Lil Sis, Chowda is owned by Eddie F’s Racing. The Emcee colt spent six months at Woodberry Payne’s Ingleside Training Center before he started competing.

Chowda wins the $100,000 Gander Stakes at Aqueduct Feb. 16. Photo by Coglianese Photography.

Next biggest award went to New York bred Moonlight Now, a 4-year-old Tiznow gelding. His $8,250 bonus came from a $60,000 maiden special weight win at Aqueduct February 20. Moonlight Now is out of Moonlightandbeauty by Capote and is owned by Albert Fried, Jr. He spent his Virginia residency at Paula Parsons’ Centennial Farms in Middleburg.

Moonlight Now (inside) edges Clever Fellow in a maiden special weight at Aqueduct Feb. 20. Photo by Coglianese Photography.

Wild Banker collected an identical reward via a similar $60,000 maiden special weight race at Aqueduct January 24. The New York bred, a 3-year-old son of Central Banker, reached the winners circle for the first time in three starts. He is owned by Michael Dini and Al Moorehouse and is trained by Michael Tannuzzo. Wild Banker is an Eagle Point Farm (Karen Godsey, Ashland) graduate.

Wild Banker collected a $8,250 bonus for winning a maiden special weight Jan. 24 at Aqueduct. Photo courtesy of Adam Coglianese.

Maryland-bred Follow The Dog won a $53,000 allowance race by a head over Hero’s Hope January 9 at Laurel and bankrolled a $6,250 reward. Owned by Waldorf Racing Stables and trained by Phil Schoenthal, the 4-year-old Bandbox colt earned his third program bonus and first of 2020. He won the Maryland Million Nursery Stakes in 2018 and has career purse winnings of $159,782. Follow The Dog resided at Ingleside for six months prior to his first start.

Follow The Dog captures a $53,000 allowance race at Laurel Jan. 9. Photo by Jim McCue.

Of the six other horses that earned an award over $5,000, four are New York-breds. Bassman Dave, a 4-year-old Big Brown gelding, won a $36,000 allowance race February 28 while Left Leaning Lucy, a 3-year-old The Lumber Guy filly, took a $41,000 maiden claimer February 21. Abraxan,a 4-year-old Forty Tales filly, was best in a $36,000 claimer February 2 and Fair Lassie, a 4-year-old Dublin filly, reached the winners circle in a $37,000 claimer March 27. All the triumphs came at Aqueduct. The first two were raised at Ingleside while the latter two were at Brooke Royster’s Chance Farm and Jean Rofe’s Racing at Rokeby.

Kentucky-bred Always Something is best in a $49,000 allowance at Laurel March 7. Photo by Jim McCue.

The final two are respective Kentucky and West Virginia-breds. Always Something, a 3-year-old Oxbow filly who captured a maiden special weight at Colonial Downs last August, won a $49,000 allowance March 9 at Laurel. Chiefs Kingdom, a 4-year-old Our Entourage filly, was best in the $35,000 Valentines Day Overnight Stakes at Charles Town on February 14. Owned and bred by David Bloom, she has won six career races including a trio of consecutive allowance wins last September, October and November. Their residencies were spent at Horseshoe Hill and Eagle Point Farms.

Chiefs Kingdom prevails in the Valentines Day Overnight Stakes at Charles Town. Photo by Coady Photography.

Of the 108 wins by Certified horses in the first quarter, 18 came at Laurel, 18 at Penn National, 12 at Aqueduct, 1 at Parx and the balance at Charles Town. For more information on the program and a list of participating farms/training centers, visit vabred.org.

The annual Virginia Breeders Awards ceremony will be held Friday June 19 at Great Meadow, the evening before the rescheduled Virginia Gold Cup Races on June 20. The 14 award winners were announced over a two week period and can be seen by scrolling through the “News” section of this website.

Top Virginia Breeder – William Backer Revocable Estate. The Backer Estate’s 2019 resume is most impressive — a total of 21 victories, three stakes wins including a Grade I score, and $124,335 in Virginia Breeders Fund bonus monies. Out for a Spin, winner of the Grade I Ashland Stakes at Keeneland, was already named Top Virginia-Bred/Sired 3-Year-Old Filly while Ferdinanda, winner of the Brookmeade Stakes at Colonial Downs, was named Top Older Turf male. Tryon Summer captured the Nellie Mae Stakes at Colonial as well and finished second to Ferdinanda in the Brookmeade. The trio bankrolled respective purse monies of $363,610, $141,460 and $100,045 last year. Four of their other horses had multiple win seasons in 2019 — Buckys Pick, Gio Lemon, Hilltop Harmony and First Talent.

Mrs. William Backer of Smitten Farm accepts the award for 2018 Breeder of the Year.

Top Virginia-Based Trainer – Neil Morris. The English born trainer has been based in Middleburg for over 25 years now and his horses have amassed career purse earnings of $5.7 million. In 2019, he had 19 wins, 28 runner-up finishes and 30 thirds, good for a bankroll of $539,541 from 167 starts. His Dapper Dan, who was named Top Virginia-Bred Over Fences, won the Steeplethon at Great Meadow during the fall International Gold Cup card and was second in the spring edition. He also won twice each with Family Tree, Junonia, Catauga County, Shrove Tuesday and Virginia-bred Gio Lemon. Bred by the William Backer Trust, the 5-year-old Gio Ponti gelding broke his maiden at Charles Town in April then captured a claiming race at Timonium in August. Morris has had four Virginia Gold Cup winners including Zanclus in the 2018 edition. That year, Joe Clancy noted that Morris was the only trainer on the planet to have a horse win at a distance of 4 1/2 furlongs (at Charles Town) and at four miles (Gold Cup distance).

Trainer Neil Morris is shown after a win at Great Meadow. Photo by Douglas Lees.