Red hot 3-year-old filly Finite is part owned by Virginia Thoroughbred Association Executive Director Debbie Easter. Follow her progress here as the Kentucky Oaks nears!

Ron Winchell, Thomas Reiman, William Dickson and Deborah Easter’s Finite now owns back-to-back victories on the Fair Grounds trail to the Kentucky Oaks, defeating 2019 champion juvenile filly British Idiom (4-5 favorite) by 4 3/4 lengths in Saturday’s Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes. The 3-year-old Munnings filly (5-2 second choice), ridden by Ricardo Santana, Jr. for trainer Steve Asmussen, ran 1 1/16 miles over the fast main track in 1:43.97.

“I think the last race put us in this position,” said Asmussen. “This race has obviously been a producer of really nice fillies and I think we have something to work with now with her. She’s always been a really game filly and has always showed a lot of heart. We won the Rachel with Untapable a few years ago then won the Fair Grounds Oaks and were fortunate enough to win the Kentucky Oaks, so we’re hoping this filly can stay sound and keep running well and hopefully follow that same path.”

The victory earns Finite 50 points toward the Kentucky Oaks, adding to the 10 she won last month in the Silverbulletday and the 10 from her G2 Golden Rod victory as a 2-year-old. Finite now tops the Oaks leaderboard with 70 points, while Breeders’ Cup winner British Idiom is second with 50 points.

British Idiom’s jockey, Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, said: “We were second best but I think she ran a good race and Finite has been running consistently, we’ve been off since Breeders’ Cup so she needed this race. she has been running more lately. My horse ran such a good race and I think next time will be a different story.”

Breaking from the outside in the seven-filly field, Finite rushed up to press the pace in the early going but was content to settle in third heading into the backstretch. British Idiom was back along the rail in sixth around the first turn, while His Glory ran out fractions of :24.20 and :47.97 on the lead.

2/15/2020 – Finite and jockey Ricardo Sanrtana, Jr. pull away to win the 40th running of the Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

Rounding the far turn, Finite drew even with His Glory while British Idiom was fanned three-wide under Javier Castellano. When British Idiom faltered slightly at the head of the lane, Finite kept on battling against His Glory. In the final furlong, Finite kicked away convincingly to win by over five lengths, while British Idiom dug in late to nab the place over Swiss Skydiver. Tempers Rising finished fourth.

“She was really ready and cranked for today,” said Santana. “I knew turning for home I had a lot of horse under me. She responded right when I asked her and she’s just such a fighter.”

Bred in Kentucky by co-owner Winchell Thoroughbreds, Finite is a fourth-generation homebred out of the multiple stakes-winning Tapit mare Remit. The filly brought $200,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old in training sale, and broke her maiden at third asking at Kentucky Downs. The Rachel Alexandra is her fifth win in a row, improving her overall record to five wins and two seconds from seven starts for earnings of over $630,000.

The Virginia Thoroughbred Association’s Residency program hit a new gear in 2019 as $1,357,730 in bonus monies were distributed from 338 victories at tracks in the Mid-Atlantic region. 156 different owners, who had a horse spend at least six months at a registered farm in the Commonwealth prior to December 31st of their two-year-old year, shared in the monies.

Hero’s Man won his fifth start of 2019 December 18 at Charles Town. Photo by Coady Photography.

Top bonus earnings owner was Taylor Mountain Farm who racked up $75,781 from 20 wins, all at Charles Town and all trained by James Casey. Their Hero’s Man scored five wins which accounted for $18,472 of the total bonuses. The 4-year-old Charitable Man gelding has finished in the top three in 10 of 11 career starts and has bankrolled $125,504. He started 2020 with an allowance win January 22. Taylor Mountain’s largest bonus check came via Boundtobebad, a 3-year-old Windsor Castle filly who is 3-for-4 with wins in a maiden special weight, the West Virginia Futurity and the $75,000 Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders Classic Stakes.

Tass wins November 7 at Aqueduct. Photo courtesy of Adam Coglianese.

Second leading bonus earning owner was Matthew Schera with $54,952. His 4-year-old fillies include Tass, a Temple City Kentucky-bred and Zonda, a Scat Daddy Maryland-bred, who bagged three wins each and scored maximum bonus checks of $10,000. The former prevailed in the $125,00 Maryland Million Ladies Stakes while the latter connected in a $90,000 allowance test at Aqueduct. Both fillies are trained by James Lawrence. Schera collected nine wins total and those came at 7 different tracks.

Zonda captured the Maryland Million Ladies Stakes at Laurel October 19 and earned a $10,000 Certified bonus check. Photo by Jim McCue.

Larry Johnson’s ten wins and $49,087 in bonus earnings put him in third spot among owners. Maryland-breds Sky Magician, Thatsthewaytodoit and Never Enough Time each connected twice. The former is a 4-year-old Street Magician gelding who competed just three times in 2019. Overall, the Mike Trombetta trainee has three wins and four seconds from nine starts and earnings of $132,540. Johnson bred the trio who were all raised at his Legacy Farm in Bluemont.

The training track at Legacy Frarm on a recent winter morning.

Melinda Golden’s six wins all came from a single horse and translated into $34,723 in bonus monies. Parisian Diva, co-winningest Virginia-Certified horse in 2019, scored the double hat trick at Charles Town. The 4-year-old Freedom Child West Virginia-bred filly bankrolled a $8,943 bonus check from the Tourism Office Breeders Classic Stakes and $7,500 paydays from the Sylvia Bishop Memorial and Its Binn Too Long Stakes. Stacey Viands trains Parisian Diva who has accumulated $242,170 in earnings.

Parisian Diva wins her sixth race of the year October 12 at Charles Town. Photo by Coady Photography.

Rounding out the top five was Pewter Stable who earned $34,080 from seven scores. Pennsylvania-bred Word on a Wing reached the winners circle three times at Parx in respective maiden special weight and two allowance efforts. The 4-year-old Windhill gelding has earned $97,310. Maryland-bred Adreamgoesonforver had been winless in her first six starts but connected back-to-back late in the year at Penn National. The pair are trained by Kathleen Demasi.

Fish To Fry wins her third of six races on May 4 at Penn National. Photo courtesy of BND Photography.

Owners O’Sullivan Farms, Erin McClellan & Judith Barrett, and David Bloom all eclipsed the $20,000 mark in bonus winnings. O’Sullivan’s $28,611 came from nine wins. Nico, Firebird and Unruly Julie won two each between the Mountaineer and Charles Town ovals. The McClellan/Barrett combo rode their Pennsylvania-bred filly Fish To Fry to six wins, which tied her for most Certified victories with Parisian Diva. The daughter of Well Spoiled captured the six-pack at Penn National and accumulated $21,135 in incentive monies. Bloom parlayed six wins into $20,017. West Virginia-bred Chiefs Kingdom prevailed on four different occasions at Charles Town while Berry Strong won twice.

Nico wins December 6 at Charles Town. Photo by Coady Photography.

If you haven’t been to the Middleburg Training Center in recent times, you may not recognize it today — in a good way!

The 149 acre facility in Loudoun County is nearing the finish line of a multi-million dollar upgrade courtesy of owner Chuck Kuhn, a Purcelville, Virginia businessman who purchased the property in 2017. The 7/8ths mile track was fitted with a new Duralock race rail and all barns have received or are receiving a facelift. Chuck’s son Steve (pictured below) is GM of the Center and has overseen the renovations.

“It’s been pretty rewarding, said Steve. “At the beginning, it seemed like a never ending, impossible task but now, I feel good about the progress we’ve made. We tackled the barn roofs, siding, gutters and their overall cosmetic appearance. The biggest renovation challenge has been figuring out the underground infrastructure which has been in place for 60 years or so. There are no schematics or maps available, so trying to find everything has been difficult. It’s got good bones though,” he added. “Now we’re getting to know the people and tenants that train horses here and making sure their requirements are met. ”

Renovation work to 10 of the 11 barns on the property has been completed. The final one (shown below) should be completed by spring.

Kieran Norris, who along with Madison Meyers, operates Ballyerin Racing which has been based at Middleburg for the last two years. Norris, who was born into dairy farming in his native Ireland, has been based in the U.S. now for the past eight years.

Together, Norris and Meyers have 17 horses at the Middleburg Training Center and another five at a nearby farm they rent which they rotate horses in and out of. Florida-bred Crimson Hayes (above) gets prepped for some indoor exercise on a cold morning. The 7-year-old gelding is a son of Red Giant, who won the 2007 Virginia Derby (and paid $76 to win). Crimson Hayes has bankrolled $152,974 from 37 starts, has won at five different tracks — Gulfstream, Tampa Bay Downs, Pimlico, Monmouth and Delaware Park — and most recently competed over fences at Montpelier last November.

Meyers, from Lexington originally, said they have a number of babies in their barn that are in the Virginia Certified Residency initiative. “The program has been a real help. It’s been a major factor in keeping Virginia’s racing industry relevant. After Colonial Downs closed, steeplechase racing kept it going here but since this program came along, it has moved a lot of horses into the state.”

Two-year-old Kentucky-bred filly Mary Jane Chrome (above on the left), by California Chrome, will make her racing debut later this year. “We have some that could be ready for Colonial Downs this summer,” said Meyers. “They did such a good job welcoming horsemen back to New Kent last year. There were so many small touches they did to make horses comfortable, like providing easy access to water and putting fans all around the paddock.”

Ballyerin Stable has been based at Middleburg for two years now. “We actually are in the first barn that was renovated,” added Meyers. “It’s been great so far and has been neat to watch the progress come along. Now that construction and repairs are almost done, the track and facilities are in much better shape and it’s getting back to where this place once was.”

The Middleburg Training Center was built in 1956 by Paul Mellon as a private picturesque facility. A local contingency of trainers led by Paul Fout bought it in 1975 then in 2006, Randy Rouse acquired it. Before the complex was most recently purchased, it was in the hands of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. 1979 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Spectacular Bid even trained at the Center which features 11 barns , 220 stalls and 22 paddocks.

The Center, which had been on the market for years though, was ringing up losses, was run down and in disrepair before Chuck Kuhn purchased the property. “It was all about conservation easement and protecting open space,” said his son Steve. “The property is valuable to my father. He wants to run it as a business and make a go of it.

“Currently, stalls are about half occupied,” added Kuhn, “But come spring and summer once renovations are complete, we hope to see more horses on the grounds. We might even try having another discipline like show horses on the other side of the property.”

For more information, visit www.middleburgtrack.com. For details on stabling horses there, e-mail info@middleburgtrack.com or call 540-687-3041.

A total of $712,500 in bonus awards were paid out in 2019 to Virginia breeders courtesy of the Virginia Breeders Fund. A total of 45 different breeders shared in the prize pool which came from 165 state-bred winners who amassed purse earnings of $3,298,412.

The Virginia Breeders fund is generated by 1% of every dollar wagered on live racing and via OTBs and ADW in Virginia. Each year the Virginia Racing Commission approves how the money in the fund is allocated. A large portion of the fund is set aside for payments to breeders of registered Virginia-breds that win races at any race track in North America. There is a $25,000 cap on any single award. In 2019 Breeders awards averaged 22% of each winning purse.

Out for a Spin captured the April 6th Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. Photo courtesy of Keeneland.

The William Backer Revocable Estate topped the list of bonus earners with $124,335 courtesy of three stakes winners. Out For a Spin won a $25,000 capped award for prevailing in the $300,000, Grade I Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. The now 4-year-old filly finished 2019 with $364,610 in purse monies from six starts. Both Tryon Summer and Ferdinanda secured $13,757 awards by winning the Nellie Mae Cox and Brookmeade Stakes respectively at the Colonial Downs summer meet. Bucky’s Pick chipped in with a $9,217 bonus for a $40,000 allowance optional claiming victory at Santa Anita.

Morgan’s Ford Farm was second with $86,800 in awards from 19 winners. They had two stakes champs — Bella Aurora in the Gin Talking at Laurel and River Deep in the Edward P. Evans at Colonial. Both had a purse of $100,000 and the awards were $13,757. Their K P Slickem earned $38,400 in an allowance optional claimer at Del Mar and got a reward of $8,804.

Initial runner-up River Deep was bumped up to the winners circle after Speed Gracer was DQ’d and placed fourth in the Edward P. Evans Stakes. Photo by Coady Photography.

Lazy Lane Farms rode a trio of wins from both Holly Hundy and Lenstar to take third with $72,638 in bonuses. The former won the $100,000 Camptown Stakes in New Kent and earned a $13,757 award while the latter scored allowance wins at Oaklawn in January and again in March and pocketed respective bonus awards of $11,693 and $10,730.

Jim Fitzgerald and Katie Fitzgerald were next with $59,362 from a total of ten wins. They connected with co-breeder Jeff Ackerman for another five, all of which were authored by 5-year-old Graydar gelding, Alphadar. The Fitzgerald’s also bred Meadow Stable Stakes winner Elusive Mischief who earned a $13,757 award. Their Mucho Mas also had a $12,381 bonus payday courtesy of a maiden special weight score at Oaklawn.

Sheldon Russell directed Elusive Mischief to victory in the Meadow Stable Stakes. Photo by Coady Photography.

Audley Farm Equine had nine victories and bonus winnings of $37,516. Tasting The Stars, a 4-year-old Bodemeister filly, orchestrated three of the nine. The largest bonus came from the Just Jenna Stakes at Monmouth ($10,317) while a pair of wins preceded that at Fair Grounds last winter.

Breeders Nancy Terhune and Ernest Frohboese combined for a four pack of wins including a pair from Embolden, who won the Jamestown Stakes ($13,757) and a maiden special weight ($6,984), both at Colonial Downs.

Embolden wins the Jamestown Stakes for 2-year-olds over the Colonial turf. Photo by Coady Photography.

Mr. & Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III had a pair of $6,000-plus bonus earning wins among their total of seven. Passion Play earned $6,878 from a maiden special weight win at Colonial while a similar win by Miss Behave at Woodbine brought in $6,643. Mrs. Iselin had another five wins with horses she bred alone.

Sir Rockport’s five wins along with a pair from Greek God and On The Wings Of supplied Larry Johnson with nine of his 11 bonus checks. His $20,788 combined total was eighth best. Quest Realty had eight wins including two each from Drosselmoon, Graceful Request and Stay Out. Rounding out the top ten was Eagle Point Farm who bred M. Tyson Gilpin Stakes winner What The Beep, who returned a $13,757 bonus.

9-year-old Sir Rockport won his second straight race March 8th at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

$37,500 in 2019 stallion awards were distributed among four owners. There were a total of 16 winners who earned purse monies of $560,099. Horses sired by Smallwood Farms’ Friend or Foe won 11 of those races, led by Mr. Buff who reached the winners circle five times on the NYRA circuit. The now 6-year-old gelding racked up $23,252 in bonuses from stakes triumphs in the Jazil, Saginaw, Evan Shipman, Empire Classic Handicap and Alex M. Robb Stakes. Largest award from the five came in the $300,000 Empire Classic ($11,599). Chillinwithfriends also scored a win each at Aqueduct and Belmont.

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

Accountable, sired by Lady Olivia at Northcliff’s Cosa Vera, collected two wins at Great Meadow, good for $2,812 in bonus monies. Susan Halsey Minor’s sire, Fierce Wind, had two offspring win including Makemie Park who prevailed at Colonial on closing weekend. Leanne Hester also had a win with her homebred Storm Struck, whose sire is Gone Clubbing.

Colonial Downs Expands Schedule to Run 18 Race Dates in 2020; Tickets Now on Sale for Meet Beginning July 23
General Admission Remains Free

NEW KENT, Va. (February 3, 2020) – Live racing returns to Colonial Downs in New Kent County in July and August with premium tickets going on sale today. General admission and parking are free. The best thoroughbred horses from around the country will run every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from July 23 through August 29. Premium tickets and full racing schedule are available at www.colonialdowns.com.

Extravagant Kid wins the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs this past summer. Photo by Coady Photography.

Colonial Downs’ second season since the return and revitalization of thoroughbred horse racing in Virginia offers a family friendly atmosphere for everyone: fine dining in the Jockey Club and Turf Club, private suites for larger parties, outdoor clubhouse boxes, reserved grandstand seating and a new hospitality tent trackside open to everyone.

Other race meet highlights include:
· Approximately $500,000 in daily purses and over $2.8 million in total stakes, including a robust Virginia bred and certified schedule during the 18 day meet will attract the best horses and jockeys from around the country to compete over the renowned Secretariat turf course, and second largest dirt track in North America.
· July 23-25 opening weekend kicks off with over $700,000 in VA bred and restricted stakes races.
· August 15 – MATCH Series, featuring $500,000 in stakes races.
· August 28-29 – closing weekend offering over $1.2 million in stakes races highlighted by the G-3 VA Derby on Saturday night with the VA Oaks, Rosie’s and Kitten’s Joy Stakes. (Last year’s Rosie’s Stakes winner, Four Wheel Drive, went on to capture the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.)

Tryon Summer (#6) beat Braxton to win the Nellie Mae Cox Stakes this past summer at Colonial Downs. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

“We are looking forward to an expanded race meet this year offering one of the highest purse structures in the country”, said Jill Byrne, Vice President of Racing at Colonial Downs. “The 2019 season was a very successful return to live thoroughbred racing at Colonial Downs and incredible support from horsemen and women, and fans and patrons from around the country. I love seeing families and guests out on the track apron where they can get close up to the horses and jockeys and watch the action from rail side.”

John Marshall, Executive Vice President of Operations at Colonial Downs Group added, “With a variety of ticketing and dining options as well as free general admission, it makes for an entertaining night out for everyone. Our motto is to add life, and we are adding life to New Kent County and Virginia during racing season and all year round.”

About Colonial Downs: In its first partial year of operations Colonial Downs Group opened four locations, created more than 1,000 jobs and contributed more than $16.2 million in taxes and racing industry payments in Virginia. At Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums in Richmond, Hampton, New Kent County and Vinton we offer the excitement of innovative historic horseracing (HHR) gaming technology and full card simulcasting. At Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent County, we offer live thoroughbred racing at the best turf track in the country and will run 18 days in 2020. Colonial Downs Group has made a $300 million investment in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The project has not received any tax credits or government incentives.

As the 2020 calendar rolls into Super Bowl weekend and Derby prep race season, live horse racing events in Virginia may seem like a ways off, but the kickoff event is just weeks away.

Action in the Commonwealth’s spring Point-to-Point race season kicks off March 7. For the second straight year, the Virginia Equine Alliance will provide starter reward bonuses to Virginia-owned or Virginia-trained horses that compete in the two month series in order to help encourage participation. The Rappahannock Hunt kicks things off and is followed by the Warrenton Hunt on March 14, Upperville (Piedmont Fox Hounds) on March 21, Middleburg (Orange County Hounds) on March 29, Ben Venue (Old Dominion Hounds) on April 4, Leesburg (Loudoun Hunt) on April 12, Berryville (Blue Ridge Hunt) on April 19 and again in Middleburg (Middleburg Hunt) on April 26. More details are available at www.vasteeplechase.com and at www.centralentryoffice.com.

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.

Sanctioned steeplechase meets kick off in April and run through mid-fall. The Virginia Gold Cup is scheduled for May 2 —Kentucky Derby Day — at Great Meadow while the International Gold Cup will be held October 24. Wagering is available at both Gold Cups along with Derby betting at the spring edition. The Middleburg Spring Race meet is April 18 at Glenwood Park and the fall version is slated for October 10. The Foxfield Spring Races will be contested April 25 outside of Charlottesville and the Montpelier Hunt Races, held in Montpelier Station, will be on November 7.

Montpelier Hunt Races close out the 2020 season the first Saturday in November.

Thoroughbred racing is back this summer at Colonial Downs and will feature 18 race dates from July 23 through August 29. Programs at the New Kent track will be presented every Thursday, Friday and Saturday with a post time of 5:30 PM. A total of $500,000 in purses will be distributed daily headlined by two major events — the MATCH Series on August 15 which features five $100,000 stakes, then the Virginia Derby card on August 29 which features an under card of the Virginia Oaks, Rosie’s Stakes and Kitten’s Joy Stakes. Details are at www.colonialdowns.com.

#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.

Finally, the annual fall pari-mutuel harness racing season at Shenandoah Downs in Woodstock will run from September 18 – October 17 with racing every Friday at 3:30 PM and Saturday at 2 PM. Parking and admission are free. The Shenandoah County Chamber’s popular Autumnfest celebration will highlight the meet on October 3.

In addition, a four day non-wagering harness meet will be held September 2-5 during the Shenandoah County Fair over the same half mile oval. Harness racing details are at shenandoahdowns.com and at virginiahorseracing.com.

Harness drivers pass the grandstand during a race at Shenandoah Downs in Woodstock. Rich Cooley/Daily

The following appeared in The Paulick Report January 28

A new economic study has found that the investment in Virginia by the Colonial Downs Group, consisting of the Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent County and Rosie’s gaming facilities statewide, will support thousands of new jobs and generate millions in additional tax revenue to the Commonwealth and host localities over the upcoming year. That’s in addition to the cumulative $445 million in combined economic activity the locations will produce statewide. The study, conducted by Dr. Terry Clower, Northern Virginia Chair and Professor of Public Policy at George Mason University, specifically projects that company operations in 2020 will:

· Be responsible for the creation of 4,232 direct, indirect and induced permanent jobs
· Generate $26.1 million in new tax revenue for the Commonwealth
· Produce $17.9 million in new tax revenue for host localities
· Create $445 million in combined economic activity statewide

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

Speaking about the study Aaron Gomes, Chief Operating Officer of the Colonial Downs Group, noted, “We are proud of our investment in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the good jobs, tax revenue and economic development that have resulted. This year our facilities will mean thousands of good jobs, $26.1 million in state tax revenue, $17.9 million in local tax revenue, and $445 million in overall economic activity in Virginia. That’s great news for our employees, our host localities and all of Virginia.”

Gomes continued, remarking, “In 2019 we focused on getting our facilities up and running and bringing live horse racing back to Virginia. We were thrilled to end the year by announcing we were raising the minimum wage for our employees to $15 an hour. Now, I have no doubt that 2020 will be an even more exciting year as we not only continue to build on our existing success in New Kent County, Vinton, Richmond and Hampton, but also add an additional three racing days at Colonial Downs Racetrack. When we came to Virginia, our promise was everyone would win with Colonial Downs and Rosie’s. This study proves it, and we are still just getting started!”

The most recent Rosie’s location opened in Hampton with a ribbon cutting October 29..

About Colonial Downs: In its first partial year of operations Colonial Downs Group opened four locations, created more than 1,000 jobs and contributed more than $16.2 million in taxes and racing industry payments in Virginia. At Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums in Richmond, Hampton, New Kent County and Vinton we offer the excitement of innovative historic horseracing (HHR) gaming technology and full card simulcasting. At Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent County, we offer live thoroughbred racing at the best turf track in the country and will run 18 days in 2020. Colonial Downs Group has made a $300 million investment in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The project has not received any tax credits or government incentives.

NOTE: This study produced by Dr. Terry Clower does not reflect the views or opinions of George Mason University or its Board of Visitors.

The following editorial from Virginia Thoroughbred Association Executive Director Debbie Easter appeared in the Richmond Times Dispatch January 24th. Members of various horse organizations in the state may be called upon next week to contact their legislative representatives in an effort to help preserve and grow the native horse racing industry along with other equine and related agribusinesses as new gaming legislation is introduced in the General Assembly. Please visit these websites frequently in the coming days — virginiahorseracing.com, vabred.org, vhha.net and respective facebook pages of those groups for updated action plans.

A little more than six years ago, Virginia’s long and storied racing heritage looked to be over. Colonial Downs — the longtime home for horse racing in the commonwealth — held its last race in 2013 and closed its doors the following year. Somehow, the state that Secretariat once called home was looking at the end of its historic racing culture.

That is, until two years ago when Gov. Ralph Northam signed into law a bill opening the state to Class II gaming by allowing historical horse racing (HHR) machines in Virginia. Thanks to House Bill 1609, Colonial Downs was able to reopen its doors in 2019 and host 15 days of premier racing for the first time in six years.

Since then, Virginia’s equine and agricultural industries have seen new life. The Virginia Equine Alliance has seen a 700% increase in the number of horses coming into the state and, for the first time in years, the commonwealth’s horse racing is now competitive with its neighbors in West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Jobs are being created. Barns are full. Green space throughout Virginia is being preserved due to the boon in agribusiness.
Not only is Virginia competitive in the mid-Atlantic region, we have a model that is unique. Virginia farms now benefit from horses coming to the state to register in our residency program, and we now offer a highly attractive racing program for flat and harness horses. People are taking note of the Virginia model — all due to the gains from HB 1609.

Simply put, horse racing in Virginia is booming and HHR machines are the driving force behind it.

The revenues from HHR machines are expected to contribute an estimated $20 million to the racing industry each year, split between the residency program and purses for live races held in Virginia. That’s in addition to the hundreds of jobs created since 2018 and the substantial tax revenues these machines generate for the commonwealth and its localities.

However, despite all the progress we’ve made, the horse racing community in Virginia remains at risk. This legislative session, the General Assembly is considering a number of bills that would result in changes to current regulations to further expand gaming.
The proposed legislation would lead to the opening of five “resort-style” casinos that would offer Class III or “casino style” gaming. If this legislation passes and considerations are not taken in regard to the impact it would have on the state’s equine and agribusiness industries, all of Virginia’s recent progress could be for naught.

A recent study conducted by the nonpartisan, state-funded Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission found that while resort-style casinos would have a “positive, but modest economic impact on local economies,” it would have a potentially catastrophic effect on the state’s racing industry.

According to the study, revenue from HHRs would decrease by 45%. This would result in a nearly $10 million annual decrease in funds to support racing.

These decreases would, at best, halt the astounding progress the Virginia equine industry has experienced over the past three years and place it behind neighboring states, just as it was prior to 2013. At worst, it could put the industry on the path to a long, slow death, taking hundreds of jobs and innumerable green space along with it.

Regardless of the stance the legislature takes when it comes to the potential opening of resort-style casinos, it must keep in mind the recent progress we’ve made in restoring Virginia’s historic racing heritage and the impact it’s had revitalizing agribusiness and preserving green space throughout Virginia.

We’ve worked so hard to come this far, and we simply cannot let that progress disappear overnight.

If Class III gaming is approved, the legislature must consider practices that help support the horse racing community and Colonial Downs, similar to what other states have implemented. Otherwise, the outcome could be ruinous, leading to the closure of the track and the end of racing once again.

When considering these proposed changes in legislation, we must consider all outcomes if we want to preserve the heritage that once gave us Secretariat.

Debbie Easter is the president of the Virginia Equine Alliance. Contact her at: debbie.easter@easterassociates.com

The following piece appeared on nationalsteeplechase.com and was written by Don Clippinger.

Dr. Alfred C. Griffin Jr., the co-chair of the Virginia Gold Cup who played a key role in keeping pari-mutuel racing alive in his home state during Colonial Downs’ closure, was elected president of the National Steeplechase Association at Friday’s NSA Board of Directors meeting.

The Warrenton, Va., orthodontist succeeds Guy J. Torsilieri, who was elected as the NSA’s chairman. Torsilieri, who served as the NSA’s president for 11 years before declining to seek another term, was elected as the NSA’s chairman. He succeeds Beverly R. Steinman, who retired from the board at the conclusion of her term last year.

Dr. Al Griffin (middle) is pictured with NSA Board members Meriweather Morris and Guy Torsilieri

Also elected were Virginia Lazenby as vice president, Robert Bonnie as secretary, and Mason Hardaway Lampton as treasurer.
“I am honored and humbled to be elected the National Steeplechase Association’s president,” Dr. Griffin said. “Under Guy Torsilieri’s leadership, steeplechasing has placed itself on an upward trajectory, and I will strive to foster continued growth into a bright, sustainable future for our sport, our horsemen, and our race meets.”

Dr. Griffin has wide-ranging experience in his professional career, Virginia horse racing, and fox-hunting. He is in the practice of Orthodontics in Warrenton and Middleburg for the last 35 years and is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.
He also teaches biomechanics and clinical practice at Harvard University’s School of Dental Medicine. He served as the first dental director of the Fauquier Free Clinic, which he and other Northern Virginia dentists founded more than 20 years ago to serve those unable to afford medical and dental care.

The spring Virginia Gold Cup is the largest annual NSA event.

With Dr. Will Allison, he is co-chair of the Virginia Gold Cup, the NSA’s largest meet by attendance, and the International Gold Cup in the fall. After Colonial Downs’ former owner shut the Richmond-area track in 2013, Dr. Griffin played a key role in forming the Virginia Equine Alliance and in obtaining legislative approval for the alliance to serve as the state’s pari-mutuel entity.
During his tenure, the International Gold Cup inaugurated pari-mutuel wagering under supervision of the Virginia Racing Commission in October 2012, and the Virginia Gold Cup added betting the following May.

He became a member of the NSA’s Board of Directors in 2012 and has served as chair of the NSA’s Promotion and Growth Committee. He has been the NSA’s secretary since 2018.

In addition to serving as race director for the two meets at Great Meadow Race Course, he was master of fox hounds for the Warrenton Hunt for 18 years.

On March 30, 1970, a legend was born. A fiery red colt named Secretariat took his first breath in a foaling shed at Christopher Chenery’s Meadow Stable in Caroline County, Virginia. In 1973, he left the world breathless with his spectacular and incomparable Triple Crown.

On March 28, 2020, Secretariat’s birthplace, now known as The Meadow Event Park, will be the site of the official celebration honoring the immortal champion’s 50th birthday and his enduring legacy.

Kate Chenery Tweedy, daughter of the late, beloved Penny Chenery, will be the celebrity host for the event, which runs from 11 am – 7:00 pm. She will be joined by famous jockeys, Meadow Stable grooms and other special guests. Fans can enjoy autograph sessions; visits with Groundshaker, a great-great granddaughter of Secretariat and the last racehorse bred and raced by Penny Chenery; Mia the mighty mini; tours of the Meadow Champion Galleries, Triple Crown Room and the Chenery Collection in Meadow Hall; tram tours of the historic barns; children’s “horsey” activities, live music and much more.

There will be a half-day program priced for families, as well as a full-day program that will include a cocktail reception, special presentations and a champagne toast at Secretariat’s foaling shed. The Secretariat 50th Birthday Celebration is presented by the Secretariat Birthplace Tours of The Meadow Event Park and Secretariat.com. Ticket information will be available in January at www.meadoweventpark.com/visit-us/secretariat50/and at www.secretariat.com.

Fans should also mark their calendars for Secretariat birthday festivities in the nearby town of Ashland on Friday March 27 and Sunday March 29. More information will be available soon.

Secretariat’s birthplace at The Meadow Event Park is listed on the state and national historic registers and offers narrated tours by reservation. See https://www.meadoweventpark.com/secretariat-birthplace-tours for more informatio