The following piece was written by Don Clippinger and appeared at www.nationalsteeplechase.com. Wagering will be available on Saturday’s combined steeplechase and flat card at Great Meadow itself (both manned teller stations and self bet terminals available), at the four Virginia Bets OTBs and nationally via www.XpressBet.com.

Rosbrian Farm’s Optimus Prime, a Grade 1 winner and Grade 1-placed in his two American starts, heads the field for Saturday’s $75,000 David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial (Gr. 2), the featured hurdle race of the 35th annual International Gold Cup.

First post time is noon for the eight-race program featuring flat, hurdle, and timber races, including the $75,000 International Gold Cup over timber at Great Meadow Race Course in The Plains, Va.

Pari-mutuel wagering will be available on all races and will be available through the popular Xpressbet advance-deposit wagering platform. Wagering on the card also will be conducted in Australia.

Tornado Watch, second in the Far Hills Races’ Grand National (Gr. 1) was entered Monday for the 2 1/8-mile Ferguson but was subsequently withdrawn by owner-trainer Emmet Mullins.

Trained by Ricky Hendriks, Optimus Prime opened his American career with a victory in Saratoga Race Course’s New York Turf Writers Handicap (Gr. 1) on Aug. 23. The six-year-old French-bred subsequently finished third in Belmont Park’s Lonesome Glory Handicap (Gr. 1) behind stablemate Zanjabeel on Sept. 20.

Balance The Budget won the 2017 “Zeke” Ferguson at Great Meadow.

Ross Geraghty, currently atop the jockey standings by purse earnings, has the mount on Optimus Prime.

Another 2018 Grade 1 winner, Mark W. Buyck’s Show Court, will be ridden by Michael Mitchell, who was in the saddle for his victory in Saratoga’s A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1) on July 30. Trained by Arch Kingsley Jr., Show Court finished fourth in the New York Turf Writers and fell in the Lonesome Glory.

Jack Fisher, who is in a head-to-head battle with Hendriks for the trainer title, entered Edith Dixon’s Schoodic and Woodslane Farm’s Overwhelming for the Ferguson. Schoodic, who won over the Great Meadow course in the 2017 David Semmes Memorial (Gr. 2), finished fifth in the Lonesome Glory and will be ridden by Willie McCarthy.

Sean McDermott rides Overwhelming, who finished fifth in the New York Turf Writers.

The Plains-based trainer Richard Valentine will saddle Magalen O. Bryant’s Personal Start, who sparkled at Great Meadow in winning this spring’s Semmes by eight lengths. He most recently finished seventh in the Lonesome Glory. Barry Foley will ride.

Prominent owner Irv Naylor will be represented by Sempre Medici, who had two fifth-place finishes in the spring, in the Semmes Memorial and the Calvin Houghland Iroquois (Gr. 1). Trainer Cyril Murphy named Darren Nagle to ride.

Jack Doyle, currently leading the jockey standings by wins, will be aboard Robert A. Kinsley’s No Wunder, who finished fourth in the William Entenmann Memorial Novice Stakes for trainer Elizabeth Voss on Sept. 20.

Here is the field for the $75,000 David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial (Gr. 2). The horses’ National Steeplechase Association ratings are in parentheses at the end of their profiles.

Overwhelming. 2010 b. g., Hard Spun—Oh What a Windfall, by Seeking the Gold. Owner: Woodslane Farm. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Sean McDermott. Breeder: Phipps Stable (Ky.) 2018 NSA record: 4-1-0-1, $41,000. Finished third in Saratoga’s 2018 A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1), then was fifth in New York Turf Writers Cup (Gr. 1). Returned to the races after missing 2017 season and won Tryon Block House allowance hurdle before sixth in Fair Hill’s Valentine Memorial ratings handicap. Finished fifth in Saratoga’s 2016 A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1). Won Steeplechase at Callaway’s 2015 AFLAC Supreme Hurdle and Belmont’s William Entenmann Memorial Novice Stakes. (123)

Show Court (Ire). 2009 b. g., Vinnie Roe—Sparking Gem, by Revoque. Owner: Mark W. Buyck Jr. Trainer: Arch Kingsley Jr. Jockey: Michael Mitchell. Breeder: Grange Stud (Ire). 2018 record: 4-1-0-0, $118,250. 2017 NSA record: 5-2-1-0, $112,000. Won Saratoga’s 2018 A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1) by a length, then was fourth in New York Turf Writers Cup Handicap (Gr. 1) and fell in Lonesome Glory Handicap (Gr. 1). Finished sixth in Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup (Gr. 1).  Won 2017 Carolina Cup by seven lengths. (133)

Personal Start. 2011 dk. b. or br. g., Jump Start—Personal Doreen, by Personal Flag. Owner: Magalen O. Bryant. Trainer: Richard Valentine. Jockey: Barry Foley. Breeder: Magalen O. Bryant (Ky.) 2018 record: 4-2-0-0, $98,750. 2017 record: 6-1-1-2, $46,750. Finished fourth in Saratoga’s 2018 A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1), then was seventh in New York Turf Writers Cup (Gr. 1). Won Virginia Gold Cup’s 2018 David Semmes Memorial (Gr. 2) by eight lengths after victory in Carolina Cup novice stakes. Won 2017 International Gold Cup allowance hurdle by eight lengths. (130)

Optimus Prime (Fr). 2012 b. g., Deportivo—Diluvienne, by Kaldoun. Owner: Rosbrian Farm. Trainer: Ricky Hendriks. Jockey: Ross Geraghty. Breeder: Haras de Plasence (Fr). 2018 NSA record: 2-1-0-1, $120,000. In his U.S. debut, won Saratoga Race Course’s 2018 New York Turf Writers Cup Handicap (Gr. 1), then was third in Belmont Park’s Lonesome Glory Handicap (Gr. 1). In final overseas start, finished fourth in Pertemps Swindon Hurdle Handicap at Haydock in May. Began 2018 with an allowance steeplechase win and then was second at 25-to-1 in €115,000 Ryanair Novice Steeplechase at Ireland’s Punchestown Racecourse in April. Previously trained by Dan Skelton. (148)

No Wunder (GB). 2011 b. g., Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)—Iwunder, by King’s Best. Owner: Robert A. Kinsley. Trainer: Elizabeth Voss. Breeder: Executors of the late J. Ellis (GB). 2018 NSA record: 5-0-2-0, $42,500. 2017 NSA record: 8-2-1-1, $67,150. Finished fourth in Belmont Park’s William Entenmann Memorial Novice Stakes. Finished close second in Saratoga’s Michael G. Walsh Novice Stakes after similar close second in Fair Hill’s Valentine Memorial ratings handicap. Opened 2018 campaign with second in Carolina Cup for novices, then was fifth in Queen’s Cup MPC ’Chase. Drew away impressively to win 2017 Saratoga handicap after good second in similar race. Finished seventh in Far Hills’ Foxbrook Champion Hurdle. (126)

Sempre Medici (Fr). 2010 b. g., Medicean—Sambala, by Danehill Dancer. Owner: Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: Cyril Murphy. Jockey: Darren Nagle. Breeders: Myriam Bollack, Noel Forgeard, and E.A.R.L. du Haras de Pierrepont (Fr). 2018 record: 3-0-0-0, $11,000. 2017 NSA record: No starts. Finished fifth in 2018 Calvin Houghland Iroquois (Gr. 1) and David Semmes Memorial (Gr. 2). Tired and was pulled up in 2018 Temple Gwathmey Handicap (Gr. 2), his first U.S. start. Competed at top level in England and Ireland for trainer Willie Mullins before being imported. Female-line descendant of foundation mare Best in Show, by Traffic Judge. (137)

Schoodic. 2010 b. g., Tiznow—Aunt Henny, by Hennessy. Owner: Edith R. Dixon. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Willie McCarthy. Breeder: Edith R. Dixon (Ky.) 2018 record: 4-0-1-1, $28,300. 2017 record: 5-1-0-0, $50,750. Finished fifth in Belmont Park’s 2018 Lonesome Glory Handicap (Gr. 1). Just missed when second by a neck in 2018 Iroquois Steeplechase ratings handicap. Opened 2018 campaign with closing third in Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup (Gr. 1), then was ninth in Temple Gwathmey Handicap (Gr. 2). Won 2017 David Semmes Memorial (Gr. 2) at Virginia Gold Cup, then was a dull fifth in Radnor’s National Hunt Cup (Gr. 3), a race he won in 2016. (130)

The following piece was written by Don Clippinger and appeared at www.nationalsteeplechase.com. Wagering will be available on Saturday’s combined steeplechase and flat card at Great Meadow itself (both manned teller stations and self bet terminals available), at the four Virginia Bets OTBs and nationally via www.XpressBet.com.

In pursuit of consecutive timber championships, Doc Cebu will face four opponents on Saturday when he attempts a second straight victory in the $75,000 International Gold Cup, the featured timber race of the 35th annual International Gold Cup meet at Great Meadow Race Course in The Plains, Va.

The 80th International Gold Cup will be complemented by the $75,000 David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial, a Grade 2 hurdle stakes and the $40,000 Steeplethon on an eight-race program offering $370,000 in purses.

First post time is noon, and pari-mutuel wagering will be offered on all races. For the first time, the International Gold Cup program will be available on the popular Xpressbet wagering platform.

Doc Cebu captured the 2017 International Gold Cup with rider Hadden Frost.

Owned by Charles Fenwick, Michael Hankin, and Charles Noell, Doc Cebu sealed his 2017 timber championship with an 11-length romp in the International Gold Cup. This year’s edition of the 3 1/2-mile race is a must-win proposition for the eight-year-old Hard Spun gelding.

He already has won three timber races this year—the Willowdale Steeplechase, the Legacy Chase at Shawan Downs, and most recently the Genesee Valley Hunt Cup—but he needs the International Gold Cup’s $45,000 first-place purse to overtake timber leader Senior Senator, who earned $90,000 in eight days with victories in the Grand National and Maryland Hunt Cup.

Trainer Jack Fisher named Hadden Frost for a return ride on Doc Cebu, whose 2018 earnings total $57,000.

While Doc Cebu will be an overwhelming favorite, he will face some formidable competitors, three of whom started in Virginia Fall’s National Sporting Library & Museum Cup on Oct. 13.

Michael A. Smith’s Le Chevalier, trained by Julie Gomena, won the National Sporting Library by 4 1/2 lengths after second-place finishes in the Virginia Gold Cup and the Middleburg Hunt Cup. Jack Doyle, currently atop the jockey standings, has the mount.

Irv Naylor’s Super Saturday won the Middleburg Hunt Cup, a race in which Doc Cebu finished third. Trained by Kathy Neilson, Super Saturday finished fifth in the Virginia Fall race and will be ridden by Gerard Galligan.

Grand Manan won the 2016 International Gold Cup October 22nd at Great Meadow. Photo by Tod Marks, from NSA website

Kiplin Hall’s Rodriguez finished third in last year’s International Gold Cup and was sixth in both the Legacy Chase and National Sporting Library. Trainer Willie Dowling named Mark Beecher to ride.

Frank A. Bonsal’s Stand Down, who sustained his first career defeat when third in the Genesee Valley Hunt Cup, will try to get back on the winning track. The six-year-old won his first two starts in the spring for trainer Joseph Davies.

Here is the field for the International Gold Cup in post-position order.

Stand Down (Ire). 2012 b. g., Yeats (Ire)—Quadrennial, by Un Desperado. Owner: Frank Bonsal Jr. Trainer: Joseph G. Davies. Jockey: Open. Breeder: Mrs. E. Costelloe (Ire). 2018 record: 3-2-0-1, $21,200. Sustained first career defeat when third in Genesee Valley Hunt Cup. Won first two career starts by open lengths, beginning with 2018 Grand National timber allowance and then Willowdale allowance timber.

Super Saturday. 2009 gr. or ro. g., Any Given Saturday—Lady Aloma, by Cozzene. Owner: Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: Kathy Neilson. Jockey: Gerard Galligan. Breeder: Walton Breeders (Ky.) 2018 record: 4-1-0-1, $31,100. 2017 record: 6-0-1-1, $13,400. 2016 record: 5-0-1-0, $4,550. Finished fifth in 2018 National Sporting Library & Museum Cup. Won 2018 Middleburg Hunt Cup, then was third in the Virginia Gold Cup and fourth in Radnor Hunt Cup. Finished second in 2017 New Jersey Hunt Cup and third in Steeplechase at Callaway timber allowance.

Rodriguez (Ire). 2007 dk. b. or br. g., High Chaparral (Ire)—Sofia Aurora, by Chief Honcho. Owner: Kiplin Hall. Trainer: William Dowling. Jockey: Mark Beecher. Breeder: Michael G. Daly (Ire). 2018 record: 2-0-0-0, $1,950. 2017 record: 5-1-0-2, $27,000. 2016 record: 3-1-1-0, $12,700. Finished sixth in Shawan Downs’ 2018 Brown Advisory Legacy Chase and National Sporting Library & Museum Cup at Virginia Fall. Won Shawan’s 2017 Brown Advisory Legacy Chase, then was fourth in Virginia Fall’s National Sporting Library and Museum Cup and third in International Gold Cup.

Le Chevalier. 2009 g. or ro. g., Broken Vow—Orellana, by With Approval. Owner: Michael A. Smith. Trainer: Julie Gomena. Jockey: Jack Doyle. Breeder: Haras du Mezeray (Ky.) 2018 record: 3-1-2-0, $47,400. 2017 record: 1-0-0-1, $3,000. 2016 record: 5-2-1-0, $49,250. Won 2018 National Sporting Library & Museum Cup after second in Virginia Gold Cup and Middleburg Hunt Cup. Finished third in the 2017 My Lady’s Manor. Won the 2016 New Jersey Hunt Cup by 11 lengths.

2017 International Gold Cup winner Doc Cebu goes for his second straight Gold Cup win October 27th. Photo by Tod Marks.

Doc Cebu. 2010 b. g., Hard Spun—Berga, by Jade Hunter. Owners: Charles C. Fenwick Jr., Michael Hankin, and Charles Noell. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Hadden Frost. Breeder: Graceville Breeding (Ky.) 2018 record: 4-3-0-1, $57,000. 2017 record: 5-4-1-0, $96,600. 2016 record: 2-2-0-0, $21,000. Timber champion, 2017. Won Shawan Downs’ 2018 Brown Advisory Legacy Chase by 3 1/2 lengths and scored a second victory in the Genesee Valley Hunt Cup by seven lengths. Won Willowdale Steeplechase for a second straight year in 2018 after third in Middleburg Hunt Cup. Clinched 2017 timber championship with 11-length victory in International Gold Cup after 11 1/4-length score in Genesee Valley Hunt Cup.

The following was written by Don Clippinger and appeared in Thoroughbred Daily News. Fans can bet at the Gold Cup in The Plains, Virginia on October 27th and also at the four Virginia Bets OTBs — in Richmond, Henrico, Chesapeake and Collinsville.

While betting has not been a major component of jump racing for nearly a half-century, steeplechase meets over the next two weekends will offer a trifecta of large crowds, pari-mutuel wagering, and high-definition video coverage.

Kicking off the jump-racing Octoberfest will be the 98th annual Far Hills Races in central New Jersey, where $850,000 in purses will be on the line, including the $450,000 GI Grand National, the richest steeplechase race in North America, on Saturday.

A week later on Oct. 27, the action swings to Virginia for the International Gold Cup in the Washington metropolitan area. The 35th annual International Gold Cup will offer close to $400,000 in purses over a mixed program of hurdle, timber, and flat races.

Both meets are extremely popular in their respective markets and draw crowds of up to 40,000 each.

Both tellers and self bet terminals are available at the Members Hill Gazebo at Great Meadow.

In partnership with Monmouth Park, Far Hills will make its first foray into pari-mutuel wagering, while the International Gold Cup launched wagering on its races in 2013 under the supervision of the Virginia Racing Commission. Similarly, the New Jersey Racing Commission will oversee the Far Hills races, which are being conducted under Monmouth Park’s pari-mutuel license.

The International Gold Cup signal this year will be carried worldwide under a contract with XpressBet.

“The exposure is fantastic,” said Dr. William H. Allison, the longtime co-chairman of the International Gold Cup with Dr. Al Griffin. “It’s hundreds of thousands of people, if not millions. It’s the greatest thing for jump racing.”

Dr. Griffin said the International Gold Cup signal also will be picked up in Australia.

Dr. Allison noted that the benefit is not only for steeplechase racing. The wagering exposure supports all of Thoroughbred racing and especially Virginia racing, where the International Gold Cup and the Virginia Gold Cup in the spring have been the principal live racing venues since the closing of Colonial Downs in 2014. The track located in the Richmond, Va., area is scheduled to reopen next year under new ownership.

Doc Cebu won the 2017 International Gold Cup with rider Hadden Frost.

“Now and into the future, the Virginia Gold Cup and the International Gold Cup will occupy an important role in Virginia’s Thoroughbred industry,” Dr. Allison said. “We are so grateful for the support that we’ve received from the Virginia HBPA, the Virginia Equine Alliance, and especially the Virginia horsemen in the years that Colonial has been closed.”

Guy J. Torsilieri, Far Hills’ chairman, said the advent of pari-mutuel wagering is intended to provide the meet’s thousands of fans with another on-site amenity and also to promote American Thoroughbred racing around the world.

The Far Hills meet has attracted significant international participation over the past decade, and this year no fewer than six horses based in England or Ireland will be shipping in for the racing program.

“All the good things are coming together this year,” Torsilieri said. “We are becoming a target for overseas trainers in the early fall. Bettors in Ireland, England, and other overseas markets will be able to watch and wager just as American fans will be able to bet as part of Monmouth’s well-developed wagering platform.”

Two Far Hills races, the Grand National and the Foxbrook Champion Hurdle, will be a part of the New York Racing Association’s Cross Country Pick 4 with two Belmont Park races.

“We want the world to see American steeplechasing at Far Hills and the International Gold Cup, and we want the world the racing opportunities we provide,” said Torsilieri, who also serves as president of the National Steeplechase Association.

He expressed appreciation to those who brought about pari-mutuel wagering for Far Hills. “This was a long, sustained effort. We are especially grateful to the horsemen and management at Monmouth who made this possible. We had three races at Monmouth this summer, and we appreciate their support.”

“We’re also grateful to the New York Racing Association and their horsemen for supporting steeplechase racing at Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park. We look forward to being a part of NYRA’s pari-mutuel menu,” Torsilieri said.

The National Steeplechase Association inaugurated high-definition video for all of its race meets beginning this fall. Live video of the Far Hills and International Gold Cup races will be streamed live on the meets’ respective websites.

West Virginia-bred Burnin Ring O Fire, a two-year-old Virginia Certified horse, won his third straight race this past Saturday (October 13th) in a $75,000 stakes at Charles Town. After kicking off his career with a three length win August 10th in a $40,000 maiden special weight race for Virginia-bred, sired and certified horses at Laurel, owner/breeder Ray Pennington’s gelding moved on to Charles Town where he has captured back-to-back stakes by identical one-half length margins.

​

Burnin Ring O Fire edged Blushing Owen September 22nd in the Henry Mercer Memorial. Photo by Coady Photography.

He first tackled the 4 1/2 furlong, $50,000 Henry Mercer Memorial Stakes September 22nd. After exiting the turn six lengths behind in fifth, Burnin Ring O Fire came on strong in the stretch and defeated Blushing Owen in :52.65. He was sent off at 5-1 in the field of ten and paid $12.80 to win.

Burnin Ring O Fire is shown at Charles Town in the Henry Mercer Memorial. Photo by Coady Photography.

Pennington’s undefeated son of Limehouse faced another field of ten in the October 13th West Virginia Vincent Moscarelli Memorial Breeders’ Classic Stakes which was contested at 6 1/2 furlongs. After settling into second after the start, he passed frontrunning Midday Man before the half and maintained a tight cushion until he crossed in 1:20.05. The winner, no longer a surprise to the betting public, paid $4.60. ​He is trained by Ollie Figgins III, was ridden by J.D. Acosta in all three victories and is out of the E Dubai mare, Nashi.

Burnin Ring O Fire beat Midday Man in the Vincent Moscarelli Memorial Breeders Classic October 13th. Phoot by Coady Photography.

Burnin Ring O Fire spent his six month residency at Ashland’s Eagle Point Farm. His owner received a $7,500 bonus for the first stakes win and $8,437 for the second.  To become Virginia-Certified, horses must spend at least six consecutive months at a registered Virginia farm or training center prior to the end of their 2-year-old year. They are then eligible for a 25 percent purse bonus for a win in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, or Maryland. Owners can double up on incentive programs: a horse can be born in Maryland and qualify as a “Maryland-bred” for example, then start training in Virginia to become “Virginia-Certified.”

Burnin Ring O Fire connections gather kin the winners circle September 22nd at Charles Town. Photo by Coady Photography.

For specific program details and a list of Virginia-Certified farms, visit www.vabred.org.

By T. D. Thornton; this article appeared in the Thoroughbred Daily News on October 8th

When Colonial Downs reopens for 15 days of live Thoroughbred racing in 2019 for the first time in six years, its race meet will occupy a new slot on the calendar different from the June/July schedule that had been the norm prior to closure.

Exactly when is currently being negotiated. But as the track’s new owner, Revolutionary Racing, attempts to carve out a niche on the highly competitive mid-Atlantic circuit, Colonial intends to fully leverage its two most valuable assets in an attempt to become a regional–maybe even national–impact player: A nine-furlong, 180-foot-wide jewel of a turf course that can accommodate numerous rail placements and races each day, plus a purse structure that will be bolstered for the first time by revenue from historical horse racing (HHR) gaming machines.

“One scenario we’re looking at is filling the gap between Laurel, Timonium and back to Laurel,” John Marshall, Colonial’s senior vice president and general manager, told TDN in a Monday phone interview. Such an August dates placement would take advantage of the geographic lull of turf racing that annually occurs when neighboring Maryland shifts to its dirt-only fairgrounds bullring for a brief meet.

“A second scenario that we’ve examined very closely is potentially opening in late September, after Kentucky Downs, Monmouth Park, and the Meadowlands all-turf meet,” Marshall explained. “Racing into October, we could be the second-highest purse level nationally in that spot, second to only Keeneland for those 15 days.

“The other thing that that time slot does for us is it makes a natural spot for the migration of horses from the Northeast heading to Gulfstream and Tampa for the winter. We’ve got geography in our favor [for outfits] to stop in and run for some great purses and do some training and stabling before heading south,” Marshall said.

Exact purse levels are also still under negotiation, Marshall said. He added that Colonial will no longer host an autumn Standardbred meet like the previous operator did, which puts fall dates in play for Thoroughbreds.

“For 2019, we know we’re going to run 15 live race dates,” Marshall said. “For 2020, we’re looking at 30 live race dates. We have not projected beyond that. As we examine both options one and two, we certainly need our horsemen and the racing commission to be on board, and we’re looking to cooperate with as many racetracks as possible.”

But cooperation doesn’t always come easily in the mid-Atlantic, where competition for entries is already fierce, in part because the region is the most densely clustered area in the country for Thoroughbred racetracks.

“We’re fully open to cooperate with all of the constituents in the industry. We’re a very cooperative and collaborative group,” Marshall said. “Where we run into difficulty is where we look to cooperate with one [track], we impose upon another. So there’s really no silver bullet that maximizes cooperation with all racetracks. But our doors are open [to hear ideas from] all the racetracks in the mid-Atlantic and maybe even beyond.”

Mark Hubbard, a spokesperson for the track, said Colonial just received word Monday that regulations approved last week by the Virginia Racing Commission for 3,000 HHR machines at the track and its statewide off-track-betting (OTB) network were okayed by the governor and the attorney general, meaning the opening for simulcasting and HHR gaming at Colonial is on schedule for next April.

Marshall said that when his transition team first arrived at Colonial in July, they were “pleasantly surprised” at how little the infrastructure had deteriorated since the track’s last live racing season in 2013.

“Everything was well-maintained over the past four years. The previous owner invested in maintaining the conditions of the property,” Marshall said.

Marshall spoke in particularly glowing terms about Colonial’s calling card–its massive and lush grass course that in previous years handled the burden of close to 90% of the races carded at the track.

“The turf course was race-ready the day we moved in, and we’ve maintained that condition,” Marshall said. “It’s starving for horses to be on it, and the stable area could accept horses at any moment.”

In May, the Colonial turf course underwent its annual controlled burn to remove invasive weeds and provide nutrients for new growth.

“It’s part of the maintenance program,” Marshall said. “Since then it’s been maintained so well that we haven’t had any weed intrusion. That was the main reason [the burns] were done, to bring back as much of the Bermuda turf as we could, because we did have some intrusion on the outside and inside [of the course]. This turf course has got to be in the best condition it’s ever been, today.”

The grandstand and clubhouse are a blur of daily construction as part of an overall facelift and image change, which will feature an industrial-modern look. In what is quite possibly a racing industry first, an all-female design firm, Within Interior Design, Inc., of Norfolk, Virginia, was hired to renovate the 21-year-old facility

“This is not going to be your father’s racetrack,” Hubbard said. “Horse racing is very much a centerpiece of this project, but we’re presenting it in a way that no one’s ever seen before.”

Marshall explained further: “We understand that our main demographic for HHR business is going to be predominantly females 55-years-plus. The challenge that we posed to Within was to consider this job as designing a sports bar for women. What would it look like? So we are going to lean toward feminine design in a lot of ways.

“Traditionally, we all know racetracks to be attractions to men, 60-plus, with cigar smoke and mutuel tickets on the floor,” Marshall continued. “In this case, you’ll walk through the main entrance and be greeted with a lot of equine imagery, modern art, modern décor. It’s going to be high-energy, fast-paced. You’re going to see very modern finishes, a lot of metals and irons, [accented by] pastel colors, different textures. And you’re going to feel as though you’re not in a racetrack, but you’ve got the option to go out on the apron and enjoy racing as we all know it.”

Colonial has also set aside 300 acres on the property for special-event use that is already being booked into the spring and summer of 2019. Food and beverages will have local ties where possible, Marshall added, featuring wines from New Kent County and a dozen Virginia-area craft beers on tap.

“We’re going to appeal to entertainment and service from a mainstream perspective, and not necessarily focus on the traditional horseplayer-only” mindset, Marshall summed up.

Congratulations to Virginia owner/breeder Morgan’s Ford Farm, whose 2 year old bay filly River Gal won the $75,000 Jamestown Stakes September 28th at Laurel.

Jockey Angel Cruz directed Virginia-bred River Gal to victory in the $75,000 Jamestown Stakes at Laurel Sept. 28. Photo by Jim McCue.

Jockey Angel Cruz directed the 2 1/2 length victory in a field of seven. The race, originally scheduled for turf, was contested at 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt and was authored in 1:05.43. The winner took the lead from  Ready to Run in the turn, opened by 1 1/2 at the top of the stretch and cruised home. River Gal is a Phil Schoenthal trainee and is by Blame out of River Fancy by Congaree.

River Gal was bred and is owned by Morgan’s Ford Farm. Photo by Jim McCue.

Here’s the rest of the Jamestown field in order: Ready to Run (Susan Cooney), Tolaga Bay (Archibald J. Kingsley), Perfect Exchange (Unjin Jenkins), Bear Trappe (Greg Compton), Drosselmoon (Quest Realty) and Payneful (Quest Realty)

Thanks to all owners and trainers who participated in the 2018 series of Virginia-bred and sired stakes and maiden races held at Laurel Park throughout the year. Based on accumulated points from the series, here are the bonus award winners in both categories:

Foiled Again, the Richest Horse In Harness Racing History, Is Set To Compete In a $10,000 Aged Invitational Pace Saturday At Shenandoah Downs

(WOODSTOCK, VA) —  Foiled Again, the richest horse in harness racing history, will head to Virginia’s scenic Shenandoah Valley this Saturday September 29th in search of victory number 104. The 14-year-old Dragon Again gelding is the early 4-5 favorite in the fourth race, a $10,000 Aged Invitational Pace at Shenandoah Downs in Woodstock.

14-year-old Foiled Again, winner of over $7.5 million, will compete Saturday at Shenandoah Downs. Photo by Mark Hall, USTA.

Foiled Again will leave from post five with driver Chris Shaw in the sulky. The Ron Burke trainee comes to Virginia with 321 starts, 103 wins, 68 seconds, 46 thirds and purse earnings of $7,594,143. He had a three race win streak snapped last start when he finished fourth at Batavia Downs. “I am extremely grateful and excited to have the opportunity to drive the greatest horse of all time,” said Shaw, who was the second leading driver at Shenandoah in 2017. “Mark Weaver texted my brother on Wednesday to ask if I’d be interested in driving the ‘GOAT’ (Greatest Horse of All Time),” added Shaw. “I said I’d be more than happy to and I’d find a way to clear my schedule,” he joked.

As far as expectations go, Shaw was diplomatic. “It’s a horse race and anything can happen. We’ll just have to see when the gate opens and the race unfolds.  He’s got a big heart and seems able to do what he wants to do most often.”

Chris Page drove Foiled Again twice in August, to respective first and third place finishes. “He’s a war horse and the greatest horse to ever wear a harness,” said Page. “He loves his job.”

Four other foes will try to prevent Foiled Again from accomplishing his goal including a pair of other 14-year-olds — B Blissful and Go Easy On Me. The former is a Jimmy Viars trainee who has won ten races from 21 starts the past two years. He will be driven by Chuck Perry, the meet’s leading driver, and comes into the Invitational on a four race win streak. The latter is a Camtown Fella gelding who will be driven David Swaney.

The field also includes Best Dream Seeker, a 12-year-old Cambest gelding that will be driven by Corey Braden, and 10-year-old Highland Hellion, who authored a 1:55 1/5 winning mile in Woodstock last year.

After the race, a temporary stall will be set up outside the grandstand entrance where fans can enjoy a Meet & Greet with Foiled Again and his connections. Post time Saturday is 2 PM and the fourth race is expected to go off around 3:00 PM. A total of eleven races have been carded including a pair of $7,000 Open Handicap events for pacers and trotters. Parking and admission are both free. The races are streamed live at shenandoahdowns.com.

The following is a press release from the Maryland Jockey Club and is a recap of the Commonwealth Day series of Virginia-bred/sired stakes on Sunday September 23rd.

LAUREL, MD – Lothenbach Stables’ Elusive Mischief paid immediate dividends for his new connections by splashing to a decisive 5 ¼-length victory in the $75,000 Punch Line Stakes Sunday at Laurel Park.

The 5 ½-furlong Punch Line for 3-year-olds and up was among four stakes for Virginia-bred/sired horses worth $300,000 in purses on a 12-race Commonwealth Day program. All four races were rained off Laurel’s world-class turf course and onto a sloppy and sealed main track.

Purchased for $92,000 at Fasig-Tipton’s July Selected Horses of Racing Age sale, Elusive Mischief ($5) dueled with Meadow Stable Stakes winner Homespun Hero for a quarter-mile, took over the lead on the turn and sprinted clear down the lane to win in 1:03.37 for 5 ½ furlongs for trainer Ian Wilkes and jockey Sheldon Russell.

Punch Line winner Elusive Mischief was bred by Jim Fitzgerald & Katie Fitzgerald. Photo by Jim McCue.

Divine Interventio put in a late run to be second, 3 ½ lengths in front of Homespun Hero. They were trailed by Fly E Dubai, third in the Meadow Stable, and White Oak Farm Stakes runner-up Available.

Elusive Mischief was second in her career debut last summer at Saratoga and had two wins from five starts this year for previous trainer Mark Casse, including a third in her previous effort, the Charlie Barley Stakes June 30 over Woodbine’s turf.

The $75,000 Bert Allen Stakes for 3-year-olds and up gave Russell his second stakes win of the day, as River Deep forged a short lead around the far turn and opened daylight on his rivals once straightened for home in an easy 8 ½-length victory as the 3-5 favorite.

River Deep won his second straight Virginia-bred stakes by capturing the Bert Allen Stakes September 23rd. Photo by Jim McCue.

It was the second straight win against Virginia-bred/sired horses for River Deep ($3.40), who romped to a 7 ¼-length victory in an off-the-turf edition of the one-mile Hansel Stakes Aug. 4 at Laurel, also as the top choice. The winning time for 1 1/8 miles Sunday was 1:51.34.

Runninginthevale, third in last year’s Bert Allen, took the field through fractions of 23.96 and 47.75 seconds as River Deep settled in second on his inside. Russell gave River Deep his cue midway on the far turn and he went in front after six furlongs in 1:12.26 and never looked back. Runninginthevale stayed on for second, a half-length ahead of Vincent Vangogo in third.

“He was great today,” Russell said. “Two starts back he sort of did the same thing when they came off the grass. He’s just a forward-going horse. Going into the first turn I was very comfortable even though [Runninginthevale] sort of had me outrun, but he’s such a cool horse to ride. Turf or dirt, it doesn’t really matter.”

Kept in the clear two wide, Hat Creek Racing’s Paulita ($4.20) reeled in pacesetting stablemate Well Blessed at the sixteenth pole and edged clear by 1 ¼ lengths to win the $75,000 Brookmeade Stakes for fillies and mares 3 and up.

Brookmeade winner Paulita was bred by Hat Creek Racing. Photo by Jim McCue.

The win gave trainer Arnaud Delacour a victory in all three of Laurel’s Virginia-bred/sired filly distance stakes. Paulita also won the William M. Backer Aug. 4, a race also taken off the turf, following Armoire’s triumph in the Nellie Mae Cox June 23. Armoire ran third in Sunday’s Brookmeade to complete a 1-2-3 finish for the Delacour stablemates.

Well Blessed was sent to the lead by jockey Feargal Lynch and tracked by Secret Or Not through a quarter-mile in 24.78 seconds until Paulita picked up the chase following a half in 49.66. Well Blessed made the turn in front but Paulita gained steadily down the center of the track to wear down her stablemate in deep stretch. The final time was 1:52.83.

Paulita was making her third start since being moved to Delacour’s Fair Hill, Md.-based string this summer. Well Blessed finished off the board in both the Nellie Mae Cox and 5 ½-furlong Camptown Stakes in her previous two races.

“[Paulita] has been very nice. She’s got tactical speed and she obviously likes the dirt,” Delacour said. “[Well Blessed also] has a lot of tactical speed and obviously carries it on the slop.”

Susan Moulton’s Altamura overcame a slight stumble out of the gate and a pair of challengers through the first half-mile before asserting herself once straightened for home and sprinting clear to her fourth straight victory in Sunday’s $75,000 Oakley Stakes at Laurel Park.

Altamura captured her third Virginia-bred stakes win of 2018 when she prevailed in the September 23rd Oakley. Photo by Jim McCue.

Altamura ($3.40) completed the distance in 1:04.89 under Midwest-based jockey Channing Hill to earn her third consecutive stakes win following the June 23 M. Tyson Gilpin and Aug. 4 Camptown and sweep Laurel’s three Virginia-bred/sired filly sprint stakes.

Second to Altamura in both a maiden special weight June 15 and the Gilpin, Virginia Fable outsprinted the 3-5 favorite early and held a short lead after going an opening quarter-mile in 22.90 seconds. Hugging the rail from her inside post, Altamura put that rival away but had to contend with Up Hill Battle, who loomed a challenger on the outside following a half in 46.27.

After rounding the turn together, Altamura edged clear through the stretch to win by 1 ¼ lengths. It was four lengths from Up Hill Battle to Virginia Fable in third, followed by Do What I Say and What the Beep.

Hill pulled Altamura up on the clubhouse turn as they jogged back to the winner’s circle after galloping out. Stewards said the 3-year-old daughter of Grade 1 turf winner Artie Schiller filly was taken back to the barn for X-rays on a left hind leg injury.

Live Racing Returns Friday, Sept. 28 with $75,000 Jamestown, Stronach 5

The 20th running of the $75,000 Jamestown for Virginia-bred/sired 2-year-olds and the debut of the national $1 Stronach 5 wager highlight the return of live racing to Laurel with a 10-race program Friday, Sept. 28.

First race post time is 1:10 p.m.

A field of eight juveniles was entered for the Jamestown, a 5 ½-furlong sprint on the All Along turf course carded as Race 2. Among the group are three horses from the barn of trainer Susan Cooney – maidens Ready to Run, Payneful and Drosselmoon – and Morgans Ford Farm homebred River Gal, a half-sister to Virginia-bred stakes winner River Deep.

There will be a guaranteed pool of $50,000 on the Stronach 5, a multi-track, multi-race wager with an industry-low 12 percent takeout being offered every Friday at Stronach Group-owned racetracks.

The Maryland Jockey Club will serve as host of the Stronach 5 and offer the multi-race bet as a separate wagering program. Carrying a $1 minimum wager, the Stronach 5 requires bettors to select the winner of five selected races from Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields. If there is no winner, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

The first 100 fans who buy a program Sept. 28 at Laurel, Gulfstream, Santa Anita or Golden Gate will receive a free Quick Pick ticket on the Stronach 5. The fun, action-packed wager will take place in less than 60 minutes and past performances for the Stronach 5 will be available in programs at all Stronach Group tracks and in the Daily Racing Form.

The following appeared in the Richmond Times Dispatch September 25th an was written by Mark Robinson

Chicago-based company’s bid to bring off-track betting to South Richmond cleared its final hurdle at the local level Monday.