The following was written by Leland Schwartz and appeared in FauquierNow January 22, 2025

The 100th running of the Virginia Gold Cup races will be held at Great Meadow, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The boards of Great Meadow Foundation and the Virginia Gold Cup Association have agreed on how best to keep the racecourse properly maintained, they announced Wednesday.

Race day is May 3, a Saturday.

The two groups said the agreement “follows a year of significant investments and enhancements to the Great Meadow racecourse, ensuring its readiness to host this prestigious event. These improvements include the installation of two new wells to secure a reliable water supply for the venue’s retention ponds, addressing the challenges posed by the 2024 drought, and a comprehensive maintenance plan restoring the racecourse to world-class condition.”

“Our commitment to preserving and enhancing the racecourse at Great Meadow has been unwavering,” said Karen Crane, chair of the Great Meadow Foundation. “We are proud to welcome the Virginia Gold Cup back to the place it was always meant to call home, as we honor a century of equestrian excellence in the heart of Fauquier County.”

The fall races were moved to Middleburg when race officials decided the Great Meadow course was not safe to run on. Great Meadow leadership said they felt conditions would have been ready by the time the races were held at the end of October.

The Gold Cup races at Great Meadow are widely viewed as one of the iconic events that help define Fauquier and Virginia Horse and Wine Country. They generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in local economic activity.

Dr. William Allison, chair of the Virginia Gold Cup Association, stressed the importance of the partnership saying, “The Virginia Gold Cup and Great Meadow share a deep-rooted history. This venue was established as a permanent home for our cherished event, and the collaboration between our organizations ensures we can continue to celebrate the traditions, camaraderie, and world-class competition that define the Gold Cup. We look forward to an unforgettable 100th running in May 2025.”

The Great Meadow Foundation and the Virginia Gold Cup Association expressed gratitude to the Virginia Equine Alliance as well as the many supporters, sponsors and partners “who have made these advancements possible. Together, these collaborative efforts ensure that Great Meadow continues to be a cornerstone of the equestrian community and a destination for excellence in steeplechase racing,” they said.

The agreement was expected given the comments of newly elected Foundation chair Karen Crane a few weeks ago when she said, “I can’t imagine not being able to work this out. We need each other.”

“I don’t see any reason why we can’t get things back to safety for the horse and the rider. That’s always our paramount concern.” What’s more, Crane said, “The original goal when Nick Arundel bought this property was to have a permanent home for the Virginia Gold Cup and the International Gold Cup.”

“We all want the same thing. Great racing in Virginia,” she said.

The following appeared in The Racing Biz February 6, 2025 and was written by Frank Vespe

R. Larry Johnson, who put his stamp on the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred industry on racetracks, in breeding sheds, and in boardrooms in Maryland and Virginia, passed away Feb. 4. He was 78.

“He was successful in all parts of the horse business — standing stallions, selling yearlings and breeding good, competitive racehorses,” said Cricket Goodall, executive director of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association (MHBA), on whose board he sat. “He had strong opinions which often resulted in good ideas. He challenged us all to be better.” 

“Larry Johnson was one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever come across, an absolutely integral part of the Virginia breeding and racing industry,” said Andrew Motion, a neighbor of Johnson’s who assisted Johnson in navigating the commercial breeding landscape, and whose brother Graham Motion trained off-and-on for Johnson for decades.

“He was so helpful with trying to sort things out legislatively, with the horsemen’s groups, and with bright ideas and ways to go about things,” Motion added.

Johnson, a forensic accountant by trade, built a powerful breeding and racing operation notable both for its success – runners he owned himself or in partnership earned more than $20 million – and its humble beginnings.

The best horses Johnson has bred – including his homebred multiple graded stakes winner Future Is Now and Belmont Stakes runner-up Mindframe, whom he sold for $600,000 as a yearling – stem from the same family.

“It starts with a $2,500 Charles Town horse named Ran’s Chick,” said Johnson’s longtime trainer, and friend, Michael Trombetta. “That was the start of it all. I mean, truly, he built something that was a one-in-a-million kind of thing.”

Ran’s Chick, when bred to Parfaitement, whose entrymate in the 1983 Preakness, Deputed Testamony, was the most recent Maryland-bred winner of the Middle Jewel, produced Special Kell.

Special Kell begat Star Kell, the granddam of Mindframe, and Magical Meadow, the granddam of Future Is Now.

“Whether it’s sisters or nieces or mother, it all goes back Ran’s Chick and the foal she had, Special Kell,” Johnson told The Racing Biz this past June. “Special Kell has just been phenomenal… If [Mindframe] would achieve Grade 1 success, the influence it would have on the pedigrees of so many of my horses… it’s just overwhelming.”

Racing in Johnson’s distinctive white-and-black silks, his horses found success up and down the East Coast, from Florida’s Gulfstream Park to Canada’s Woodbine. Among the better runners he campaigned were the graded stakes winners Spun Glass, Sincerely, and Street Magician, later a sire, as well as Despite the Odds, who ran for Johnson and partners and later was a sire.

Speaking of Street Magician: One year Sheikh Mohammed invited owners of Darley-connected horses to Dubai – on the Sheikh’s dime – and treated them to an extremely first-class visit. Following Street Magician’s win in the Grade 3 Hirsch Jacobs Stakes at Pimlico, Johnson, known for his casual dress and demeanor, was among those invited, since Street Magician was by the Darley stallion Street Cry.

“Larry called me, and he said, ‘You ain’t gonna believe this,’” Trombetta remembered. “’I got an invitation from Sheikh Mohammed to go to Dubai.’ And I said, ‘You gotta go.’”

When Johnson was introduced to Sheikh Mohammed as the owner of Street Magician, the Sheikh made, in Johnson’s telling, the universal “raising the roof” sign.

“Did Sheikh Mohammed just raise the roof for Street Magician?” Johnson asked in laughing wonderment years later.

Johnson also made a stamp on the sport through his roles on various boards of directors. In addition to his time with the MHBA, he served for years on the board of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and pushed to make the organization more accountable to its membership. More recently, he has served with the Virginia Thoroughbred Association (VTA) and had joined the board of the state’s horsemen’s group, the Virginia HBPA.

In his work in Maryland, Johnson was among a small group of people who helped design a more robust system of breeder bonuses that helped the state’s breeding industry bounce back from the lean years that preceded the mid-2010s. In 2012, the state’s foal crop had dropped to just 371; nine years later, it topped 700.

“He was instrumental in shaping the direction of Maryland racing,” said Bruce Quade, who was chairman of the Maryland Racing Commission at the time. “Both behind the scenes and in the spotlight, he helped make racing successful.”

Johnson, like Quade, originally was from Maryland’s Prince George’s County. Johnson later graduated from the University of Maryland, and though Quade said he at first felt a bit intimidated – Johnson was already “well established and highly respected,” Quade said, while he was new to the Commission – the two later became close friends, bonding over their shared background and commitment to improving Maryland racing.

“He was a true friend to me personally, and a steady hand for Maryland racing,” Quade said. “He could see the big picture and guide others to see it, too.”

Johnson also was instrumental in the work to develop Virginia’s certified residency program, which incentivizes horses spending part of their formative years in the Old Dominion. In 2022, he was both Maryland’s leading earner of Maryland Fund awards – the sixth straight year he earned that title – and the leading earner of Virginia certified developer bonuses.

“He helped develop [the certified program] at a time when we didn’t have racing, and our farms and our infrastructure were disappearing,” said VTA executive director Debbie Easter. “Not only did it do what we hoped as far as saving our farms and allowing them to grow, but it’s done other things, like help fill races at Colonial Downs and improve the quality of horses there.”

Johnson is survived by his daughters Tracy and Kelly, as well as grandchildren. Arrangements are pending.

Though many of Johnson’s best-known horses were Maryland-breds, in more recent years, he had moved much of his operation to his Legacy Farm in Bluemont, VA. He had plans to breed over 20 mares this year, a roster that Andrew Motion said was “the best list of stallions I’ve ever seen Larry breed to.”

“His program was really set up to pop, and as his program popped, it was going to be good for Virginia,” Easter said.

“It’s a great loss to Maryland and Virginia,” she added.

For all his work on boards, Johnson’s first love was the game itself: breeding, racing, and handicapping.

“It’s a great ride,” Johnson said prior to the 2024 Belmont weekend, during which his homebred Future Is Now won the Grade 2 Intercontinental and Mindframe, whom he bred and sold, ran second in the Belmont Stakes (G1). “I don’t do this to necessarily make money. I try not to lose money. But it’s weeks like this: if this doesn’t get you going, you really ought to just go into hibernation someplace.”

“He loved this sport; he loved this game, understood all the ins and outs,” said Trombetta, who worked with Johnson for nearly 30 years. “In all the years I’ve worked with him, we never had one cross word or disagreement. Truly, one of my very best friends.”

~ Exclusive seating options and experiences unveiled for Virginia’s first-ever Kentucky Derby qualifying race including limited General Admission tickets at fan-friendly prices ~

NEW KENT, Va. (January 8, 2025)—Colonial Downs Racetrack today unveiled a series of special ticket and experience packages for the Virginia Derby on March 15 including a limited number of General Admission tickets now available at the fan-friendly price of just $5. Additional seating, ticket, and experience options have been created especially for this historic day of racing on the Road to the Kentucky Derby including special trackside seats and boxes, the Trackside Dining Pavilion and Lounge, the Homestretch Derby Party Tent, and an elevated experience in the elegant Colonial Downs Jockey Club.

All tickets are now on sale at www.ColonialDowns.com. Quantities are extremely
limited, so fans are encouraged to buy their tickets today.

“We are pulling out all the stops to make this historic Virginia Derby an unforgettable experience for Virginia race fans,” said Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing Operations at Colonial Downs. “Whether you’re looking for a premium experience in the jockey club, a great time in the trackside party tent, or a general admission ticket to experience the thrill of racing along the rail, we have ticket options to make this a great day at the races. Just like our horses, these tickets are going to go fast so get yours today!”

This will be a historic day of racing as the Virginia Derby will serve for the first time ever as a Kentucky Derby qualifier race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with the winning horse securing a spot in the field for the 151st Kentucky Derby at historic Churchill Downs on May 3, 2025. All ticketed guests will receive a special commemorative keepsake to remember this momentous day in Virginia racing.

For this special day of racing, a limited supply of 5,000 general admission tickets
will be available for the fan-friendly price of just $5.

Colonial Downs is also offering unique ticketing options exclusively for the Virginia
Derby including:
Apron Box Seats and Group Packages

• Reserved trackside table and seating for six – Price: $300/box; Can be purchased in increments of 1, 2, 4, or 6 boxes; Amenities: Convenient access to food, beverage, and wagering locations and a viewing area along the rail.
• Trackside Pavilion Dining and Lounge – Premium trackside table with seating for eight and access to covered lounge area; Price: $680/table; Amenities: Exclusive buffet included, full cash bar, easy access to wagering locations, viewing area along the rail and bleacher seating
• Jockey Club
• Bar High Seats: $75/person including premium buffet and full cash bar; Seats assigned at check-in; Viewing area in the front of the High Rollers Bar and access to wagering locations
• Tables for Two, Four, or Six: $95/person including premium buffet and full cash bar; Tables assigned at check-in; Direct views of the races and access to wagering locations
• Tables for Eight: $600/table including premium buffet and full cash bar; Tables assigned at check-in; Viewing area in the front of the High Rollers Bar and access to wagering locations.
• For the 2025 race season, Colonial Downs will host a special March meet with races
  on Thursday, March 13, Friday, March 14, and culminating with the Virginia Derby
  Day on Saturday, March 15. Derby day will feature at least ten races beginning at
  noon and culminating in the Virginia Derby later that afternoon. This special three-day spring race event is part of a 44-day race season at Colonial Downs that will run
  from Thursday, March 13 to Saturday, March 15 and continue with 41 days of live
  racing each Wednesday through Saturday from July 9 through September 13 with a
  special day of racing on Labor Day, Monday, September 1. The season will include the
  annual Colonial Downs Festival of Racing on Saturday, August 9 featuring a slate of
  high-profile graded stakes races.
  

Horse racing dates and events for the 2025 calendar year in Virginia are set and include a healthy combination of thoroughbred, standardbred and steeplechase competitions that will be held at venues across the Commonwealth. 

The season kicks off March 1 with the Rappahannock Hunt Point-to-Point (PTP) meet at The Hill in Boston, Virginia and concludes November 1 with the Montpelier Hunt Races at James Madison’s homestead in Montpelier Station. In between, six more spring Point-to-Points will be conducted — three of which feature a sprinkling of National Steeplechase Association (NSA) sanctioned jump races — in addition to six full NSA sanctioned jump meets.

Following Rappahannock’s kickoff event, the PTP schedule continues with the Warrenton Hunt PTP March 15 at the Airlee Race Course, the Piedmont Fox Hounds PTP March 22 at the Salem Course in Upperville, the Old Dominion Hounds PTP April 5 at the Ben Venue Farm in Ben Venue, the Blue Ridge Hunt PTP April 12 at the Woodley Farm in Berryville, the Loudoun Hunt PTP April 20 at Morven Park in Leesburg, and the Middleburg Hunt PTP April 27 at Glenwood Park. The first five PTP’s are on Saturdays and the last two fall on Sundays. Information on these meets can be found at centralentryoffice.com.      

“We’ve had a good experience running sanctioned steeplechase races at the Old Dominion and Blue Ridge meets and will be adding the Loudoun Hunt Meet at Morven Park to the mix this year,” said NSA Director of Racing Bill Gallo. “We thought it would be good to reach out to Point-to-Point meets that were well established and had good racecourses that were safe to race over and give them a chance to expand their racing opportunities. We refer to them as hybrid meets now since they include regulated NSA sanctioned races and other races they traditionally have run that are not regulated. These mixed meets give Point-to-Points a bit more validity and substance.”

A trio of one-day NSA sanctioned jump meets will also be held in spring with another four-pack of events scheduled in fall. The Middleburg Spring Races are slated for April 19 at Glenwood Park followed by the Foxfield Spring Races April 26 in Charlottesville and the 100^th running of the Virginia Gold Cup Races on May 3. Autumn’s docket includes the Foxfield Fall Races October 5, Middleburg Fall Races on October 11, International Gold Cup card on October 25 and the 90^th running of the Montpelier Hunt Races a week later.     

“Montpelier had their strongest race card ever in 2024 and had the biggest crowd that I’ve ever seen there,” noted Gallo. “And Foxfield put a tremendous amount of effort into their course and are presenting themselves beautifully with major renovations and increased purses.” 

Two major additions to the Virginia steeplechase stakes schedule that debuted in 2024 will continue in 2025 — the Grade 1 Commonwealth Cup, which was run during the spring Gold Cup card, and the Grade 1 Will Allison Stakes, which was contested during fall’s International Gold Cup card. The pair represented the first Grade 1 steeplechase stakes ever to appear on the Commonwealth’s calendar.  Additional meet details are available at nationalsteeplechase.com.   

A total of 44 pari-mutuel thoroughbred race days at Colonial Downs in New Kent were approved by the Virginia Racing Commission at its December meeting and include two separate meets for the first time ever. A new three-day spring meet will debut March 13 -15 and feature dirt racing only, including the $500,000 Virginia Derby, to be followed by a 41-day summer stand from July 9 – September 13. 

The Virginia Derby, now a points race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, will transition to the dirt after 21 years on turf and highlight the spring session on March 15. Another feature at the spring meet is the $250,000 Virginia Oaks, which is now a Kentucky Oaks points race. The winning horse in each race will receive 50 points toward the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby or Oaks respectively. The second- through fifth-place finishers will earn 25-15-10-5 points on a sliding scale. Post time will be 12:30 PM on Thursday and Friday and 12 Noon Saturday for the Virginia Derby card. 

The expanded summer thoroughbred schedule will feature racing four days per week, Wednesday through Saturday, with a post time of 12:30 PM except Fridays when twilight cards start at 4 PM. Racing also will be offered on Labor Day, Monday, September 1. Sundays will serve as a make-up day for any cards that are cancelled during the meet. 

Colonial’s “Festival of Racing” and its three graded stakes — the G1 Arlington Million, G2 Beverly D and G2 Secretariat — is slated for Saturday, August 9 and will have a special 12 Noon post time. Racing also will start at Noon on Saturday, September 6 for a stakes-laden card that will replace the former Virginia Derby program — which had traditionally been held toward meet’s end. Steeplechase races will also be mixed in throughout the campaign as well. More details are at colonialdowns.com.

A pair of seven-week pari-mutuel standardbred meets totaling 28 race days will be held at Shenandoah Downs in Woodstock, pending VRC approval. The spring campaign will extend from April 26 – June 8 while the tenth annual fall season will run from September 13 – October 26. Four additional non-wagering harness cards will be contested during the Shenandoah County Fair from August 27-30. 

First post is scheduled for 1:05 PM every Saturday and Sunday at the historic Shenandoah County Fairgrounds which has hosted pacers and trotters on its half mile oval for 105 years. Key stakes include a round of eight Virginia Breeder’s championship races for 2- and 3-year-olds, each with a purse of $80,000-plus, and four Virginia Sired Stakes races for 2-year-olds with a $60,000-plus purse. More harness racing details are available at shenandoahdowns.com.  

Information on Virginia’s overall horse racing and breeding industry can be found at virginiahorseracing.com.