BAIRD KILELD IN CAR CRASH

West Virginia-based trainer Dale Baird, the winningest thoroughbred trainer with more than 9,400 victories, died in a crash along an icy highway when he lost control of his pickup truck while hauling a livestock trailer Sunday, Dec. 23, 2007 in Eastern Indiana.

He was 72.

EVANS' NIGHT LIGHT WINS N.Y. STAKE

by Jason Shandler, The Blood-Horse

Edward P. Evans' Nite Light stalked the pace, took over at the half-mile pole and easily extended his lead in the stretch, taking the $75,000 Gallant Fox Handicap by 10 comfortable lengths, and in the process denied Successful Affair’s bid to repeat in the 1 5/8-mile route on Dec. 29 at Aqueduct.

It was the third consecutive victory for the lightly-raced 3-year-old son of Thunder Gulch and his second straight stakes score. Back on Dec. 5 at Aqueduct, Nite Light defeated Successful Affair by a neck in the 1 ½-mile Coyote Lakes Stakes.

Starting for only the second time in nearly seven months, Successful Affair was a distant second as the 4-5 betting favorite, while entry-mate Malibu Moonshine was third. Nolan’s Cat came in fourth. The final time was 2:47.45.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Nite Light was content to follow pacesetter Angelic Aura around for the first mile, with Successful Affair and Malibu Moonshine a little further back. Angelic Aura, who defeated Nite Light at Belmont Park back in September, posted moderate opening fractions of :24.49, :49.85, 1:15.41 and 1:41.73.

But by the time he neared the half-mile pole Angelic Aura began to tire, handing the lead off to Nite Light, who was just beginning to find his best stride. At the top of the stretch Successful Affair had taken over second, but Nite Light was extending his lead under Mike Luzzi with every step.

Out of four-time grade I winner Lite Light, by Majestic Light, Nite Light was a $190,000 purchase by Evans at the Keeneland 2004 November Breeding Stock Sale. The bay colt did not race as a 2-year-old, instead making his debut in June of this year. He has now won four of seven starts, earning more than $160,000.

Nite Light, who was bred in Kentucky by Foxfield, went off at odds of 3-1, paying $8.80 to win. The exacta (4-1) was worth $17.60, while the trifecta (4-1-5) returned $50.
Angelic Aura tired for fifth, while Evil Storm finished last.

(AP Photo/New York Racing Association, Adam Coglianese)

MINOR PURCHASES HISTORIC PROPERTY

Virginia entrepreneur, Halsey Minor has purchased Carter's Grove Plantation -- an 18th-century mansion built by one of Virginia's founding families -- for $15.3 million from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

The property includes a Georgian-style mansion and 400 acres that are subject to a conservation easement, as well as 76 acres adjoining the property.

The foundation has owned the 35-room, two-story home and land since 1969. Citing financial pressure, the foundation announced plans to close Carter's Grove to the public in 2002. The home was shut in 2003.

Minor, who was born in Charlottesville in 1964 is a technology entrepreneur who founded CNET in 1993. Minor ran CNET for 8 years during which time it became one of the Internet's first companies to achieve profitability. The company's many achievements were recognized in 1999 when CNET was selected as one of only 2 Internet companies to join the elite NASDAQ 100 which included companies such as Intel, Microsoft, Cisco, Home Depot, and Dell.

Minor also developed two other spin-off companies which independent of CNET became public entities: Vignette Software and Snap/NBCi. Minor is currently investing in new companies in a broad range of fields via Minor Ventures.

Minor attended Woodberry Forest School and the University of Virginia, where he was a member of St. Elmo Hall and received a degree in anthropology. After graduation, he worked at Merrill Lynch, before moving on to start his own company.

In the late 1980s, he collaborated briefly with Jeff Bezos, the future founder of Amazon.com on a personalized news business plan. Minor was also the founding and largest investor as well as silent partner in the development of salesforce.com.

In November, Virginia-based bloodstock agent and former VTA president, Debbie Easter purchased Dream Rush for $3.3 million at the Fasig-Tipton sale on behalf of Minor.

2008 COLONIAL MEET AT 45 DAYS

(By Nick Hahn/Blood-Horse)

Seeking overall growth in horse racing, the Virginia Racing Commission Dec. 19 extended Colonial Downs’ request for 40 days of live Thoroughbred racing to 45 for 2008.

While the number of days was set, factors could affect the specific dates for racing. In the commission’s approval is a window to race five days a week over nine weeks during the 10-week period between June 6 and Aug. 12.

In 2007, Colonial Downs raced 40 days from June 15-Aug. 7. In recent years, the meet has started the weekend after the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

“The reason for the flexibility was to be in communication with Maryland so that we’re working together,” said Stan Bowker, the commission’s executive director. “We have to be cognizant of what Maryland is doing to make sure that racing personnel and horses are available.”

Virginia horsemen pursued the increase in racing days. The effort was led by Frank Petramalo, executive director of the Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.

“The whole racing program in Virginia depends on growth to survive,” Petramalo said. “Virginia-based trainers and owners want to run and play in their own ballpark.”

Petramalo said at 45 days, Virginia has the fewest Thoroughbred racing days of any major racing state in the country followed by Arkansas with 58 days. Remaining racing states offer at least 100 days of racing.

Under the Virginia HBPA plan, average daily purses including stakes would remain at $226,000, but with the longer meet, average overnight purses would increase slightly from $152,000 to $156,000. Colonial Downs offered a plan that would have maintained the 40-day meet but would have increased average daily purses 6% to $234,000.

“We fit right into that window,” Colonial Downs general manager Iain Woolnough said. “We wanted the daily purses to go up to stay competitive with states that have other sources of revenue. We’ll go along and work out what’s best for racing in Virginia. It makes my job a little tougher.”

Under both scenarios the purses for major stakes--the $1-million Virginia Derby (gr. IIT), the $750,000 Colonial Turf Cup (gr. IIIT), the $200,000 All Along (gr. IIIT), and the $200,000 Virginia Oaks (gr. IIIT)--would remain the same.

In addition to working with Maryland, Woolnough noted the readiness of the Colonial Downs turf course would determine when the meet will begin.

“In 2007, we would have been fine running a week earlier,” he said. “In 2006, I’m not so sure it would have worked. We want to make sure the root base is where it should be.”

In other business, the commission approved the renewal the four licensed account wagering companies operating in Virginia: TVG, XpressBet, Twin Spires, and Colonial Downs/The Racing Channel

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

From everyone at the Virginia Thoroughbred Association and the Virginia H.B.P.A., the warmest wishes for this holiday season!

EVE FOUT 1929-2007

(By: Arthur W. Arundel, Publisher, Fauquier Times-Democrat - 12/05/2007)

Eve Prime Fout of the Plains, a giant in open space land protection and horse sports in Virginia, died Wednesday, Dec. 5, at the University of Virginia Hospital after a brief illness. She was 78.

The mother of three and widow of the late horseman Paul Fout.

Mrs. Fout was a passionate lifelong horsewoman who was born in Connecticut but grew up in Warrenton, where she moved with her parents when she was 10 years old.
She had deep roots in fox hunting and equestrian sports, and rode in horse shows and cross-country racing events.

Fox hunting, Eve Fout once said, helped develop an equally passionate facet of her character: her love of the Virginia countryside and her fierce determination to preserve it.

An active supporter and the chairman over the past decade of the nine-county, Warrenton-based Piedmond Environmental Council, she is widely credited with saving thousands of acres of open land in this region from commercial development. She played an instrumental role in the successful battle to prevent Disney Corp. from building a huge theme park near the Manassas battlefield.

Paul Fout, who died in 2005, and his wife Eve were a formidable partnership in the steeplechase, horse show and foxhunting worlds. They settled in The Plains and formed a racing stable named Coosaw after a family plantation in Beaufort, S.C.

Mrs. Fout was an active rider until just days before her death. She won the North American Field Hunter Championship with Morning Pleasure in October. She hunted with the Middleburg Orange County Beagles several times a week. Mrs. Fout was the first woman trainer to saddle the winner of the Virginia Gold Cup, with Moon Rock in 1964.

Mrs. Fout was instrumental in supporting the local U.S. Pony Club chapter, the Middleburg-Orange County Pony Club.

She was also a renowned equine artist, co-founder of The American Academy of Equine Art, with works - drawings, oil paintings and, later in life, bronze sculptures - on display in the Sporting Library in Middleburg and in private homes around the world.

In addition to her role with the Piedmont Environmental Council, she was an active board member of a range of organizations involving conservation, equestrian sports and sporting art, including the Outstanding Virginian Board, Friends of Sporting Art of Virginia, and the Scenic Virginia Board of Trustees.

She was also on the board of Virginia Gold Cup Association. Among her many contributions, one of the most significant was her hand in the birth of Great Meadow Field Events Center near her home.

This included helping Great Meadow founder Nick Arundel arrange a gift of the classic 1930's King of Spain and other race trophies from Pennsylvania's Rolling Rock steeplechase meeting to the Great Meadow Foundation when it suddenly was evicted from its race course at the time the new Virginia Gold Cup race course was being established by Arundel in l984.

Mrs. Fout is survived by her three children, Doug, of The Plains, Nina, of Middleburg, and Virginia, now living in California.

Doug Fout has been champion steeplechase jockey and continues managing a public training operation at Coosaw, and has conditioned the likes of Eclipse Award winner Hirapour.

Nina Fout has been active in foxhunting, horse showing and three-day eventing. She was a member of the bronze medal-winning Olympic three-day event team on one of her father's former racehorses, Three Magic Beans.

Virginia Fout grew up fox hunting and horse showing. She operates an event-coordination business in California, but is still active in the horse show world.

In addition to her children, Mrs. Fout is survived by her brother, Bill Prime of Warrenton; two grandchildren, Dunn and Caroline Fout; and her stepmother, Inga Prime.
Services will be held at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 9114 John S. Mosby Highway, Upperville.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to MOC Beagles, PO Box 346, Middleburg, VA 20118, or to Piedmont Environmental Council, 45 Horner Street, Warrenton, VA 20186.

(Photos by Douglas Lees, Famous Horsewomen of Virginia courtesy of Dr. Francis Bush)

IS MAGNA SUICIDAL OR JUST PLAIN DUMB?

Every time I get a little bit exasperated with racing and breeding here in good old Virginia, I simply glance north to Maryland.

Last week’s news of the firing of popular track executive Lou Raffetto made we wonder if, in fact, Magna is suicidal and Maryland is simply doomed?

In a press release issues last week, the race track conglomerate that has done little lately except for hemorrhage money and alienate people, said Raffetto would leave immediately to “pursue other interest.” For some odd reason, nobody was buying the company line.

The firestorm was swift and hot: "The press release is a total fabrication," Maryland Racing Commission chairman John Franzone said. "Magna basically told him to put his stuff in a cardboard box and head to the door."

"This decision is unequivocally a disaster," Franzone said. "I was on the phone today with [Magna chairman Frank] Stronach, pleading with him not to do this ... but he said, 'No. Got to change.' In my mind, they lose all credibility. It's now below zero, and it almost borders on malfeasance."

Hardly what one might call a mild rebuke?

From the never understated and often combative Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, Raffetto received the closest thing to an endorsement he was likely to get. Wayne Wright, executive director, said: "Lou Raffetto deserved a better fate. "He was actually dedicated to racing. I don't know if Magna has anyone in their employ as dedicated as him."

"He's been fired," Alan Foreman, MTHA attorney, said. "Usually, that means you've done something wrong, but there is nothing to indicate that here. There's nothing but disgust over this move. Lou was in charge of the one asset Magna had performing well in the country."
There’s a theme here. Everybody seems to agree, and if you know Maryland racing, you know that is rarely the case.

Enter Chris Dragone.

Dragone may be a nice guy, and a good executive, but Maryland is Maryland.

I knew Rafetto. I worked with him briefly. He was extremely knowledgeable, but more importantly, he was a racetrack guy. Not a gaming guy, but a guy who completely understands all the stakeholder’s views. He knows racing both frontside and backside.

On the other hand, Magna seems to prefer executives who are experts in the gaming aspect of the business, and not the racing component.

That’s the wrong fit for Maryland. The Maryland horsemen are as old school as they come, and if Magna plans to solve the problems facing the industry, they will need the horsemen’s support and compromise on tough issues like cutting live racing days. Raffetto had their trust, and was making problems resolving major issues.

With slots on the horizon, Magna’s timing could not have been any worse, but bad timing seems to be the only type of timing they have.

Lou Raffetto was perfect for Maryland. He knew the game. He could be tough when needed, and he was, by all accounts, always fair and opened minded. Maryland horsemen respected him, and that’s saying something.

Dragone has big shoes to fill while standing on a damn slippery slope.

Good luck. -- G. Petty

MID-ATLANTIC STEROIDS BAN OFFICIAL

(http://www.bloodhorse.com/ - by Tom LaMarra)

As expected, states in the Mid-Atlantic region have announced they are working to implement a ban on anabolic steroids in racehorses effective April 1, 2008.

The regulations in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia will employ the model rule devised by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium and endorsed by the Association of Racing Commissioners International.

A joint release was issued Nov. 30. It said the April 1 date was chosen because horses need up to 120 days to clear any trace of steroids from their systems.

In mid-October, The Blood-Horse reported the six states hoped to have the regulations in place by April 1, 2008. Representatives of regulatory bodies in the region met the week of Oct. 1 to discuss the race-day steroids ban, among other things.

Alan Foreman, chief executive officer of the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and chairman of the regular meetings of the group of Mid-Atlantic regulators, at the time said the states were heading in the same direction. “They’ll move relatively swiftly and in unison,” Foreman said.

On Nov. 28, the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission and Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission both announced plans to prohibit use of anabolic and androgenic steroids in racehorses effective April 1, 2008, and March 1, 2008, respectively. Pennsylvania regulators were keen to get the word out given a recommendation that steroid use should be stopped as of Dec. 1 to ensure there are no positive tests this coming spring.

The Mid-Atlantic announcement comes just days before the start of the University of Arizona Symposium on Racing and Gaming, at which many industry groups have satellite meetings. Medication regulation figures prominently in various discussions.

Mid-Atlantic regulators earlier in the decade were successful in adopting similar rules for race-day medication. Uniformity is considered especially critical in the region because many horses ship from state to state on a daily basis to race.

Said Peter Burnett, chairman of the Virginia Racing Commission: “Other countries already ban the use of anabolic steroids in racing, and this is an important step in improving the integrity of horse racing in the United States.”

PICTURE OF THE DAY

LEGENDS. Bill Hartack on board legendary sire Northern Dancer in the winner's circle following the Kentucky Derby with owner/breeder E.P. Taylor.