DERBY FEVER

Visionaire walks off of the track during the morning training for the Kentucky Derby on April 28, 2008 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Colonel John (r) walks on the track during the morning training for the Kentucky Derby on April 29, 2008 at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Smooth Air (l) runs on the track during the morning training for the Kentucky Derby on April 29, 2008 at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Big Brown (r) with exercise rider Michelle Nevin aboard walks to the track during the morning training for the Kentucky Derby on April 29, 2008 at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

An exercise rider is picture aboard her horse at sunrise during the morning training for the Kentucky Derby on April 28, 2008 at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Trainer Barclay Tagg, right, leads Big Truck, (r) one of his two Kentucky Derby hopefuls, off the track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Sunday, April 27, 2008. Exercise rider Kristen Troxell is aboard Big Truck. (AP Photo/Garry Jones)

VA-OWNED REBELLION (GB) WINS GRADE 2 STAKES

(from the Blood-Horse)

Hickory Tree Stables’ Rebellion, idle since running eighth in the Oct. 27 NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT), stormed down the lane April 12 to catch longshot Elite Squadron by a head in the final strides in the $400,000 Commonwealth Stakes (gr. II) (VIDEO) on the Keeneland Polytrack.

Trained by Graham Motion, Rebellion was eighth and six-wide after a half-mile in the seven-furlong event. It was not until the stretch drive that the 5-year-old son of Mozart got into gear under Edgar Prado. He was finally able to run down the longtime leader, who went off at 38-1.

In recording his sixth win in 15 lifetime starts, the English-bred Rebellion earned his first graded stakes win. Out of the Lahib mare Last Resort, he was bred by Darley.

The final time on a fast Polytrack surface was 1:21.40. Medzendeekron finished third, three-quarters of a length in front of Forefathers.

"He didn't run badly in the Breeders' Cup," Motion said. "He had a rough trip. We wanted to run him about a month ago, but he held out and it was worth it. Thanks to him for being so patient. He's a pretty special horse."

Tom Walters’ Elite Squadron, who was coming off a third-place effort in the Richter Scale (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park, led from almost the outset under John Velazquez, posting fractions of :23.05, :46.32, and 1:09.53. The 4-year-old Officer colt had a one-length lead at the top of the stretch, with Thousand Words and Forefathers right on his heels.

Rebellion was fourth with a furlong to go, but was eating up ground from the middle of the racetrack. He was all out in nipping Elite Squadron at the wire.

"The horse ran real well," said Prado, who captured the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) one mount later on Monba. "Graham was very confident coming into the race. He said the horse has always been a trooper, and he proved that today."

The winner paid $10.20, $5.40, and $4.60. The exacta (6-5) returned a hefty $368.40.
Prior to the Breeders’ Cup Mile Rebellion was second, a half-length back, in the Oct. 6 Phoenix Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland. His last victory came Sept. 13 in the Steinlen Stakes on the Belmont Park turf. The first eight races of his career were in England.

(Photo by Z/Keeneland)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

THE LAST DERBY PREP...Jockey David Flores raises his riding crop after guiding Behindatthebar to a win over Samba Rooster in the Lexington Stakes horse race at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, April 19, 2008.

(AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

In this photo released by Gulfstreatm Park, Peach Flambe, with jockey Eddie Castro up, captures the Cicada Stakes horse race at Gulfstream Park, Saturday, April 19, 2008 in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Cicada (foaled on May 9, 1959) at Christopher Chenery's Meadow Stud in Virginia, was considered by many the best horse Meadow Stud ever bred up until the arrival or Secretariat.

A bay filly by Bryan G, she was out of Satsuma whose dam was Hildene, a "blue hen" mare and the first horse owned by Chenery.

Cicada was trained by Casey Hayes, who also trained Hill Prince, First Landing, and Sir Gaylord. Hayes believed in starting his horses young so Cicada first raced in February of 1961 at Hialeah Park Race Track and won easily by four and a half lengths. She won one allowance race and lost one before entered into her first stakes race.

Still a bit green, she lost the Fashion Stakes but then romped home in her third allowance. And then she wired the Blue Hen Stakes, winning by five and a half lengths. Cicada was never out of the money in her sixteen starts as a two-year-old. She won eleven, six of those eleven were in a row. The money she earned in that first year was a record for her sex.

For her career, she ran 42 times winning 23 races and $783,674 -- also a record for a filly at the time.

As a broodmare she produced one stakes winner -- Cicada's Pride. She died at age 22 in 1981.

(AP Photo/Gulfstream Park, Adam Coglianese)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 3

In this photo released by the Maryland Jockey Club, Icabad Crane ridden by Jeremy Rose, wins the $150,000 Federico Tesio Stakes for three-year-olds at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Saturday, April 19, 2008.

(AP Photo/Maryland Jockey Club, Jim McCue)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 4

Sovereign Duty (3) with Danielle Hodsdon riding, clears a jump ahead of Orison with Matthew McCarron in the saddle on the way to winning the Grade I Royal Chase horse race at Keeneland race course in Lexington, Ky., Thursday, April 17, 2008.

(AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

GEORGIA CUP TO GOOD NIGHT SHIRT

Virginian Harold "Sonny" Via's Good Night Shirt, the reigning champion steeplechaser, returned to action with a convincing victory in Saturday's $100,000 Georgia Cup (NSA-G1) at the Atlanta Steeplechase.

Trained by Jack Fisher, Good Night Shirt caught Hip Hop (Count the Time) after the last fence and won by 1 1/2 lengths under regular jockey Willie Dowling. Mixed Up (Carnivalay) finished 14 1/4 lengths back in third. The Maryland-bred winner covered the two miles and 12 fences in 3:45 4/5 while winning the fourth Grade 1 of his career. Good Night Shirt collected $60,000 with the win and jumped to the top of the 2008 National Steeplechase Association standings.

But he had to work to do it.

Ranging alongside Hip Hop after the second-last, Good Night Shirt looked poised to claim an easy victory until he bungled the last fence with a sloppy leap. Landing two lengths behind Hip Hop, Good Night Shirt dug in again and closed the gap before drawing off at the finish.

"There was a little bit of pressure today -- back over two miles which he hasn't done for a while," Dowling said. "I got upsides (Hip Hop) at the last, but we didn't jump it well. He galloped all the way to the line. He doesn't know when he's beat. A lot of horses if they make a mistake at a fence like he did today would quit. He's got a lot of heart."

Bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Good Night Shirt won for the seventh time in his steeplechase career and pushed his career jump earnings to $508,973. Fisher bypassed a potential start in next week's Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings (NSA-G1) at Keeneland in favor of the Atlanta race due to weight assignments, and the move paid off despite less than ideal conditions.

"It's not quite his distance, he'd rather go three miles, and the race didn't set up for him at all," Fisher said. "He was done at the last, or should have been but he's got heart. A lot of horses are better than him probably, but they don't try like him. I didn't go to Keeneland because of the weight -- I can't give 20 pounds away and feel confident. I could come here and feel more confident."

Good Night Shirt will aim next for the $150,000 Iroquois (NSA-G1) at Nashville, Tennessee, on May 10. He won the 2007 running en route to the steeplechase Eclipse Award. -- Steeplechase Times and Brisnet.

(Photo by Tod Marks)

RANDOM NOTES FROM STRAWBERRY HILL

The folks with the Virginia State Fair that organize the Strawberry Hill races were kind enough to invite us to a reception at the races Saturday. Colonial Downs also offered us a nice invite to their infield tent as well.

Watching a steeplechase meet from the 4th floor Turf Club and sky suites was an interesting experience. It provided a great bird’s eye view of the course and the sea of tents and people that were parked on the Colonial Downs racetrack which still has no dirt cushion. That condition is left over from the harness meet which conducts racing on the stone dust base. That’s a perfect surface for a tailgate parking lot.

Oddly, while it’s a perfectly normal place to watch Thoroughbred racing, the Turf Club seemed rather detached from the steeplechase main event. Of course, the view of the races was perfect. It just seemed a little detached. Sort of like being in a sky suite for a football game – the glass between the fan and the field does more than keep out the cold. The television monitors are nice, but as odd as this sounds, we had a little trouble telling what was live and what was replay when we first arrived between the first and second race.

We crossed over the still dormant and very brown Bermuda grass turf course and headed over to the Colonial Downs hospitality area. One thing was very clear besides the simple fact that the BBQ smelled good. The area was comprised of three tents – food, bar and observation. The observation tent was on top of the infield tote board. Couldn’t help but think what a great ticket that would be for either the Colonial Turf Cup or the Virginia Derby. Of course crossing that course on a big race day could be tricky, but it seems that some fans would pay big bucks for such a choice view.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

GAYEGO...and jockey Mike Smith, (4), right, leads Z Fortune and jockey Robby Albarado (10) to the finish line to win the $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., Saturday, April 12, 2008.

(AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

MONBA...ridden by Edgar Prado charges to the finish line to win the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, Saturday, April 12, 2008. Cowboy Cal finished second and Kentucky Bear was third.

(AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 3

DOES ANY OF THIS LOOK AND SOUND FAMILIAR...? The horse "Lamtara", left, ridden by jockey Ibrahim Eid, wins the annual King Abdullah Prize race at the Gezira sporting club on the island of Zamalek in Cairo, Egypt Sunday, April 13, 2008.

The horses are mostly owned by Saudi Arabians and ridden by Egyptian jockeys, and the event attracts thousands of racegoers - many keen to place bets in a country where local citizens are largely forbidden to enter casinos and other gambling establishments.

(AP Photo/Victoria Hazou)

Comply Or Die Wins Grand National

Comply Or Die produced a gutsy jumping display to win the Grand National at Aintree and hand a first success in the famous steeplechase to jockey Timmy Murphy and trainer David Pipe on Saturday.

The 7-1 well-backed joint favorite triumphed by four lengths from King Johns Castle (20-1), ridden by Paul Carberry, with Snowy Morning (16-1) a further length-and-a-half back in third after the four-and-a-half mile 30-fence marathon.

Irishman Murphy, 33, was always going well on Comply Or Die and pushed him into the lead at the last of 30 fences. The nine-year-old then readily held off his pursuers to give Murphy his first National win in 12 attempts.

“I can’t believe it yet, it’s the best ride I’ve ever had over these fences,” Murphy told BBC Television.

"I just got into a lovely rhythm and he jumped fantastic."

“You can never rest on your laurels in the National, riding over those fences. I just concentrated on getting over every single one, I got over the last and then it’s a long way home."

“He kicked on again when Paul (Carberry) came at me. I’m delighted for David Pipe and my boss (David Johnson), it’s a race he’s always wanted to win.”

(Photos by Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images and Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images)

MORE FOAL PHOTOS

Colt by St Avril out of the Citidancer mare Fancy Dancer. Foaled at Run Aweigh Stable Farmville, Va.

(Rebecca Shepherd photo)

Colt by Rubyiat out of the Allens Prospect mare Dress Fancy. Foaled at Run Aweigh Stable Farmville, Va.

(Rebecca Shepherd photo)

STALLION FOR LEASE

Stallion Prospect - No Cost Lease.

ONE TOUGH DUDE (2001) by Rubyiat-Dress Fancy By Allen's Prospect

Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earned
34 9 5 7 $236,113

Raced in NY, NJ and Penn won from 6F to 1 1/16. He is fully vetted and available for viewing at Ingleside Training in Montpelier Station, Va.

This is a wonderful animal who will prove to be a great stallion,if given a chance. We simply don't have the facilities to stand a stallion but are looking for a good home for him. He has beat such horses as Icy Atlantic and deserves a second chance at stud. Contact us at Run Aweigh Stable 434-392-3811

SALUTER RETURNING TO GOLD CUP

On Saturday, May 3rd approximately 45,000 spectators will gather at Great Meadow for the 83rd running of the Virginia Gold Cup. This year’s race will commemorate the remarkable career of Saluter, the horse who retired from steeplechase racing after winning the Virginia Gold Cup Timber Stakes six consecutive years and retiring the beautiful Gold Cup trophy.

“We are delighted to have Saluter at this coming Virginia Gold Cup for one last visit at the age of 19 and pay tribute to the bronze statue of himself,” states Dr. William Allison, Virginia Gold Cup race chairman. “This is truly a remarkable horse and once was a super athlete. He has so much heart, he’s truly our equivalent to Seabiscuit.”

Often referred to as a “wonder horse”, Saluter’s career certainly didn’t start out as much. He was sent to trainer Jack Fisher at the age of four after a dismal record at the flat track and an equally dismal start over hurdles with his former owner.

Fisher offered to market Saluter as a field hunter and purchased him for $2,500. “I didn’t like him,” Fisher admits, “he didn’t seem to have much talent and he wasn’t a very good jumper.” The horse also continued to pull various antics including throwing Fisher on the way to the start of his first steeplechase in Avon, NY. However, Saluter won that race and caught Fisher by surprise with his unique ability to move out toward the end of the race.

In the spring of 1994, owners Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stern and Jack Fisher decided to take a chance on the five-year old and entered him in the Virginia Gold Cup. Saluter was the youngest Virginia Gold Cup winner since 1953. While the International Gold Cup (held in October at Great Meadow) eluded him, Saluter posted wins at many other race meets including the Middleburg Hunt Cup, Radnor Hunt Cup, Virginia Hunt Cup, St. James Hunt Cup, and the Marlborough Cup in Wiltshire, England in 1997.

In 1997, Saluter’s Marlborough Cup win in England was an exceptional triumph. The horse, having just come back from an injury, won the 1997 Virginia Gold Cup. That year, the World Timber Championship was established and offered $100,000 to any horse consecutively winning the Virginia Gold Cup and England’s only timber race, the Marlborough Cup. After a long, traumatic flight over, Saluter galloped to victory.

“Around the barn, he has always been just a regular horse,” Fisher explains and then points out the “love-hate” relationship the two have always had. “It was like this on the course too,” says Fisher, “I’d ask him to move out and he would sort of snarl for a while, then when he was ready to move ahead, he’d go. And boy, did he move ahead!”

Saluter broke many records. Between 1994 and 1999, he won the Virginia Gold Cup six times and he won the International Gold Cup in 1998 and 1999. His wins were always impressively come-from-behind dramatic with screaming fans packing the rails to see him run.

“He certainly drew a crowd,” states Allison, “Saluter brought renewed interest to the sport of steeplechase racing and the Virginia Gold Cup.”

Saluter remains close to the hearts of many Virginia Gold Cup fans. A permanent statue was erected beside the Great Meadow Race Course last fall. On May 3, Jack Fisher will bring his old friend back for one more look at the course where history was made. The Virginia Gold Cup and Great Meadow will acknowledge Jack Fisher and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stern for their contributions to the sport. Maybe more importantly, they will honor a remarkable horse. “I truly believe that he is a once-in-a-lifetime horse,” says Fisher.

The Virginia Gold Cup Races take place on Saturday, May 3 at Great Meadow in The Plains, Virginia.

For more information on the Virginia Gold Cup Races please call 540-347-2612 or visit the web site at www.vagoldcup.com.

“OFF TO THE RACES” RETURNS FOR 11th SEASON

Nick Hahn and “Derby Bill” Watson are “Off to the Races” again bringing statewide radio coverage of horse racing, Saturday mornings beginning April 5th. Post time for the live show’s 11th season on the Virginia Racehorse Network is 11:00 AM except in the Tidewater region where the show will air on a one-hour delay at Noon.

“Off to the Races” serves radio audiences in eight Virginia metropolitan areas and the rest of the world over the Internet. The Saturday morning program feature interviews with nationally recognized and Virginia racing figures that participate in summer racing at Colonial Downs. “Off to the Races” includes recaps of previous races including actual calls, handicapping, industry news and live reports from racetracks across the country.

Nick Hahn created Richmond, Virginia’s first weekly horse racing show, “Down the Stretch,” in 1998, that was co-hosted by Derby Bill. Hahn is the Virginia correspondent of “The Bloodhorse,” a national weekly horse racing magazine. As a freelance writer, Hahn covers national racing events such as The Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes).

Since 2003, Derby Bill hosted the show in Richmond entitled “Pickin’ the Ponies.” Between 1996 and 1998 as a guest on the weekday morning radio sports show, “SportsPhone with Big Al,” Bill selected three consecutive Kentucky Derby winners and 7 of 9 winners of Triple Crown races. Bill is the face of Colonial Downs, providing recaps and picks in between races on Colonial’s closed circuit simulcast television signal distributed to racetracks and other racing venues throughout the world.

“Off to the Races” is funded by a grant from the Virginia Racing Commission and sponsored in part by Colonial Downs, the Virginia Thoroughbred Association and the Virginia Horse Benevolent and Protective Association.

During Colonial’s live meet that begins June 9th, “Off to the Races” will broadcast live every Saturday from Colonial Downs. The Virginia Racehorse Network can be heard on the following stations:

Winchester (WTFX AM 610)
*Virginia Beach (WXTG FM 102.1)
*Hampton (WXTG AM 1490)
Richmond (WXGI AM 950)
Charlottesville (WTKR AM 840)
Roanoke (WPIN AM 810)
Martinsville (WODY AM 1160)
Blacksburg (WKEX AM 1430)
*Virginia Beach and Hampton will broadcast on a 1-hour delay, from Noon to 1PM

For more information about the Virginia Racehorse Network and racing in Virginia, contact Nick Hahn at 434.960.1456 or seahero93@embarqmail.com on the web.

COLONIAL DOWNS SALE ON HOLD

From Blood-Horse: Steven Roark, president of Jacobs Enterntainment, in a March 28 telephone interview said any potential sale of Colonial Downs and nine related off-track wagering outlets was on hold for now, and the company’s operation of the track was “business as usual.”

“Right now we are getting ready for the (July 19) Virginia Derby (gr. II) and the 2008 meet,” Roark said of the 45-day meet scheduled to run June 9- Aug. 6. “I mean if somebody came in and said, I will give you ‘dollar-sign blank’ for the racetrack, we might entertain that. I mean, everything is for sale. But right now, it’s business as usual.”