WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

THE CIRCULAR FIRING SQUAD – Credit VA HBPA ExecDir Frank Petramalo for describing the Mine That Bird crew's attempt to block Rachel Alexandra’s running in the Preakness as a “circular firing squad.” We could not have put it any better.

We figured the MTB gang would provide some interesting moments post Kentucky Derby, but the brief consideration by co-owner Mark Allen to enter Indy Express in the race to max out the field at 14 Triple Crown eligible horses at the expense of the super filly was a zig we didn’t expect among the zags.

We can certainly appreciate Allen wanting his Derby winning jockey back in the irons for the second jewel in Baltimore, but entering a horse with no discernible credentials isn’t the solution to retaining Borel.

Imagine the outcry is something were to happen to a horse who was entered in a race for the stated purpose of keeping another horse out – never mind that the outcast may well have been the favorite at post time.

Then, as they say, cooler head’s prevailed.

All the details are below.

VTA ELECTIONS – The votes have been counted and the VTA membership has elected the Nominating Committee whose task it will be to construct a new VTA Board of Directors. The membership was asked to select three current members of the VTA board and three non-members. They chose Debbie Easter, Wayne Chatfield-Taylor and Anne Poulson from the Board and Mark Deane, Reynolds Cowles and Nellie Mae Cox from the membership.

VTA members will receive a letter in the very near future providing contact information for the members of the Nominating Committee. If you wish to serve on the Board or you would like to nominate someone, please feel free to contact someone on the Nominating Committee. Don't be shy.

Keep an eye on your mailbox (the regular U.S. mail version) for more details.

NOTHING SAYS TRIPLE CROWN LIKE A USED TV...? Colonial Downs is having a promotion at the New Kent racetrack looking to draw a crowd for the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

They sent out a notice last week saying: The Preakness is only one week away (Saturday May 16th )!!!

Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent is the most comfortable spot to be on Preakness Day and this year, the track will host a Used TV Sale & Preakness Bazaar as well!

Doors open at 10 AM for the TV sale and Bazaar, which is being held on first floor general admission area. The 3rd floor Jockey Club Dining Room will also open at 10 AM. Pimlico’s first race is at 10:15 AM and the Preakness itself will go off at 6:15 PM. There’s free general admission until 1:00 PM--it will be $2 afterwards. Jockey Club packages are available for $15 and include a reserved seat, Pimlico program & an official Preakness glass. To make reservations, call 804-966-7223, ext. 1032.

Hey, Circuit City is bankrupt, so who knows?

VTA BLOG – In the past three weeks and change, the VTA Blog/Insider has had over 5,000 visits. Thanks to all of you who visit regularly and thanks to all the Virginia-bred winners, Quality Road, Salmo and the Triple Crown for getting it jump started.