RACHEL ALEXANDRA OUT OF BELMONT, BOREL TO GO FOR PERSONAL TRIPLE CROWN ON DERBY WINNER

Rachel Alexandra will pass on the Belmont and Calvin Borel will go for a first ever jockey Triple Crown.

“While she is in great shape ... we feel Rachel deserves a well-earned vacation,” the Preakness-winning filly’s co-owner Jess Jackson said a statement issued late Friday afternoon.

Calvin Borel will get back on Mine The Bird with a chance to become the first jockey to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and the Belmont on different horses.

Mine That Bird, meanwhile, will attempt to become the 12th horse to complete the Derby-Belmont double and first since Thunder Gulch in 1995.

“Now that this decision is made, I am excited to come to New York and ride Mine That Bird (pictured below) in the Belmont Stakes,” Borel said, thanking the gelding’s trainer Chip Woolley and co-owners Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach for their patience before naming a rider.

Even though a 31st consecutive year has passed without a Triple Crown champion, this season has certainly captured the public’s attention – TV ratings were up as Rachel Alexandra became the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness, and that came two weeks after fans were still buzzing over Mine That Bird’s incredible 6¾-length win in the Derby.

“It may not be a Triple Crown year, but it’s as far as you can get without having one,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “It just all adds up to a lot of great stories going into the Belmont.”

The field for the 1½-mile Belmont, the longest and most grueling of the three races, is just about set with as many as 10 3-year-olds challenging the Derby winner, including Peter Pan Stakes winner Virginia-bred Charitable Man and several horses who ran in the Derby or the Preakness.

Jackson said it was a tough call, but he pointed out that Rachel Alexandra has had a tough schedule — five races and five wins since Feb. 15 — and added “we will always put her long-term well being first. And, of course, we want to run her when she is fresh.”

Mine That Bird is a son of 2004 Belmont winner Birdstone, who spoiled Smarty Jones’ Triple Crown bid with a dramatic come-from-behind, one-length upset. Nick Zito, who trained Birdstone for owner Marylou Whitney, is pointing three horses to the race — Brave Victory, Miner’s Escape and Nowhere to Hide.

CHARITABLE MAN TO BREEZE IF WEATHER ALLOWS

Continued wet weather in the New York metropolitan area has left the final serious works of several contenders for the 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on June 6 up in the air. Most importantly, the list includes Virginia-bred Charitable Man.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Charitable Man, winner of the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes, might wait until Sunday or even Monday to breeze.

“We always leave a window of a day or so,” said McLaughlin, adding:

“In 2006, it rained for two weeks leading up to the Belmont Stakes and the day Jazil was supposed to breeze, the track was sloppy, and I walked out on the track and said, ‘You know what? He’s fit. He doesn’t need to work.’ So he doesn’t work the week leading up to the race, and he wins.”

QUALITY ROAD BACK IN TRAINING

Grade 1 Florida Derby winner Quality Road (pictured here as a foal), who came off the Triple Crown trail with a right front quarter crack sustained before the Kentucky Derby, has resumed training, said trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

The bay son of Elusive Quality, owned and bred by Edward P. Evans, galloped Thursday and Friday morning after having the quarter crack patched on Tuesday.

“He seemed glad to get out,” said Jerkens of Virginia-bred Quality Road, who had been confined to walking the shedrow for several weeks. “He went to the track yesterday and today he galloped in my father’s (Hall of Famer Allen Jerkens) barn."

“As for his next start, I have no thoughts,” he said. “I couldn’t begin to tell you.”

OPINION: RACHEL ALEXANDRA SHOULD SKIP THE BELMONT

Why?

Short answer: History. Long Answer: Keep reading.

Exactly what does Rachel Alexandra have to prove by winning the Belmont Stakes?

We say absolutely nothing.

Two weeks ago, she became the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness off a stunning 20.25 length victory in the Kentucky Oaks.

How would winning another jewel of the Triple Crown over the archaic, and now little used, distance of 12 furlongs, add to her value? Simply put, it wouldn’t.

Her appearance in the Belmont could be good for the game if she wins or loses gamely. It would be a disaster if anything goes wrong.

The critical questions for owner Jess Jackson will be what is best for his horse and how will winning the Belmont enhance her value or the value of her offspring? Right now he’s saying all the right things about listening to and watching his prized filly as she trains daily.

As far as her value goes, winning the race couldn’t possibly enhance her value since she is already worth more than $10 million. Yes, this is relevant since she is owned by a multi-multi-millionaire who ultimately plans to breed her to HOY Crulin. So driving up her market value does't seem to be a priority.

Winning a “classic” race at 1 ½ miles against the boys could make her future offspring more valuable as it would add an important “stamina” influence to a pedigree now overly influenced by “speed” horses and speed races (like almost all pedigrees). But the general public and most horse racing fans don’t care about such nuances, nor should they.

More importantly, let’s look back to 2007 and the last time a filly won the Belmont – it was the dramatic stretch duel where Kentucky Oaks winner Rags To Riches narrowly defeated Preakness winner Curlin. After that race Curlin ran poorly in the $1 million Haskell Gr. 1 at Monmouth in July and so-so in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup in September.

Rags To Riches ran second in the $250,000 Gazelle Handicap Gr. 1 beaten one-half length by a relative unknown named Lear’s Princess in her first post-Belmont start some two months later in September.

Curlin (also owned by Jackson - lessson learned?) would rally back to win the $5 million Breeders Cup Classic Gr. 1 in October, but Rags to Riches would never race again.

It could be a coincidence that both horses lost their form following that (exhilarating for us, but, no doubt, taxing for them) Belmont Stakes stretch drive which came in the last quarter mile of a 1 ½ mile race. Or it could clearly send the message that three major races in five weeks is taxing the point of requiring some substantial r&r.

We know the modern Thoroughbred is fragile. They simply aren't physically capable of doing what Conquistador Cielo did back in 1982 when he won the prestigious Metropolitan Mile on Memorial Day and then won the Belmont Stakes just twelve days later. Due to inbreeding to the same sire lines for the past fifty years, modern Thoroughbreds just aren’t as durable as they were as little as 25 years ago. It is what it is.

So Rachel’s owner Jess Jackson has a dilemma. Which way is he leaning? We’d say he’s leaning in the right direction as he hinted strongly this week that Rachel Alexandra will skip the Belmont. "It's not necessary that she go in the Belmont,'' Jackson said. "She's got a whole season ahead. She's been running the whole year, so we have to monitor her very carefully.''

Meanwhile, Mine That Bird’s trainer Chip Woolley waits. “I’m gonna give Calvin (Borel) as much time as possible to ride “Mine” and also to keep him from losing two mounts. It just wouldn’t fair to him if they don’t make a decision until the last minute and decide not to go. He won me the Kentucky Derby and I owe him the opportunity if it’s possible. I don’t want to see him sitting on the sidelines when I get to Belmont.”

As for Rachel Alexandra running in the Belmont, Woolley said it doesn’t matter to him one way or other except for how if affects his rider situation.

That’s a good story, stick to it.

WAGERING UP AT PIMLICO SPRING MEET

The Maryland Jockey Club concluded its spring meeting at Pimlico Race Course last weekend, posting average wagering figures that were 8.9 percent higher than comparable dates from 2008.

The spring meet featured just 20 live racing dates, 11 fewer than a year ago. When comparing the 41 days of the stand (20 live and 21 simulcast) with 2008, the average daily handle rose from $6.293 million to $6.854 million.

Increased wagering for the May 16 card headlined by Preakness Stakes was the reason for the higher totals. Wagering on the 13-race card finished at more than $86.6 million, the fifth largest in the 134-year history of the event, up 18 percent from a year ago. Nearly $60 million was bet on the Preakness itself as filly Rachel Alexandra defeated 12 colts and geldings. The race drew 10.9 million viewers on NBC, up 38 percent from 2008.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"You’ve got to respect Charitable Man, he’s a monster on that racetrack," Chip Woolley said when asked about who he fears in the upcoming Belmont Stakes. Woolley said you have to respect all of the competitors in the race.

The comment was made today during an NTRA conference call.

ARE MULTI-STATE CIRCUITS THE ANSWER?

Virginia Racing Commissioner Trip Ferguson tipped us off to this story today.

Bill Finley writing for ESPN.com thinks horseracing needs fewer days of live racing and racing circuits to solve the horse population problem and to create a better live racing product.

He may well be right, but Virginia wasn’t part of any of his hypothetical circuits. He seems to think that Maryland and Delaware should form a circuit, but no mention of Colonial Downs.

To read the article, click here.

ARLINGTON CLASSIC WINNER HAS NO VIRGINIA TRAVEL PLANS

According to the Daily Racing Form, Giant Oak who won the Arlington Classic last weekend isn’t considering the big turf stakes at Colonial Downs…

Chris Block is an Arlington Park kind of guy, and there is little doubt where Giant Oak will make his next start after impressively winning the Arlington Classic here last Saturday. Sure, there are scads of 3-year-old turf money out on the table at Colonial Downs, which has two rich races, the Colonial Turf Cup and the Virginia Derby.

But Arlington has the $300,000 American Derby on July 11 and the $500,000 Secretariat on Aug. 8, and if Giant Oak were to win both, he would earn owners Rudy and Virginia Tarra a $500,000 bonus, too.

"I don't think there's any sense in trying to do anything besides the American Derby with him," Block said Tuesday. "He's run well off some gaps in his form, and this really sets up nicely. We'll keep him fresh, get him to the American Derby, and then you've got four weeks to the Secretariat."

Giant Oak now is 2 for 2 on the Arlington turf course, and has 3 wins and a second from 4 starts under jockey Eddie Razo.

NEW CLINIC AT BELMONT

An $18 million equine hospital named for the superstar filly Ruffian has opened near Belmont Park, and will specialize in diagnostics and orthopedic surgery for horses of all breeds and disciplines.

Before the Ruffian Equine Medical Center opened, horses that required evaluation or surgery were usually shipped three hours away to the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, or five hours to Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

The medical practice will be led by Dr. James Hunt and chief surgeon Dr. Patricia Hogan, but will have an open-door policy for outside surgeons and specialists.

The 22,000-square-foot facility includes two surgery suites, three recovery stalls, a high-speed treadmill, a full-service laboratory, three climate-controlled stalls and 26 standard stalls in the barn just off the backstretch at Belmont Park.

The medical center was designed and funded by International Equine Acquisitions Holdings, the company that owned last year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown.

“Now that the facility is finished, IEAH is a landlord and the operation of the hospital and the veterinary practice rests exclusively with Doctors Hunt and Hogan and their professional staff, and we wish them the best of luck,” IEAH co-president Richard Schiavo said.

WASHINGTON POST: VIRGINIA’S VANISHING BREED

For the past three weeks, we have been working with Washington Post reporter Tara Bahrampour on a story about the decline of Thoroughbred breeding industry in Virginia. Obviously, we were trying to send a message to the Virginia General Assembly about what’s wrong and how to fix it…

The story spent some time on the front page of WashingtonPost.com -- right up until President Obama released his Supreme Court nominee...

The story got legs during Quality Road’s Kentucky Derby preparations when the VTA’s public relations outreach campaign contacted the Post via Vicki Bendure of Bendure Public Relations in Middleburg. Obviously, the QR story didn’t end up the way we would have liked, but we appreciate the Post pointing out our plight with this article.

Obviously, the story isn't perfect in terms of delivering our message and our version of the solutions to the industry's problems, but it's very useful. To read the article, click here.

The article has already stimulated some conversation in the highest office of government (see below)

THE GOVERNOR ON HORSERACING

Governor Tim Kaine does a call-in radio show on Monday on WTOP in Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. At the end of the hour, the moderator pointed out the story in today’s Washington Post about the decline of the breeding industry here in the Commonwealth.

Here is part of the edited transcript:

Moderator: During the break we were talking about how long since Virginia has had a Supreme Court member – a long time. The Washington Post points out today, it’s been a long time since Virginia has had a horse in the Kentucky Derby and that the raising Thoroughbreds used to be big industry in Virginia...

Governor Kaine: We have horseracing in Virginia. There is a track between Richmond and Williamsburg and a number of off track betting facilities. We might lose money by not having more gambling, there has been a push to have slot machines and other kinds of gambling in Virginia, my feeling about it is there are better ways to raise money and there are better ways to develop an economy than leaning on gambling.

We have a track, we have a lottery that’s enough for me, I want to develop the economy in other ways than use gambling revenue to do it. Other people might feel differently, but when I got to be governor I said “look, we aren’t going to be doing expanded gambling during the Kaine governorship…”

Moderator: And ten seconds on horse raising…

Governor Kaine: The horse track is a great track, I mean it’s had challenges…
Moderator: (Something about) the raising of horses…

Governor Kaine: Oh, raising of horses. You know we’ve got a number of good raising opportunities here. We’ve got a lot – it’s interesting – a lot of the Olympians, the medalist from the United States, train in Virginia, so we have a pretty active equine industry in some ways.
But, you’re right, we had Secretariat and a number of great Kentucky Derby horses, but we haven’t recently. I’m not an expert in the area enough to know if we have an up and comer or not, but both the track and some of the competitive equestrian events and venues in Virginia are very popular.

While the Governor’s isn’t quite on target, it wasn’t a bad “off the cuff” answer.

Last week we sent the Governor, his cabinet, his primary advisors and the members of the Virginia General Assembly a Quality Road baseball cap with “100% Virginia Bred$” embroidered on the back.

We also sent him a letter explaining that we weren’t looking to expand gambling as economic policy nor were we in hot pursuit of slot machines no matter what is happening in West Virginia, Maryland(?) and Pennsylvania.

No, we explained that 3.5 million people in Northern Virginia don’t have access to our product and by merely creating some efficiencies in the pari-mutuel regulatory process, our industry would grow and have a positive impact on agriculture and green space.

Since the Governor clearly acknowledged that we already have gambling in the lottery and pari-mutuel, maybe he will see his way clear to help us out. Sources close to the Governor tell us he hasn't yet seen the letter in question.

Now, we will send the Washington Post article and the VTA’s letter to Governor Kaine to the members of the General Assembly.

LOCAL SOUTHERN STATES STORE SPONSORS WELCOME BACK PARTY

On May 28th the Providence Forge Southern States feed store Hayseeds will again sponsor a welcome back party at Colonial Downs in the stable area for horsemen on the grounds.

The party will be held on Thursday, May 28th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. between barns 4 and 5 on the Colonial backstretch.

Hayseeds in located at 9315 Pocahontas Trail in Providence Forge. (804) 557-3055.

BELMONT STAKES TUNEUPS

Nick Zito worked two of his horses last Thursday at Belmont Park, Miner’s Escape (half in 48.56) and Brave Victory (half in 48.55).

On Saturday, Virginia-bred Charitable Man (half in 47.88), Summer Bird (seven-eighths in 1:26.47) and Dunkirk (five-eighths in 1:00.77) all completed their next to last Belmont tuneups.

The most anticipated workouts were those that happened yesterday – Rachel Alexandra (pictured) worked the half-mile in 50.20 seconds over a sloppy track under exercise rider Dominic Terry.

Mine That Bird worked the same distance in 51 seconds under Calvin Borel.

Rachel Alexandra’s status for the Belmont is still undetermined.

VIRGINIA-BRED WINNERS

Ala Moana (f, 4yo), Proud Citizen - Hawaiian Dancer by Seattle Dancer. B - Hector Alcalde. Lincoln State Fair, 5 /25/2009, clmg, winner’s share of purse: $3,000, 4.5 f, 0:52.00. ($48,000, yrlg, 2006, ftmoct)

American Dance (c, 3yo), A.P. Indy - Quiet Dance by Quiet American. B - Evans Edward P. Belmont Park, 5 /21/2009, alwc, winner’s share of purse: $26,400, 9 f, 1:48.53.

Bopolene (f, 4yo), Bop - Evelene by Cozzene. B - Alfred H Smith Jr. Pimlico, 5 /22/2009, alwc, winner’s share of purse: $15,960, 5 f, 0:56.41.

Frisky Thunder (g, 5yo), Thunder Rumble - Port St. Mary (GB) by Seattle Slew. B - Braeburn Farm Corp. Delaware Park, 5 /23/2009, alwc, winner’s share of purse: $29,400, 7.5 f, 1:27.83.

Giant Mover (f, 3yo), Giant's Causeway - Gold Mover by Gold Fever. B - Evans Edward P. Belmont Park, 5 /24/2009, mdn sp wgt, winner’s share of purse: $26,400, 9 f, 1:48.62.

Lieutenant Rocket (g, 4yo), E Dubai - Private Applause by Private Account. B - Debbie Easter & John Carrington. Louisiana Downs, 5 /22/2009, clmg, winner’s share of purse: $4,200, 6 f, 1:12.12. ($60,000, yrlg, 2006, ftmoct; $300,000, 2yo, 2007, obsmar)

McLovin (g, 4yo), Hussonet - Classic Contender by Buckfinder. B - Iselin C. Oliver Mrs. III. Finger Lakes, 5 /19/2009, alwc, winner’s share of purse: $11,460, 5.5 f, 1:05.25. ($45,000, yrlg, 2006, ftmoct; $60,000, 2yo, 2007, ftmmay)

Molly Moon (f, 4yo), Malibu Moon - Woodlea by Baederwood. B - Yadkin Farm. PID, 5 /22/2009, clmg, winner’s share of purse: $10,500, 8.3 f, 1:41.49. ($140,000, wnlg, 2005, keenov)

Mr. Madison (g, 5yo), Wild Rush - Shorcount by Oh Say. B - Eugenia D. Paisley. Delaware Park, 5 /18/2009, alwc, winner’s share of purse: $25,800, 6 f, 1:10.40. ($40,000, wnlg, 2004, ftmdec)

My Blue Eyed Jax (c, 3yo), Orientate - Doctoressa by Doc's Leader. B - Morgan's Ford Farm. Charles Town, 5 /25/2009, alwc, winner’s share of purse: $17,400, 4.5 f, 0:53.37. ($50,000, yrlg, 2007, ftmoct)

Tuscan Fever (c, 4yo), Stormin Fever - Wopping by Prenup. B - Evans Edward P.Golden Gate Fields, 5 /25/2009, str alwc, winner’s share of purse: $5,000, 6 f, 1:10.17. ($75,000, yrlg, 2006, keesep)

Union City (f, 3yo), Dixie Union - City Sister by Carson City. B - Evans Edward P. Philadelphia Park, 5 /22/2009, alwc, winner’s share of purse: $24,600, 5.5 f, 1:03.66.

THIS OWNER WANTED TO WIN THE KENTUCKY DERBY, TOO

According to the USA Today:

Owner and breeder Edward Evans didn't have to think long when he was approached about selling Virginia-bred Quality Road for $2.5 million after the colt's victorious debut in November.

"They said the buyer wanted to win the (Kentucky) Derby," Evans said. "I thought about it and said, 'The owner would like to win the Derby, too.' "

Evans declined to reveal the potential buyer but said, "You could say it had a Middle Eastern flavor to it."

(Photo by Tony Rosca)

COLONIAL DOWNS' PROMOTIONS

Friday June 5th - Opening Night – 6:00 PM Post. Colonial will open early on Fridays for simulcasting beginning at 3 p.m., followed by eight live races starting at 6 p.m. Simulcasting continues after the races ‘til Midnite! Enjoy discounted beverages thru 9 p.m. every Friday this summer.

Saturday June 6th – Belmont Stakes Day, Coupon Book Giveaway, Race to the Altar. For the first time ever, enjoy live horse racing at Colonial Downs in conjunction with the Belmont simulcast. Everyone will also receive a FREE money saving coupon book with recession busting offers for the entire summer race season. Plus, the ten couples vying to win a dream wedding at Colonial Downs in our first ever “Race to the Altar” promotion will be on hand to find out who the lucky winner is...

Click here to learn more about our big two events this summer --- the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup (Gr. II) held in conjunction with a microbrew festival, and the $750,000 Virginia Derby (Gr. II), which features two great parties -- the all inclusive Trackside Party Zone and the first turn’s “Chill on Derby Hill”, a bring your own picnic/cooler/party event hosted by the Richmond Ski Club.

Book your group or company’s summer outing in the 4th floor Sky Suites, the 3rd floor Jockey Club, or the Trackside Party Tent. All inclusive packages are available in all three areas. For more info, contact Robyn or Kristin in our Group Sales Department at 804-966-7223, ext. 1073 or 1022.

JAMES RIVER TRF PHOTOS

In these May 14, 2009 photos, James River Correctional Center inmate Pete Luce cares for his horse, Dr. Pamela, at the prison's farm in Goochland, Va.

Luce tends to the former racehorse as part of a expanding, behind-the-bars effort to teach prisoners a bit about horse handling in cooperation with the James River chapter of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.

(AP Photos)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

THE SHOE. In a photo provided by Benoit Photo, Thorn Song, right, with jockey Mike Smith, outruns Hyperbaric, with Victor Espinoza, second from right, to win the $250,000 Shoemaker Mile Monday, May 25, 2009, at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif.

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

MET MILE. In a photo provided by the New York Racing Association, Bribon, with jockey Alan Garcia, captures the Shadwell Metropolitan at Belmont Park on Monday, May 25, 2009, in New York. Smooth Air was second with Paco Lopez up.

PICTURE OF THE DAY 3

BARRERA. In this photo provided by Benoit Photo, Charlie's Moment with jockey Alex Solis win the Grade III, $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Memorial Stakes on Sunday, May 24, 2009 at Hollywood Park, Inglewood, Calif.

PICTURE OF THE DAY 4

SHEEPSHEAD BAY. In this photo provided by New York Racing Association, Criticism with jockey Javier Castellano captures The Sheepshead Bay Stakes Saturday, May 23, 2009, at Belmont Park in New York.

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

SAVING THE PREAKNESS

According to the Washington Post:

First, a deep breath: The Preakness doesn't need saving. Though the owner of Pimlico Race Course, Magna Entertainment, recently filed for bankruptcy, the race itself is both popular and profitable. A purchaser with designs on moving the Preakness out of state would be met with a deafening public outcry along with a torrent of hand-tying legislation from Annapolis.

To read the story, click here.

(Photo: Preakness Stakes winner Rachel Alexandra is given at bath outside trainer Steve Asmussen's Barn 38 at Churchill Downs following a workout on Saturday, May 23 at Churchill Downs.)

BARBARO’S BROTHER AND THE VIRGINIA DERBY

According to the New York Times:

(Trainer Michael) Matz is not quite sure yet where or when Nicanor will run next and he has not ruled out a start in a stakes race. Most likely, though, Nicanor will compete next in an allowance race, possibly in one scheduled for June 17 at Delaware. After that, Matz may look at the Virginia Derby, a $750,000 race July 18 at Colonial Downs.

To read the entire story, click here.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

STILL UNDEFEATED. In this photo provided by Benoit Photo, Zenyatta with jockey Mike Smith wins the Grade II $150,000 Milady Handicap horse race on Saturday, May 23, 2009 at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif.

Zenyatta is 10-0.

VIRGINIAN IN CHARGE OF STARTING GATE AT COLONIAL DOWNS

Turns out amongst all the caterwauling, there is something that everybody in Maryland racing seems to like. Oddly enough, he’s a Virginian.

Bruce Wagner, who grew up in the Dallastown area of York County, Virginia is the starter at the Maryland tracks as well as at Colonial Downs. When Big Drama tried to create some big drama in the gate just before the Preakness last Saturday, Wagner was the man with his finger on the button.

Wagner hit the road and headed to the track, and after a three year career as a jockey he eventually found his way to the gate crew at Delaware. Eventually, he made it to Maryland and then down to New Kent and Colonial Downs.

He became the official "starter," who oversees the loading process, five years ago.

"They're (the gate crew) probably the best in the country," Pimlico racing secretary Georganne Hale told the York Daily Record about Wagner and his crew. Out-of-state trainers, owners and jockeys "always tell me how good my starting gate crew is."

To read the entire story, click here.

VIRGINIA DERBY TRACKSIDE PARTY TICKETS AVAILABLE

The 4th Annual Derby Day Trackside Party is planned for this year’s Virginia Derby.

Tickets are on sale and for $30, track patrons will receive Derby Day admission, a race program, a tip sheet, deluxe barbeque lunch, and three beer/wine tickets.

The party will feature live music on stage all day and ticketholders will be given a special commemorative gift and a return pass. The package also includes a “umbrella table” upgrade for four people for an additional $15 per ticket.

For more information, go to colonialdowns.com or call (804) 966-7223, ext. 1032.

HANDICAPPING NEWS: RUN UPS, RAIL POSITIONS

The run-up distance at the start of each race and the location of the temporary rail in turf races are now available in Equibase past performances, it was announced today by Equibase Company LLC, the Thoroughbred industry’s official database for racing information.

“Handicappers and horsemen should find this information beneficial because the run-up distance at the start and the position of the temporary rail in turf races influence both the internal fractions of a race as well as the final time,” said Equibase president and chief operating officer, Hank Zeitlin. “For instance, at certain distances at some tracks there is literally no run-up; at others we have recorded run-up distances of well over 100 feet.”

Run-up distance indicates the distance (in feet) from the starting gate to the point where timing of the race begins. A short run-up distance can lead to a slower opening quarter-mile time. The run-up distance is listed in superscript after the distance of the race in Equibase past performances and in parentheses after the distance of the race in result charts.

The temporary rail placement indicates the distance (in feet) between the permanent inner rail and the location of the temporary rail. Tracks use a portable temporary rail to protect the inside of a turf course from overuse. The temporary rail position is listed in superscript after the turf symbol in Equibase past performances and in parentheses after the turf designation in result charts.

Run-up distances are available for all races on or after Oct. 1, 2008.

PICTURE(S) OF THE DAY

PREAKNESS 135. As you would expect, Sport’s Illustrated has a good slide show of Preakness photos.

To see it, click here.

(Photos by Bill Frakes/SI)

NOTES FROM YESTERDAY'S VIRGINIA RACING COMMISSION MEETING

THE TURF COURSE: It’s green. It looks great. I didn’t walk on it, and I'm not an agronomist, but it looks right on schedule for the third week in May.

TWIN SPIRES: Twin Spires has been at loggerheads with Colonial Downs and Virginia H.B.P.A. and unable to come up with a contract agreement to set a source market fee for the ADW wagers placed by their Virginia clients. Subsequently, the VRC gave them a six month temporary license and sent them to mediation.

The mediation failed and now Twin Spires wants another temporary license to last another year. They want the VRC to set the source market fee using the “baseball arbitration” language in the current statue.

But the attorneys for Colonial Downs and the VA H.B.P.A. are saying “Whoa, Nellie!” The new temporary license Twin Spires is requesting won’t take effect until July 1 – which, not coincidentally, is the same day the statue changes and makes Breeders Fund contributions (1%) and source market fees (10%) mandatory.

To make a long story short, Twin Spires is making a legal argument saying they are entitled to another, longer temporary license for a variety of legal reasons, when, in fact, for practical purposes they are simply trying to postpone paying the statutory requirements for as long as possible.

Yesterday, all the lawyers talked for a long time – no, make that a very long time. Then the VRC went into a private session for another very long time. When they reconvened, a decision was not revealed.

Evidently, there are a few more legal issues to be resolved by the Virginia Attorney General’s office and then the VRC will make a ruling by the middle of next week.

NEW WAGERS: Colonial will offer 50 cent trifectas, pick threes and pick fours.

GAP FUNDING: The gap funded need to fully fund the purse account for the race meet is in place with Virginia Commerce Bank. VCB is the fourth largest bank in Virginia with over $2.65 billion in assets.

GRAY SLOT MACHINES: A few years ago on the way back from Colonial Downs, I stopped at a truck stop and, lo and behold, people were playing slots…yep, slots. Supposedly, any winnings were paid off in “phone cards.” Come to find out this is not entirely uncommon.

Evidently, in the vicinity of all Colonial Downs OTB’s “Internet Cafes” with slot machine software have been popping up. They are advertised as providing Internet access and fax services, etc. The computer generated slot machine winnings (if any) are supposed to earn “Internet access,” but, they, in fact, can earn cash. These facilities are not advertised, but marketed by “word of mouth.”

If all that sounds illegal, that’s because it most likely is…

Evidently both the VRC and Colonial Downs have been checking out these facilities for some time, and now the Commonwealth Attorney in several jurisdictions are investigating. VRC and Colonial Downs officials report seeing these facilities near OTBs with up to 40 machines being played at a time, with additional people waiting in line at midday on weekdays.

When VRC officials asked a manager of one of the “gray slot machine” facilities who regulated their wagering, the reply was “somebody in North Carolina does that.”

Great answer, you have to admit.

VA-BRED CHARITABLE MAN TO TAKE ON BELMONT

Leading Virginia breeder Edward P. Evans will have a runner in the 141st running of the third, and final, jewel of the 2009 Triple Crown – the $1 million Belmont Stakes Gr. 1. It just won’t be the one he most likely counted on back in April.

Evans’ homebred Quality Road was pegged as a Kentucky Derby favorite after an impressive win at Gulfstream in the Florida Derby. Two quarter cracks slowed his training, and Evans and trainer Jimmy Jerkens have decided to forego the Triple Crown and aim instead at the Haskell or Jim Dandy as a prep for the $1 million Travers Stakes Gr.1.

However, another Evans-bred is now planning to start in the Belmont.

William K. Warren's Charitable Man, winner of the recent Peter Pan S. Gr.2 will start in 1 ½ mile test on June 6, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confirmed Wednesday.

"I spoke with Mr. Warren this afternoon, and we're running," McLaughlin said. "The pros outweighed the cons, and there were very few cons. I have nothing but respect for Rachel Alexandra if she comes, and Mine That Bird, but Charitable Man is doing great. He's bred to go a mile-and-a-half, he's two-for-two on the track, and he's a fresh horse."

Charitable Man, a son of 1999 Belmont winner Lemon Drop Kid, finished seventh in the Blue Grass Stakes Gr.1 at Keeneland in his first start as a three-year-old and won both his starts in 2008 including the Futurity Stakes Gr.2 over the same Belmont track.

Evans sold Charitable Man as a yearling at Keeneland for $200,000. Last year, Charitable Man’s dam, Charitabledonation, produced a full sister also by Lemon Drop Kid.

COLONIAL OTB EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO EMBEZZLEMENT

Samuel Wayne Frazier, 24, pleaded guilty in Brunswick Circuit Court recently to two counts of embezzlement from Colonial Downs on June 12, 2008 and June 13, 2008 and failure to appear on Oct. 9, 2008.

Judge Sam Campbell accepted the plea and sentenced Frazier to five years in the state penitentiary four count one and five years for count two, all suspended. He sentenced Frazier to three years on count three, all suspended. Frazier was ordered to pay $2,401.46 in restitution, ordered to submit a sample for DNA testing, and was banned from Colonial Downs.

Lezlie Green, the commonwealth's attorney, said Frazier was an employee at Colonial Downs’ off track betting facility. Each night tellers are required to balance all money taken, and if a teller is short, he or she must sign a promissory note. She said on June 12, 2008 Frazier was $445.93 short and he signed a promissory note to pay $50 installments. Green said on June 13, 2008 Frazier was $2,034.75 short.

Green said a fraud investigator with Colonial Downs investigated the case and there are numerous checks and balances in place. The investigation revealed Frazier was using Colonial Downs' money to place bets.

HORSE EUTHANIZED AFTER CRASHING INTO SECRETARIAT

City On Line was euthanized Wednesday after crashing into the bronze statue of Secretariat in the Belmont Park paddock.

In the post parade before the fifth race, City On Line, a 4-year-old chestnut colt trained by H. Allen Jerkens and owned by Rhapsody Farm and Harry L. Landry, broke away from his lead pony, unseated jockey Jose Lezcano and ran down the tunnel to the paddock. Landry and his family used to live here in Virginia and has been a long-time supporter of the Virginia Thoroughbred Association.

NYRA said City On Line was euthanized after Dr. Anthony Verderosa, the organization’s chief examining veterinarian, determined he irreparably fractured the femur in his left hind leg.

The impact broke the base of the statue, but didn’t damage the bronze figure of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Jockey Lezcano wasn’t injured.

RACHEL POWERS TELEVISION RATINGS

Rachel Alexandra’s victory in the Preakness Stakes drew the most viewers to the second-leg of racing’s Triple Crown in five years and the second-most in 20 years.

According Nielsen Media Research numbers released Tuesday by NBC, 10.9 million people watched the race portion of NBC’s Preakness coverage on Saturday. That’s when Rachel Alexandra became the first filly in 85 years to win the race.

The hour-long race portion of the Preakness drew three million more viewers than last year’s race, up 38 percent. Last year’s race featured the well publicized Big Brown, so the numbers seem to clearly indicate the filly’s popularity.

The national rating for Saturday’s race portion was a 6.8 with a 16 share, the highest since 2004 (7.7 and 19) and the second highest since 1990 (7.9 and 23).

(Photo: Bill Frakes/Sports Illustrated)

VIDEO OF THE DAY

WILLIAM MINE THAT BIRD SMITH?

No, of course not, but meet Rachel Alexandra Gideon.

She has the same name as the Preakness winner, and…well, that's pretty cool.

According to the NY Daily News, Preakness-winning filly Rachel Alexandra has a new No. 1 fan in Westchester fourth-grader, Rachel Alexandra Gideon.

Nine years after naming their daughter Rachel Alexandra, the Gideon family is giddy over the Preakness-winning filly with the same name - and hopes the two can meet.

"It would be a once-in-a-lifetime thing," said dad Jeffrey Gideon, 56, of Irvington. "With all the wacky names for horses, when would you ever have the first and middle names?"

The longshot came after Gideon showed his daughter her name in the sports pages of last Saturday's Daily News. To Rachel's delight, the favored 3-year-old filly finished first.

Two-legged Rachel is a 9-year-old athlete who likes competing against the guys, too. She plays soccer, tennis, softball and basketball.

"My dad says we have to go to the Belmont and bet on her," the fourth-grader said.

"I'll say, 'Go me!'"

(Harbus for NY Daily News)

MARION duPONT SCOTT CENTER 25th ANNIVERSARY

Click on graphic for a better view!

QUALITY ROAD MAY RETURN TO TRAINING FRIDAY

According to the Daily Racing Form, Quality Road, the Florida Derby winner who missed the Kentucky Derby with a quarter crack in his right front foot, remains out of training. He has simply walked the shed row since May 8 and will likely not resume training before Friday, trainer Jimmy Jerkens said.

Jerkens said Quality Road could get a new patch on his quarter crack on Thursday. Jerkens said it is still undecided what type of shoes Quality Road will get when he is reshod.

"No sense shoeing him until he gets a patch on," Jerkens said. "He had a pretty good wall separation. That's what's taken so long."

COLONIAL DOWNS WEB PAGE FEATURES VIRTUAL TOUR

Technology can be fun.

Colonial Downs has a new virtual tour on their web page. I particularly like the cartoon trucks and cars going up and down I64 – nice touch.

Click on the various pictures and it takes you to a web cam virtual tour of the paddock or track, etc.

To visit the page, click here.

How green is the grass? Click to see.

The page also includes a countdown to the first day of live racing.

MTB CREW CAN'T CATCH A BREAK

According to various sources, Mike Smith will not ride Kentucky Derby champion and Preakness runner-up Mine That Bird in the Belmont Stakes next month, his agent said on Monday.

Smith's agent, Brad Pegram, said the Hall of Fame jockey will ride Madeo in the Grade I Whittingham Stakes at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., on the day of the Belmont in New York.

"We made this commitment to Madeo before the Preakness," Pegram told the Daily Racing Form.

The move opens the door for Calvin Borel to reclaim the mount if Rachel Alexandra does not enter the 12 furlong Belmont.

WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?

JUDGE PASSMORE – It was sad to hear of the death of Bill Passmore. The well known jockey served the Commonwealth for years as a steward at Colonial Downs. Frequently referred to as “Judge” by the folks in the Virginia Racing Commission office and the Colonial Downs racing office, Passmore lent a steady hand to the proceedings for more than ten years.

During my three years in the racing office, Passmore was not only a bastion of knowledge, but also a calming influence on everyone around him. He was humble, professional and very much “old school.”

One of Passmore’s daughters, Cathlene Lindberg, told the Blood-Horse her father was often described as “the nicest man one could ever meet.” I couldn’t agree more.

He was a good steward, and a damn nice guy. He will be missed.

THE CALVIN BOREL TRIPLE CROWN? – Try as he did, Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird came up just a few jumps short and thus eliminated a potential Triple Crown at this year’s Belmont. It has to be tough for the folks at NYRA to promote the race without the possibility of the rarely accomplished feat.

At the moment, the Rachel Alexandra's connections are going to see what signals she gives them following her race in Baltimore. Based on what trainer Steve Asmussen has said if she’s doing well, they may run her, but, again, they may not.

“We’re not going to tell her how she’s feeling. She’ll tell us how she’s feeling,” Asmussen said.

It doesn’t seem like there is a great deal of upside for Rachel and her connections. She’s won the Kentucky Oaks and the Preakness. In terms of her value, what difference will it really make if she wins the Belmont? The Belmont is obviously a classic, but its little used distance of 12 furlongs makes it a bit of an anomaly. Would winning at the 1 ½ mile distance enhance the value of the filly or her future offspring?

Of course, she could be the first filly to pick up two legs of the Triple Crown and that may tempt her owners.

Now there are folks out there who want to say that there would be a Triple Crown if Rachel Alexandra had run in the Kentucky Derby. That seems a bit presumptuous and it minimizes Mine That Bird’s victory. The Birdstone colt showed his class in the Preakness, and they way he skipped over that messy Churchill track can’t be ignored.

It appears that the Derby winner is headed up I95 to New York as his connections believe a smaller field and a longer race bodes well for the fast-closing colt.

“My horse will be much more suited to the Belmont: big wide track, big wide sweeping turns. It should play a little better to my horse,” trainer Chip Woolley said. “It’ll probably be a shorter field, which eliminates some of the traffic. We’re excited about going.”

Woolley said Mike Smith would remain aboard Mine That Bird, even if Rachel Alexandra doesn’t run.

And that brings us to Borel. According to the Daily Racing Form, he’s the first jockey to ever get off a Kentucky Derby winner that ran back in the Preakness. Of course, he added a footnote by winning the race on his new mount.

Has one jockey ever won all three Triple Crown races on two or three different horses? Various media sources say it has never happened, but if Rachel Alexandra does run in the Belmont, the likable Cajun will be positioned to do just that. You can bet that is exactly the type of story the NYRA marketing folks are looking for in the absence of the traditional Triple Crown.

THREE STATE CIRCUIT – The blog Power Cap has an editorial called Slot Machines Spreading Disease. His point is that slot machines are creating purses for races that bettors have no interest in. From his perspective, there is too much live racing in Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.

We have advocated a three state circuit for many years. It seems foolish that Colonial Downs and Delaware Park would race at the same time. While Delaware has traditionally been a summer racetrack it would make sense for them to be part of a three state circuit.

This subject comes up from time-to-time, but nobody has started any meaningful dialog. Perhaps the racing commissions in the three states could lead an effort to find a viable solution?

COLONIAL DOWNS – Congratulations are in order. In spite of Colonial Downs’ president Ian Stewart’s constant complaining that the racetrack isn’t and can’t be profitable, it is – at least it was. The operation posted a profit for the first quarter of this year in spite of big OTB declines. Colonial Downs’ management reduced staff substantially and did not replace those salaries. In addition, account wagering continues to grow. More below.

(Photos by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images and by Al Bello/Getty Images)

VIRGINIA-BRED WINNERS

Blizzard Buster (g, 4yo), Housebuster - Snowy Storm by Storm Creek. B - Donna Hayes And Castlefield Stud. Charles Town, 5 /17/2009, alwc, $17,980, 6.5 f, 1:20.97.

Cozy Lion (c, 3yo), Tale Of The Cat - Cuando by Lord At War (ARG). B - Edward P. Evans. Belmont Park, 5 /13/2009, mdn sp wgt, $26,400, 8.5 f, 1:41.89. ($310,000, yrlg, 2007, keesep)

Hollys Song (f, 3yo), Civilisation - Demoness by Demons Begone. B - Clyde L. Miles Jr. Charles Town, 5 /17/2009, clmg, $13,200, 6.5 f, 1:21.44.

Ike (c, 3yo), Louis Quatorze - Uncanny Ability by Cryptoclearance. B - Lady Olivia @ North Cliff LLC. Charles Town, 5 /16/2009, clmg, $12,600, 6.5 f, 1:21.59.

Light Green (f, 3yo), Pleasantly Perfect - Green Light by Sheikh Albadou (GB). B - Edward P. Evans. Belmont Park, 5 /15/2009, stk hcp, $39,750, 6 f, 1:08.32.

My Personal Slew (c, 4yo), Sequoia Slew - Personal Doreen by Personal Flag. B - Bryant Magalen O. Mrs. Charles Town, 5 /14/2009, clmg, $5,400, 7 f, 1:29.21.

Wickedandworthit (f, 3yo), Arch - Cloud Counting by Will's Way. B - Danny M. Atkins.
Charles Town, 5 /15/2009, mdn clmg, $12,000, 7 f, 1:28.37.