VA TB BLOG: June 2009

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

KARAMANOS RETURNS WITH A WIN

Horacio Karamanos, the leading all time rider at Colonial Downs, made his 2009 season debut at the New Kent track Monday evening and he immediately made his presence felt.

After riding in Argentina for the first three weeks of Colonial‘s annual summer stand, Karamanos, nicknamed “Special K” in the Commonwealth, earned a third aboard Ferris Allen’s Bellatrix O in his first start back. He followed with another third atop Lord Smellington, a long shot in the fifth that paid $13.40 to show in a deep fourteen horse field.

After finishing “out of the money” in his third start back, Karamanos finally got to the winners circle with another Allen trainee, the favored Valetine Avenue ($4.80) in the eighth race. The 6 year old Unbridled Jet gelding cruised past front running Menifee Man past the three-quarters mark then held off fast closing Naturel Resources at the finish by less than a length.

Karamanos, who plans to race in Virginia for the balance of the meet, has won four Colonial Downs riding titles in the last seven years, including back-to-back honors in 2007-08. The win on Monday was his 359th at Colonial and his mounts have earned over $6.7 million. He scored the biggest win of his career in the ’07 Virginia Derby aboard Red Giant.

VA-BRED WINNERS’ PHOTOS JUNE 19-22

All winner's photos are courtesy of Jeff Coady and Coady Photography.

Click on image for a better view of the photo.

To get a copy of a Coady photography/Winner’s Circle photo go to the Coady website by clicking here.

“INTERNATIONAL HARMONIZATION” – WELL, IF YOU PUT IT THAT WAY, WE’RE ‘ALL IN’

From the Jockey Club (edited):

Louis Romanet, chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), will discuss the importance of and need for international harmonization of medication policies when he delivers the keynote address at The Jockey Club’s 57th annual Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing at the Gideon Putnam Resort in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Sunday, August 23.

Romanet has served as chairman of the IFHA since its creation in 1993. As the single representative body for the global racing industry, the IFHA’s primary mission is to coordinate and harmonize the rules regarding breeding, racing and wagering among its more than 50 member countries.

Romanet’s remarks will conclude a segment on domestic and international medication standards.

That segment will also feature an overview of the regulatory process, presented by Joe Gorajec, executive director of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission and past chairman of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, and a progress report and new recommendations from the Thoroughbred Safety Committee, presented by Stuart S. Janney III, the chairman of the committee.

Dr. Scott Palmer, chairman of the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ Racing Task Force, will provide a veterinary perspective on medication, Steven Crist, chairman and publisher of Daily Racing Form, will share some thoughts on the way Thoroughbred racing medication issues are perceived by bettors, the public and the media, and Diana Pikulski, executive director of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, will discuss the foundation’s vocational training program.

In the area of equine safety, Dr. Mick Peterson of the University of Maine will provide an update on the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory, and a progress report from the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance will be presented by Mike Ziegler, executive director of the alliance.

A transcript of the Round Table Conference will be available on The Jockey Club’s website a few days after the event. The website is located at http://www.jockeyclub.com.

WELFARE AND SAFETY SUMMIT COMMITTEE RELEASES FREE EDUCATIONAL DVD ON HOOF CARE

The Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit’s Shoeing and Hoof Care Committee is now offering a free educational DVD entitled, “The Hoof: Inside and Out” that examines the physiology of the equine hoof and demonstrates proper care and shoeing techniques.

“The hoof is the foundation of equine performance so it is imperative that those entrusted with the well-being of racehorses possess the knowledge necessary to properly care for and maintain this core component of equine locomotion,” said WinStar Farm co-owner Bill Casner, chairman of the summit’s Shoeing and Hoof Care Committee. “This DVD provides some basic information that will be helpful to owners, trainers, grooms, and anyone else involved with the racehorse, to have a better understanding of the hoof and its care.”
The 65-minute DVD, which was produced by the Keeneland Association’s broadcast services department under the direction of G.D. Hieronymus, includes seven segments:

*Introduction and Overview
*Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit
*Physiology — The Equine Limb
*Basic Hoof Care and Trimming
*The Basics of Horse Shoeing
*Types of Shoes
*Farrier’s Role and Communication (with Trainers and Owners)

The video is available for download from the summit’s website at http://www.grayson-jockeyclub.org/summitdisplay.asp.

A DVD copy of “The Hoof: Inside and Out” can be obtained free of charge (limit one per customer) by contacting Cathy McNeeley, The Jockey Club’s administrative assistant for industry initiatives, at (859) 224-2728 or cmcneeley@jockeyclub.com.

MORE LIKE NASCAR, LESS LIKE THE CIRCUS?

Bobby Jones, the manager of BryLynn Farm near Ocala wrote a column for the Blood-Horse’s “Final Turn” recently called Get In The ‘Zone.’

He was describing his experience at the Daytona 500 which included the “NASCAR Experience” located in the infield in an area called the “Fan Zone.” Here for a set price, fans get to go to the garage and watch the cars get ready to race and grab an autograph or two. Add to that a rock band, a food court, beer, lemonade, ice cream, bungee jumping, a rock climbing wall – you get the point.

The NFL has a similar Fan Zone at the Super Bowl and these areas are very popular with – you guessed it – fans, especially the young ones.

Jones went on to advocate that big race days should offer young and old (or young and new, as the case may be) horse racing fans a similar experience. To read his commentary, click here.

We posted this comment to his article: The key to Bobby's article is not NASCAR, but what NASCAR is - it's a league. Until we have a National Thoroughbred Racing League (NTRL) that is comprised of all the racetracks with a national horsemen's association functioning like the NFL/NBA/MLB player's unions, marketing initiatives of this nature aren't going to happen.

Only the big tracks with the biggest days can afford the infrastructure on their own and they don't need to since the big days are already big. My guess is both NFL and NASCAR Fan Zone equipment is owned by the league and not by the individual track/team...

Unfortunately, horse racing is a little more like the circus where the clown car races up, screeches to a halt and a bunch of clowns pile out looking bewildered and confused…

PICTURE(S) OF THE DAY

POETRY IN MOTION. A crowd watches the Lipizzan ballet at the Imperial Palace in Vienna on June 25, 2009. For 430 years, the Spanish Riding School in Vienna has practiced and continues to cultivate classical equitation in the Renaissance tradition.

The hall was outfitted by baroque architect Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach between 1729 and 1735. It was originally built to provide aristocratic youths with the opportunity to take riding instruction.

(Photos by Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

ANOTHER LOOK AT A CHAMP. Undefeated Zenyatta, Mike Smith up, wins Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park, Inglewood, CA.

(Photo by Anthony Andrews/Horsephotos.com)

Monday, June 29, 2009

VIRGINIA-BRED CHAMPIONS HONORED

M. Tyson Gilpin Virginia-bred Horse of the Year - Winchester: Mark Deane accepts the trophy on behalf of owners/breeders Mr. and Mrs. Bert Firestone from VTA President Donna Dennehy.

The Horse of the Year Award was sponsored by Randy Rouse.

Collecting the complete set - decanter, ice bucket and a set of glasses for each Virginia-bred Champion - on behalf of Edward P. Evans is Denis Byrne, Kenny Edwards, Lisa Reynolds and Meredith Park.

Champion Virginia-bred Older Mare - Debbie Sue: Donna Dennehy and breeder Jill Gordon-Moore.

VTA Award of Merit: Aleco Greenberg accepts from Donna Dennehy on behalf of his father Hermen Greenberg.

Virginia-bred Champion Over Fences - Mignon Smith's Mede Cahaba Stable & Stud LLC's Class Shadow: Mark Deane, Richard Boucher and Donna Dennehy.

VIRGINIA-BRED RACE WINNERS

Coupe De Ville (c, 5yo), Trempolino - Best Victory (FR) by =Cadoudal (FR). B - Eldon Farm LLC. Colonial Downs, 6 /28/2009, mdn clmg, winner’s share of purse $17,700, 18 f, 4:17.05.

Enjoyable (f, 7yo), Holy Bull - Tears Of Joy by Mt. Livermore. B - Mr. & Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone. Colonial Downs, 6 /23/2009, clmg, winner’s share of purse $18,560, 5 f, 0:59.44.

Hideaway (g, 5yo), Out Of Place - Untouchable Gold by Dixieland Band. B - Lazy Lane Farms, Inc. Colonial Downs, 6 /28/2009, clmg, winner’s share of purse $18,212, 8.5 f, 1:45.99.

Holy Soul (g, 6yo), Vision And Verse - Bellatrix by Holy Bull. B - Mr & Mrs Charles W McNeely III. Northlands Park, 6 /26/2009, clmg, winner’s share of purse $6,953, 6.5 f, 1:18.20. ($5,500, yrlg, 2004, ftmoct)

Late Night Lover (c, 7yo), Not For Love - Gonna Be by Mountain Cat. B - The Estate Of Alice Dupont Mills. Mountaineer Park, 6 /27/2009, clmg, winner’s share of purse $5,760, 5.5 f, 1:05.32. ($2,700, wnlg, 2002, ftmdec)

McLovin (g, 4yo), Hussonet - Classic Contender by Buckfinder. B - Iselin C. Oliver Mrs. III. Finger Lakes, 6 /23/2009, clmg, winner’s share of purse $5,000, 5.5 f, 1:06.13. ($45,000, yrlg, 2006, ftmoct; $60,000, 2yo, 2007, ftmmay)

Noble Grey (f, 2yo), Forestry - Never Fail by Holy Bull. B - Audley Farm. Colonial Downs, 6 /22/2009, mdn sp wgt, winner’s share of purse $23,340, 5.5 f, 1:07.12. ($150,000, yrlg, 2008, keesep)

Storming Vow (g, 4yo), Broken Vow - Thea (GER) by =Surumu (GER). B - Audley Farm Inc.
Indiana Downs, 6 /27/2009, clmg, winner’s share of purse $8,520, 8 f, 1:37.40. ($40,000, yrlg, 2006, keejan; $150,000, yrlg, 2006, keesep)

To Catch A Star (c, 3yo), Mr. Executioner - Absolutly Orange by Digamist. B - Mr. & Mrs. Janice Page & Calvin Page. Charles Town, 6 /25/2009, clmg, winner’s share of purse $5,400, 6.5 f, 1:22.29.

Toccet's Charm (g, 2yo), Toccet - Ruler's Charm by Cape Town. B - Audley Farm, Inc. Delaware Park, 6 /22/2009, mdn clmg, winner’s share of purse $14,400, 4.5 f, 0:53.11. ($16,000, yrlg, 2008, ftmoct)

HICKORY TREE FEATURED IN NEW MID-ATLANTIC THOROUGHBRED

We’ve know about Hickory Tree Farm for years especially while James P. Mills, Sr. was still alive and stallions such as Hagley called the Middleburg farm home.

What we didn’t know was some of the history revealed in a feature article in Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred this month. The farm, which is now owned by Jim and Mary Lea Treptow, transplanted Texans, was developed into a horse property by William Ziegler, Jr. the heir to the Royal Baking Powder fortune. He used a team of mules to build the three-quarter mile training track.

Eleanora Sears, of Sears and Roebuck, bought the farm from Zielger in the late 1940’s. In 1961, she intentionally burned the house down to avoid paying taxes – evidently, in those days your real estate taxes were based on how windows your house had – key word being “had.”

In 1966, James P. Mills Sr. and his wife, the former Alice DuPont, bought Sear’s farm and combined it with several other plots. Alice Mills was a cousin of famous Virginia horsewoman Marion DuPont Scott. She named the farm after the tree that was used as a rendezvous point for Mosby’s Rangers.

If you are a subscriber to the magazine, you can read the story on line. If not, I suggest you find a copy of the July issue, it’s interesting reading.

http://www.midatlantictb.com/

APPARENTLY THE GOVERNMENT IS THE PROBLEM

John Pricci wrote a good editorial over the weekend describing the mess the racing industry is in and why is so difficult to find viable political solutions. He even uses some nine dollar words (pusillanimous).

But the enemy at the door is not coming from within this time, from its own ineffectual leadership, complacency and greed, standards which never seem to go out of style. Instead of being audacious, the notion of hope for the industry now had become pusillanimous in the extreme.

The consequences are that racing has come under attack from without. During the 1990s, ideology subtly began to replace reason in this country, becoming so much a part of the sociological fabric that political chickens had no choice but to come home to roost.

Resultantly, America is currently getting the dysfunctional government it deserves. If unchecked, don’t be surprised if America’s elected representatives destroy the entire racetrack community and its way of life.

To read the entire article, click here.

A PRIMER ON BETFAIR – THE NEXT BIG THING?

London-based Betfair was founded in 2000 and has built a huge base thanks to the popularity of horse racing in the United Kingdom. Betfair was set up as a betting exchange, sort of like eBay, where sellers and buyers do their own deals.

Gamblers make their own wagers, as one player sets the odds and the other accepts them. Money is held in escrow accounts by Betfair. When the race is held, the loser pays the winner, and Betfair takes its share of the winnings.
To read more, click here.

HOOTERS HELPS COLONIAL RAISE $2,100 FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Colonial Downs hosted the 4th annual Hooters Day at the track this past Saturday June 27th. Over 20 Hooters girls were on hand and the highlights were the annual chicken wing eating contest and an escorted motorcycle ride to the track (from Hooters) that benefited Special Olympics.

Edward Shotroffe, who represented the Colonial Downs' horsemen, captured the Chicken Wing Eating Contest by consuming nearly a full plate of chicken wings and tenders in 90 seconds. Earlier this summer, Shotroffe also won a hot dog eating contest at the track.

After receiving his wing eating prize Saturday, his only comment was, "Is there another eating contest here this summer so I can go for the Triple Crown?".

Priot to the day's festivities, 85 motorcycles left Hooters Restaurant for Colonial Downs under a police escort in a "Ride for the Athletes". All monies raised in the cycle ride and a 50/50 drawing at the track later in the day went to Special Olympics.

The total amount raised was $2,131.

WAVY ON THE GRAND SLAM OF GRASS

DA HOSS AND HIS SECOND AMAZING BREEDERS CUP MILE

The Da Hoss stakes at Colonial Downs reminded the Blood-Horse’s Steve Haskins about the talented gelding's second Breeders Cup Mile victory which came two years after the first with just one race (at Colonial Downs) as a prep…

It’s well worth the read as it remains one of the most amazing feats in Breeders Cup history. When Hawksley Hill catches Da Hoss in the stretch and puts his head in front, you figure he's beaten...but, no...

To read the story, click here.

THE MORNING LINE FROM THE DAILY PRESS

Keith Feustle remembers one of the first times he was asked to pick a winner. It was one of those foreshadowing moments that stuck with him.

While Feustle was about 10 years old and sitting in a Little League dugout in Maryland, his coach handed him a racing form and asked for some direction. Feustle has turned that early experience into a career as a chart-caller for Equibase, gathering thoroughbred racing statistics for the archiving source, and handicapper at Colonial Downs.

"(My coach would) say, 'Hey kid, why don't you look at the third race at Bowie for tomorrow?' " said Feustle, a Hampstead, Md., native who now lives with his wife and two kids in Reisterstown, Md. "So I'd grab a Racing Form. He'd have it there in the dugout, and in between innings, or when I wasn't at bat, I'd sit there and cap the races for him and try to give him a winner."

Now, Feustle, 41, sets all the morning lines for Colonial Downs' summer thoroughbred racing meet...

To read the entire story, click here.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

IRISH DERBY. Fame And Glory wore down stablemate Golden Sword and shook clear to a five-length triumph in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Ire-G1) on Sunday at the Curragh, providing trainer Aidan O’Brien with a record-setting seventh victory in the classic.

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

BEVERLY HILLS. In this photo released by Benoit Photo, Doubledown Stables' Black Mamba and jockey Garrett Gomez, foreground, hit the finish line with Charming Legacy and jockey Joseph Talamo, partially hidden behind Black Mamba in pink cap, to win the Grade II Beverly Hills Handicap, Sunday, June 28, 2009, at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

IZZY SPEAKING UPSETS DA HOSS STAKES

Izzy Speaking backed up a win in an off-the-turf sprint on June 15 with a one-length, 18-1 upset in Saturday's Da Hoss Stakes over a mile of turf at Colonial Downs.

Izzy Speaking ($38), under Rosemary Homeister Jr., saved ground early, was eased out entering the stretch, and had to steady in traffic near the three-sixteenths pole. He then closed between horses, before pulling clear from Jungle Fighter.

Jungle Fighter, who had disputed the early pace with Hesa Big Star, finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of 2-1 favorite Auction Watch, who stalked the pace but flattened in the stretch. Hesa Big Star faded to seventh at the finish.

Izzy Speaking, a 4-year-old gelded son of Partner's Hero out of Moonshine Run by Go For Gin, covered the mile on good turf in 1:38.04. It was his first victory on grass and fifth win from 14 career starts for owner-trainer Hamilton Smith.

Va-bred multiple stakes winner Frisky Thunder (Braeburn Farm) was fourth beaten a head for third.

Yesterday’s crowd numbered 2,443. On-track wagering was $140,730 and total handle was $873,821.

To read the article about the race in the Daily Press, click here.

(Photo by Coady Photography)

VA-BRED NO MATCH FOR RACHEL ALEXANDRA

The Mother Goose started out with just five entries, but two of them scratched in anticipation of Rachel Alexandra trouncing the field. She did, winning by 19 ¼ lengths over Edward P. Evans’ Malibu Prayer.

Evans’ filly, by Malibu Moon out of Grand Prayer by Gand Slam, broke her maiden in April at Aqueduct by 13 lengths and then won an allowance at Philadelphia Park by 7 ¼ lengths. Credit Evans, manager Chris Baker and trainer Todd Pletcher for picking a good spot to get a nice filly some Gr.1 black type.

A filly named Flashing (Godolpin Stables) will forever enjoy having “3rd $300,000 Mother Goose S. Gr.1” in her pedigree. Nowhere will it say she was beaten 32 ½ lengths in a field of just three starters.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

UNDEFEATED. A 129-pound impost wasn't enough to stop the undefeated champion Zenyatta, who earned a repeat win in the $287,000 Vanity Handicap Gr.1 at Hollywood Park June 27 for her 11th consecutive victory.

Friday, June 26, 2009

FOURTEEN LOOK TO SCORE IN DA HOSS

A field of fourteen horses was drawn for the $50,000 Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs on Saturday with Auction Watch being installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite. The one mile inner turf race for three year olds and upward is the ninth of ten races on the card and will go to post at 4:39 PM.

A winner of 5 races on the turf, Auction Watch returns to Colonial for the first time since finishing third in a steeplechase in April of last year. Since then, the six year old gelding has won the $75,000 Alphabet Soup Handicap and a $40,000 optional claimer at Philadelphia Park. In fourteen lifetime starts, he has finished on the board nine times and will have the riding services of Colonial’s leading jockey Sheldon Russell.

4-1 second choice, Jungle Fighter (pictured above), won both the Old Nelson and the Kittens Joy at Colonial in 2007. More recently, he won the Independence Day Stakes and placed in the West Virginia Speaker Cup at Mountaineer Park before finishing third in the Gr. III Carey Memorial Handicap at Hawthorne in September. In his only race this year, he finished fifth in a $62,000 optional claimer at Delaware in June. The eight year old gelding will be ridden by Luis Garcia.

Third choice at 9-2, Frisky Thunder (pictured left), loves the Colonial turf. After sweeping the John D. Marsh, Daniel Van Clief, and Punch Line Stakes at Colonial last year, Frisky Thunder had a ten month lay-off before winning an allowance at Delaware in May. Most recently, the five year old gelding finished second to Pleasant Strike in the Daniel Van Clief Stakes this year. Due to the passing of trainer James Murphy, Frisky Thunder is now under the watch of trainer Timothy Keefe. Ryan Fogelsonger has the mount.

Baltimore Bob, the 8-1 fourth choice, has finished second in both the Humphrey S. Finney Stakes and the Find Handicap at Laurel Park. He won his first race this year, a $75,000 optional claimer at Gulfstream, but has finished off the board in his three most recent starts. The four year old colt has won five of fifteen lifetime starts.

Fifth choice Tifone, at 10-1, shipped to America from Chile late last year to finish second in a $32,000 optional claimer at Laurel Park and off the board in a sprint race. In his most recent start, Tifone won a $62,000 optional claimer by one length.

Rounding out the field are Midwatch, winner of last year’s Old Nelson and Kittens’ Joy, Hesa Big Star, Objective, Izzy Speaking, Yankee Master, R J’s Brigade, Mint Slewlep, Brickell, and Hugo.

For the entire card, click here.

BUSY SATURDAY AT COLONIAL DOWNS

According the folks at Colonial Downs:

One of the truly fun days of summer is the annual Hooters Day at Colonial Downs, where 25 Hooters girls party with fans all afternoon.

This year, all volunteers and sponsors of the recent Special Olympics competition held at the University of Richmond will be invited to an Appreciation Day at the track. We’ll have a disc jockey under a giant trackside party tent and live country music with Nate Sparks.

There are two police escorted motorcycle rides to the track Saturday morning. One leaves the Hooters restaurant in Williamsburg and the other leaves from the Hooters in Chester. Registration begins at 9:30 AM and bikes will depart between 11 – 11:15 AM. All proceeds will benefit Special Olympics.