Virginia Thoroughbred Blog

October 2008 - Posts

• ANIMAL WITH HARD PAST IS GOLD CUP CHAMPION
  Oct 27 2008, 05:55 PM

  by Vicky Moon, Special to the Washington Post Although the stock market might have gone south, consider the tale of Gordon Keys's equine investment. In October 2004, at the annual yearling auction at Virginia Tech's Middleburg Agricultural Research... Post Reactions

• DETTORI’S WHIP TOSS BEING REVIEWED BY STEWARDS
  Oct 27 2008, 05:52 PM

  by Jeff Apel/Thoroughbred Times Jockey Frankie Dettori’s post-race actions following his win aboard Raven’s Pass in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on Saturday are under review by track stewards working the Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park meeting, who could... Post Reactions

• SECRETARIAT’S LAST RACE
  Oct 27 2008, 05:50 PM

  From Secretariat.com: Secretariat's final race, the October 28, 1973 Canadian International represents the final installment of our 35th Anniversary Racing Series. The $125,000 added 1 5/8 mile grass race from Woodbine racecourse was the last opportunity... Post Reactions

• ALYSHEBA HEADED BACK TO KENTUCKY
  Oct 27 2008, 05:47 PM

  by Steve Bailey/Thoroughbred Times Alysheba, the oldest living Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, is returning to the United States to live at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Racing Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron, who piloted the Alydar horse to his... Post Reactions

• I’M A HOKIE WINS OLD DOMINION FINALE
  Oct 21 2008, 04:52 PM

  Gordie Key’s Virginia-bred I’m A Hokie won the $20,000 Old Dominion Championship series finale Saturday at the International Gold Cup Races at Great Meadow near The Plains. (Photo by Douglas Lees) Complete order of finish: 1) I’m A Hokie ; 2) River Magic... Post Reactions

• ANOTHER GOOD DAY FOR GOOD NIGHT SHIRT
  Oct 21 2008, 04:48 PM

  Sonny Via's Good Night Shirt, ridden by Willie Dowling and trained by Jack Fisher, takes the final jump in the $250,000 Grand National Steeplechase at Far Hills, N.J. on Saturday. The win was the fifth straight Grade 1 for the reigning Eclipse Award... Post Reactions

• BUBBLE ECONOMY
  Oct 21 2008, 04:44 PM

  The aptly named Bubble Economy won the $50,000 International Gold Cup, October 18th at Great Meadow. (Photo by Douglas Lees) Read More... Post Reactions

• RED GIANT OUT OF BC TURF
  Oct 21 2008, 04:26 PM

  Former Virginia Derby winner Red Giant was declared out of the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Sunday. Red Giant was one of the favorites in the $2 million Turf next weekend at Santa Anita. He didn’t finish his feed from the previous night and had a high temperature... Post Reactions

• SO YOU WANT TO BUY A RACEHORSE?
  Oct 21 2008, 04:22 PM

  Keeneland will handle the sale of a minority share of Curlin, the richest American racehorse ever. The deadline is Nov. 5 for potential buyers to submit a sealed bid for the 20 percent stake in the 2007 Horse of the Year and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner... Post Reactions

• INJURY ENDS BIG BROWN’S CAREER
  Oct 14 2008, 06:25 PM

  AP - Big Brown's racing career ended yesterday when the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner injured his right front foot during a workout at Aqueduct Race Course in New York. Michael Iavarone of IEAH Stables, co-owners of Big Brown, said the 3-year... Post Reactions

• BETTER TALK NOW
  Oct 14 2008, 06:23 PM

  Nine-year-old Virginia-owned gelding Better Talk Now is on target to make his 48th career start in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup World Championships with an opportunity to add to a stellar career record that includes a victory in the 2004 John Deere Breeders... Post Reactions

• DREAMING OF ANNA
  Oct 14 2008, 06:22 PM

  Colonial Downs’ stakes winner Dreaming of Anna, the champion two-year-old filly of 2006, has been retired after her sixth-place finish in the First Lady Stakes (G1) on October 3 at Keeneland Race Course. Owner-breeder Frank Calabrese sent the four-year... Post Reactions

• RED GIANT
  Oct 14 2008, 06:20 PM

  After kicking around the idea of running 2007 Virginia Derby (G2) winner Red Giant in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), owner John Fort and trainer Todd Pletcher have decided to keep him on the grass in the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). Fort... Post Reactions

• NEW YORK BANS STEROIDS
  Oct 14 2008, 06:18 PM

  New York toughened its steroids policy for racehorses Tuesday, following the lead of the two other states that hold Triple Crown races. Certain steroids are also prohibited in Virginia. The New York State Racing and Wagering Board said the new rules take... Post Reactions

• AUDLEY-BRED NIGHT CRESCENDO
  Oct 14 2008, 06:07 PM

  Jim Crowley and Night Crescendo land The Marchpole Handicap Stakes Race run at Ascot Racecourse on September 28, 2008, in Ascot, England. (Photo by Julian Herbert/Getty Images Europe) Jockey Jim Crowley riding Night Crescendo (Far L) races up the inside... Post Reactions