All of the inside scoop on Virginia's biggest day of Steeplechase racing -- the Virginia Gold Cup. Hey, 50,000 of your closest friends can't be wrong! Do you have your tickets yet?

Monday, March 26, 2012

Pictures Of The Day

Paddy Brennan riding Triangular (C) clear the water jump before winning The Read Nicholls And McCain On Betfair handicap Steeple Chase at Newbury racecourse on March 23, 2012 in Newbury, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)
Charlie Poste riding Tooka (green cap) on their way to winning The ladbrokes.com Handicap Steeple Chase at Towcester racecourse on March 26, 2012 in Towcester, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

Monday, March 19, 2012

Things That Make You Go...

Hmmm...
(Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Milliner Richard Nylon poses with Myer ambassador Rebecca Judd at the Myer 2012 Autumn/Winter Racing launch on March 15, 2012 in Sydney, Australia.

Nope, no clue.  Gonna have to Google it.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Synchronised Upsets Cheltenham Gold Cup

Synchronised, ridden by 16-times champion jockey Tony McCoy for trainer Jonjo O'Neill,  won the Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase after two-time winner Kauto Star was pulled up by jockey Ruby Walsh on the first circuit.
SYNCHRONISED (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
The 8-1 shot, owned by JP McManus took the lead after jumping the last and galloped on strongly to head The Giant Bolster (50-1) and win by two and a quarter lengths.  Last year’s winner  Long Run, the 7-4 favorite, third another  three-quarters of a length away.

Dual winner Kauto Star was pulled up at the ninth fence by Walsh.
KAUTO STAR (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Hats From The Cheltenham Festival







(Photos by Andrew Yates, Matt Cardy and Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Cheltenham Festival Photos

Horses jump during the JLT Specialty Handicap Steeple Chase race on the first day of the Cheltenham Racing Festival in Gloucestershire, western England, on March 13, 2012. (Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images)
Al Ferof ridden by Ruby Walsh jumps a fence in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase run during day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 13, 2012 in Cheltenham, England. (Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)
Spectators arrive for the first day of the Cheltenham Racing Festival in Gloucestershire, in western England, on March 13, 2012. (Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images)
Jockey Barry Geraghty (C) riding the horse 'Simonsig' during the Neptune Novices Hurdle on the second day of  Cheltenham. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
Runners and riders begin the first race, The William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle during day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 13, 2012 in Cheltenham, England.  (Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)
Barry Geraghty riding Finian's Rainbow (L) win The Sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)
Runners and riders turn the bend in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle during day two of the Cheltenham. (Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)
Racegoers watch the action from the course on ladies day during day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham racecourse on March 14, 2012 in Cheltenham, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

 Finian's Rainbow ridden by Barry Geraghty clears the water jump in the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase. (Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)
Racegoer's check their papers on the last day of the Cheltenham horse racing Festival in Gloucestershire, England on March 16 2012. (Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images)
Big Buck's ridden by Ruby Walsh leads the field on its way to winning the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.  It was Big Buck's 16th straight win.  (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
 The Cheltenham Gold Cup. (Getty Images)
Horses run during the Ryanair steeple chase on the third day of the Cheltenham horse racing festival. (Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images)
Samba dancers arrive for the last day of the Cheltenham horse racing Festival in Gloucestershire, England on March 16 2012. (Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images)


Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Pictures Of The Day

Runners flick up the mud at Sandown racecourse on March 10, 2012 in Esher, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)
The re-call man (we call him “the starter”) waves his flag after a false start at Sandown racecourse on March 10, 2012 in Esher, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)
Denis O'Regan riding Ambion Wood (3R, maroon) clear the last to win The EBF paddypower.com 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle Race Final at Sandown racecourse on March 10, 2012 in Esher, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)
Prince Harry plays polo for the Sentebale team at the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup 2012 on March 11th, 2012 in Campinas, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The 2012 Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup closes Prince Harry's Official Tour of Brazil. Sentebale was founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso from the Lesotho Royal family in response to the plight of the neediest and most vulnerable of Lesotho's children. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images Europe)
Horses and riders get an early morning exercise prior to the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham racecourse in England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Monday, March 12, 2012

Pictures Of The Day

Jack Madden riding Hurricane Fly, the winners of the famous Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2001, cross the track during exercise prior to the festival meeting commencing on Tuesday at Cheltenham racecourse on March 11, 2012 in Cheltenham, England.  Most consider the Champion Hurdle the most prestigious steeplechase in Great Britain. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)
2011 Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)
A horse and rider exercise prior to the festival meeting commencing on Tuesday at Cheltenham racecourse on March 11, 2012. (lan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)
Runners race down the back straight at Wincanton racecourse on March 09, 2012 in Wincanton, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Picture Of The Day

Horses and riders head down the hill in the Nissan Sunline Vase on Auckland Cup Dat at Ellerslie racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand.  (Hannah Johnston/Getty Images)

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Things That Make You Go...


Hmmm...
(PacificCoastNews.com)
Well...at least both outfits have “gold” in them...
These are the creations of U.S. designer Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton's Fall-Winter 2012-2013 Ready-To-Wear collection show held at Cour Carree Musee du Louvre in Paris. 

Monday, March 5, 2012

Pictures Of The Day

Richard Johnson riding Marufo (R) clear the water jump before winning The williamhill.com Support Greatwood Veterans' Handicap Steeple Chase from Niche Market (L) at Newbury racecourse on March 03, 2012 in Newbury, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)
A runner takes a flight of hurdles at Newbury racecourse on March 03, 2012 in Newbury, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Let The Countdown Begin...

Well now, it's the first day of March and it looks like winter is pretty well in the can.  And while it isn't quite spring just yet, it's time to get serious with your plans for this year's Virginia Gold Cup run at Great Meadow in The Plains on the first Saturday of (every) May.

While it is true that we sometimes peruse the fashion world for our popular series of post knows as "WHAT NOT TO WEAR,"  here and there we do see some spectacular selections coming off various runways.

Here's one now.

If you are looking to make a splash at your company's tent or your friend's tailgate or you simply want to make that ex-boyfriend or girlfriend's knees buckle, check out this combo as offered by Italian designer Lorenzo Riva.

The outfits were part of the Lorenzo Riva Autumn/Winter 2012/2013 fashion show featured during the Milan Womenswear Fashion Week a few days ago in Milan, Italy.

And you thought Nehru Jackets and paisley were long gone...

Photo Of The Day

Paddy Brennan riding Baby Mix (R) on their way to winning The Download William Hill From The App-Store Adonis Juvenile Hurdle Race at Kempton racecourse on February 25, 2012 in Sunbury, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)