Maggie Bryant’s Dakota Slew (left) dominated in the 3 1/2-mile open timber Rokeby Bowl at Saturday’s Piedmont Point-to-Point in Upperville, Virginia for trainer Richard Valentine and rider Robbie Walsh. (Douglas Lees Photo)
Monday, March 31, 2014
Photo Of The Day
Maggie Bryant’s Dakota Slew (left) dominated in the 3 1/2-mile open timber Rokeby Bowl at Saturday’s Piedmont Point-to-Point in Upperville, Virginia for trainer Richard Valentine and rider Robbie Walsh. (Douglas Lees Photo)
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Will Carolina Cup Fashion Impact Gold Cup Fashion?
A major event on the spring steeplechase
calendar, the Carolina Cup was held on Saturday. Spring officially started last Thursday prior
to the big race (and party), but for some Carolinians, spring doesn’t start
until Carolina Day. And for many attending, the biggest thing on their minds was
what to wear.
.jpeg) |
| LucyGordon Smith, left, and Karley Nyman, employees at Julia Neal Fashions in Five Points in Columbia, said that Carolina Cup fashion is becoming “a lot less preppy” and more “bohemian chic.” (TRAVIS BROUSSARD — USC School of Journalism) |
More than 60,000 people show up for the horse
race each year in a sea of neon colors, floral patterns, bow ties and sun hats.
It is the bellwether of spring fashion in South Carolina, known for its fashion
as much as for its horses. Think of it as a modern-day Woodstock for the
conservative minded.
For years now, the traditional outfit has been
preppy – a Lilly Pulitzer dress (maybe a Stinger or Elephant Ears print), a
pair of Jack Rogers sandals and a monogrammed sun hat to top it off. It is a
classy look that will stick around. Guys have always kept it simple with a
pastel button-up, a bow tie, a pair of khakis and a matching koozie.
But fashion evolves, and traditions stay the
same, so what better place to see the clash of new and old than the Carolina Cup?
Or not?
 |
| Joy Hoffman, left, and Reta Whitten have fun at the 82nd Annual Carolina Cup at Springdale Race Course in Camden, SC.(Jeff Blake, The State) |
To read more, click
here.
Photo Of The Day
African Story and Silvestre
De Sousa winnings the $10 million Dubai World Cup G1 sponsored by Emirates, for
trainer, Saeed bin Suroor, at the 19th running of the Dubai World Cup, Saturday
March 29th -2014. (DRC Photo)
Saturday, March 29, 2014
World's Richest Horse Race Draws Sixteen (Horses)
Ruler of
The World, last year's Epsom Derby (England) victor, is the early favorite for
the $10 million Emirates Dubai World Cup today at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai,
UAE. Suffice to say that hats are part
of the spectacle!
The son
of Galileo, who will have his first race of the year, drew post 12 in the
16-horse field, the same berth from which Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom
started en route to winning last year. He is tabbed as the 9-2 favorite on the
morning line in the United States.
Ruler of
The World had a 3-1-1 record from seven starts last season including his Derby
win, and his campaign was capped by a third-place finish in the QIPCO Champion
Stakes at Ascot. He arrived in Dubai March 26 and will clear quarantine March
28.
Ron the
Greek, who now races in Saudi Arabia, drew terribly in the far outside post. He
is 5-1 second choice on the U.S. morning line.
The
Dubai World Cup card of eight Thoroughbred stakes will broadcast live by HRTV,
beginning at 9 a.m. ET. Post time for the first Thoroughbred stakes, the $1
million Godolphin Mile is 9:10 a.m. Post time for the Dubai World Cup is
approximately 2:05 p.m. and can be seen from 1:00 to 2:30 pm on Fox Sports 1.
British-based
globetrotter Red Cadeaux, was a fast-flying second last year, two lengths
behind Animal Kingdom . He will break from post 14.
To read
more, click
here.
(Photos
by Francois Nel/Getty Images and Warren
Little/Getty Images)
Photos Of The Day
George Baker riding Chain Of Events during The Betdaq Free
25 Bet No Lose Handicap Race at Kempton Park racecourse on March 27, 2014 in
Sunbury, England. (Getty Images Europe)
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Photo Of The Day
Runners in The Towcester Racecourse New Greyhound Track
Devekopment Novices' Hurdle Race clear a hurdle at Towcester racecourse on
March 24, 2014 in Towcester, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Photo Of The Day
Runners
clear a flight of hurdles in the back straight in The Finishing Post @White
PostbRimpton Novices Hurdle Race at Wincanton racecourse on March 23, 2014 in
Wincanton, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)
Friday, March 21, 2014
Photo Of The Day
Barry Geraghty rides Thanks For Coming to victory and Paddy
Brennan rides Ifyousayso to second in the Oakley Coachbuilders Novices' Limited
Handicap Chase at Newbury Racecourse on March 21, 2014 in Newbury, England. (Michael
Regan/Getty Images Europe)
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Photo Of The Day
Ulzana's Raid, (centre) ridden by Robert Thornton jumps
safely over a fence during the first circuit of the MHM One Call Maiden Hurdle
at Warwick Racecourse on March 19, 2014 in Warwick, England. (Ross
Kinnaird/Getty Images Europe)Wednesday, March 19, 2014
2014 Virginia Gold Cup: The Clock Starts Now!
 |
| DON"T DO THIS! GET READY NOW! |
It’s that
time of year when a series of events triggers Gold Cup Fever which this year is
crossed with the highly infectious Cabin Fever which has been thrust on all of
us by an unrelenting Old Man Winter who is clearly not pleased with Mother Nature. Jeez...enough already...!
That said,
look around. The snow is melting, the
NCAA basketball tournament gets underway tonight, MLB spring training is going
on in Florida and Arizona and St. Patrick’s Day was just celebrated a few days back.
All are important, but St. Paddy’s day is close to our hearts and on a cosmic parallel with the
big event the First Saturday In May.
In short, St
Patrick's Day is an annual religious and cultural commemoration of the widely
recognized patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. March 17th, is a public
holiday in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland but is celebrated in
many countries around the world where Irish diaspora have settled.
And all this
time, we thought it was about leprechauns and green beer…!
Point is it’s
a celebration and a big party and loads of fun just like the annual Virginia
Gold Cup and we all know the Irish love horse racing (especially jumpers) and a good party no matter the color of the beverage of choice.
So start
getting ready. Clothes, tailgate, picnic, TICKETS, etc.
To get your
tickets, click here.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Skijoring? More Snow = The Virginia Skijoring Cup?
 |
| Brenton Morton is airborn off the third jump a Kristen House and Buck race down the straight during the world skijoring championships in Whitefish, Montana. (Lido Vizzutti/Washington Post) |
Skijoring
comes our way via Montana…Big Sky Country's own exciting and unique Extreme
Sport is here, with the most money, the largest field of competitors and for
spectators, the biggest party on snow!
The World Ski
Joring Championships are hallmarked by the largest cash purse on the entire
skijoring race circuit, estimated at over $20,000 this year. There's a lot of
money at stake and skiers & horsemen (and horsewomen) will all be racing
for their share of it, in four separate classes, plus the Murdoch's Long Jump.
Modern skijoring combines Whitefish's
signature ski racing heritage with Big Sky Country's cowboy roots into a wild,
fast-paced and entertaining spectator event.
To read more,
click here.
 |
| Cinderella ridden by Mo Fingers pulls skier Lance Nelson during the world skijoring championships in Whitefish, Montana. (Lido Vizzutti/Washington Post) |
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Lord Windermere Wins $914,000 Cheltenham Gold Cup
 |
| Davy Russell
celebrates after riding Lord Windermere to victory in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images Europe) |
(Blood-Horse.com)
Lord Windermere stormed through the field in the final stretch to win the
prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup in a photo finish before a sellout crowd of
67,500 March 14 on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.
After two
false starts and a tight finish, Lord Windermere, trained by Jim Culloty and
ridden by Davy Russell, snatched the race by a short head from On His Own.
A stewards'
inquiry was held following the race because Lord Windermere had drifted into On
His Own after they cleared the last fence. Although officials concluded there
was a clear interference, they ruled it was not sufficient to amend the
placings.
 |
| Davy Russell and
Lord Windermere (far right). (Andrew Redington/Getty Images Europe) |
Lord
Windermere, an Irish-bred 8-year-old Oscar gelding owned by Dr. Ronan Lambe,
finished the about 3 1/4-mile trip over 22 fences in 6:43.88 on good turf.
Entering off a sixth-place finish in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown Feb.
9, his record improved to 6-3-1 from 16 career starts.
"I'm
obviously delighted and relieved. It was nerve-wracking," Russell said
after the results were confirmed. "I knew I was under no pressure and I
just took a chance of going down the inside and he's done it."
Photos Of The Day
Ruby Walsh's Cheltenham Festival came to a premature end after a crashing fall in the first race left him nursing a broken arm. The horse galloped off apparently no worse for the wear. (Andy Hopper/Daily Mail Photo)
Paul Carberry
rides Very Wood to victory in the $199,500 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle on
Gold Cup day at the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 14,
2014 in Cheltenham, England. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images Europe)
Friday, March 14, 2014
Ladies Day at the Cheltenham Festival
There are occasions on the world’s sporting calendar that call for festive hats. The Virginia Gold Cup, the Kentucky Derby, Royal Ascot, the Melbourne Cup, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Cheltenham Festival come to mind. This week the four day Cheltenham Festival included a hat extravaganza on Ladies Day on Wednesday. The racing was prime, but the hats and wardrobes were sublime... as usual in spite of it being March in England.
Window of the
champagne bar at Cheltenham racecourse on March 12, 2014 in Cheltenham,
England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)
Photos Of The Day
Jamie Moore riding Sire De Grugy after winning the $562,000 BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase G1 at Cheltenham racecourse on March 12, 2014 in Cheltenham, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)
Nico de Boinville riding Whisper (C) clear the last to win The Coral Cup at Cheltenham racecourse on March 12, 2014 in Cheltenham, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Photos Of The Day
Barry
Geraghty celebrates after his hard-fought victory on Jezki in the Champion Hurdle
G1 at Cheltenham on Tuesday. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
Monday, March 10, 2014
Another Gold Cup On Tap This Week
The
Cheltenham Festival gets underway this week and climaxes with Friday’s
Cheltenham Gold Cup.
A major
fixture on Great Britain’s jump racing calendar, the Festival attracts crowds and
media from all over Europe and some from the United States as well.
Cheltenham
calls it “four days of
atmosphere, anticipation and action, played out on a beautiful sporting arena
that has no equal.”
 |
Katie Walsh
riding Foxrock make their way to the gallops at Cheltenham racecourse on March
09, 2014 in Cheltenham, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)
|
They continue, saying “The Festival features the best and
the bravest horses and jockeys, nervous and excited trainers and owners, and a
wide cast of human characters who come together every year determined to have
the time of their lives. For racing's practitioners, Festival glory
provides lifelong memories that will never fade and defines
careers. Witness the sheer elation of winning connections as they return
to the cheers of the crowd and you are seeing dreams fulfilled and years of
planning and effort coming to fruition.
The Festival is one of those rare events that engages everyone
who comes into contact with it, never failing to produce award-winning drama,
enjoyment, camaraderie and sporting excellence in a cocktail for which no
hangover cure is required. It truly is a life affirming four days.”
The calendar breaks down like this:
Tuesday, March 11th – Champions Day, the feature race
is the Champion Hurdle, a prestigious Grade
1 stakes race with a purse of $695,000 (U.S.)
Wednesday, March 12th – Ladies Day, the feature race
is the Queen Mother Champion Chase, a prestigious Grade 1 stakes race with a purse of $582,000
(U.S.)
Thursday, March 13th – St. Patrick’s Thursday, the
feature races are the Ryanair Chase, a prestigious Grade 1 stakes race with a purse of $457,000
(U.S.) and the World Hurdle, a Grade 1 race also with a purse of $457,000
(U.S.).
Friday, March 14th – Cheltenham Gold Cup Day, the
feature race is the Queen Mother Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase, a prestigious Grade 1 stakes race with a purse of $956,000
(U.S.)
Tune in the rest of the week for photos of the winners!
Photos Of The Day
Damien Oliver
riding Fiorente after winning Race 7, the Darley Australian Cup during
Australian Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse on March 8, 2014 in Melbourne,
Australia. (Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)