JUMP RACING LAST WEEKEND AT COLONIAL DOWNS

Eagle Beagle with Paddy Young wins the open hurdle race at Colonial Downs on 13 September.

Torlundy, ridden by Paddy Young, won the maiden hurdle at Colonial Downs, the first sanctioned steeplechase meet of the fall season. Hope he uncrossed those front legs before he landed...

Virginia-bred Class Disco (3rd) with Bernard Dalton and Beech Cay (2nd) with Jody Petty.
All photos by Susan M. Carter of Jeffersonton, VA. Susan is an equine enthusiast and photographer. To see more of her award winning work, click here.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL GETS UNDERWAY TONIGHT...

...and that can mean one thing, and one thing only -- Fall is fast approaching and with it the International Gold Cup.

On October 17th, 2009, 35,000 spectators will gather at Great Meadow near The Plains, Virginia, to celebrate the 72nd running of the International Gold Cup Races.

This event will provide a full day of entertainment including six nationally sanctioned horse races, terrier races, tailgate contest and a Porsche sports car exhibit.

Ticket sales benefit the Great Meadow Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Start planning now.

VIRGINIANS WIN BIG JUMP RACE AT SARATOGA

Virginians Jim Carter, and his wife Melinda, own Randleston Farm in Bluemont. They started out some years ago with the modest goal of maintaining a few broodmares, but, as often happens, the barn filled up with a string of flat runners and steeplechasers.

How fortuitous.

Yesterday, the Carters and Virginia-based trainer Jimmy Day of Berryville teamed up with Spy In The Sky and jockey Liam McVicar to upset the $100,000 New York Turf Writers Cup Gr.I at Saratoga.

In doing so, all they had to do was beat a bunch of stakes winners trained by some of the best trainers to ever saddle a jumper at the Spa (or anywhere else, for that matter). Rounding out the order of finish were Sermon of Love (Jonathan Sheppard), Dalucci (Janet Elliot), Swagger Stick (Jack Fisher), Mixed Up (Johathan Sheppard) and Slip Away (Tommy Voss). You Gold Cup fans know all about that Fisher guy...

Unfortunately, the victorious owner-trainer trio wasn’t there to witness the Grade I win, but if you heard an uproar coming from NW Virginia at around 2:10 p.m. yesterday, odds are it was the Carters and Days cheering him home via TVG. Was that “I Love New York” we heard wafting off the Blue Ridge and on down Piedmont way?

The 10 ¼ length victory paid $43.00 for the longest shot in the field as the 9-5 favorite Slip Away was pulled up and highweight Mixed Up struggled home last of five finishers.

McVicar, a Scottish-born apprentice who works for the Day stable in Virginia, said, “I didn’t want to hit the front too early because I had a ton of horse all the way around. I was trying to bring him back, hold him for 10 or 12 strides on the turn. Then it was time to kick on and win the race.”

(NYRA Photos)

LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN

Good news – only 73 more days until the International Gold Cup on October 17 at Great Meadow.

Until then, we will keep you up to date on some other horse races…some on the flat and some over jumps.

You may recall that prior to the spring Gold Cup, we were talking about a horse named Quality Road who was born just down the road from Great Meadow. He had a foot injury and missed the Kentucky Derby, but he’s back.

Back with a vengeance…

VIRGINIA'S TOP RACEHORSE BACK ON TRACK

It didn't look like a track record, but it was...

And just when it appeared there wasn't a three-year-old in the country who could run with super-filly Rachel Alexandra, Edward P. Evans' Virginia-bred Quality Road returned from a four-month hiatus to register a record-setting 2 1/4-length victory over Capt. Candyman Can in Monday's $150,000 Amsterdam Stakes Gr.II at Saratoga.

Quality Road, the likely favorite in this year's Kentucky Derby before being sidelined by reoccurring quarter cracks, covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:13.45.

The timer stopped him at 1:07.22 for six furlongs, a time so fast that folks had to wonder if it was correct. The track record for six furlongs at Saratoga is a long-standing 1:08 by Virginia-connected Spanish Riddle. The officials went back and hand timed the race and confirmed the time.

His final time shattered the course record set by Topsider in 1979 by nearly a full second. Quality Road, by Elusive Quality out Kobla by Strawberry Road, who was transferred from trainer Jimmy Jerkens to Todd Pletcher's barn, set the record despite stumbling at the start and racing wide throughout the race.

Simply put, Quality Road, who is a very cool customer pre-race, is so fast he doesn't look fast.
"Any time you run a horse for the first time with his potential, you want everything to go well, and we were hoping he'd run just as well for us as he had for Jimmy," said Pletcher. "He stumbled at the start and it took him a while to recover and get the position we'd hoped he'd be in. From there, he got the trip.

"Racing wide was not a concern," Pletcher added, "because with a big horse and the long stride he has, you want to let him do his thing and not have anything get in his way."
Pletcher has said all along that he was using the Amsterdam as a stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Travers, and a potential matchup with Rachel Alexandra.

"I have tremendous respect for the filly, she's a phenomenon," said Pletcher, whose colt Munnings finished third to Rachel Alexandra the previous afternoon in the Haskell. "With a stable our size, chances are we're going to run into her somewhere along the line, and if we do, we'd like it to be with our best horse."

THE END OF A PARTY ERA

What do the Virginia Gold Cup and infield party at the Preakness have in common. Well, not as much as you might think and the similarities draw smaller starting tomorrow.

Now, mind you, both have in common a great party, a great picnic and a great horse race, but after that the paths divide. To be politically correct, we’ll say it’s a matter of “style points.” However, another thing both events share is the tradition of B.Y.O.B.

While the Gold Cup is a bit more polished and sophisticated, the Preakness infield has long been famous for one of the biggest and most raucous parties in horse racing. Participants in this time honored tradition are worried that the glory days may be over. Gone are the morning lacrosse game and scaffolding which allowed those so inclined a view of more than the Preakness horses’ ears and the jockeys’ caps assuming they could scale their creation by late afternoon.

But the party has long been fueled by Pimlico’s policy of BYOB. Not anymore. Josh Bacott of the popular sport’s blog Joe Sports Fan had this to say:

For the first time in recent memory, those grizzled horse racing fans that make up the infield crowd at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course on Preakness day will not be allowed to bring in their most effective handicapping tool: booze.
If the Preakness had one clear-cut advantage over its more famous counterpart in Kentucky, it was that those who chose to brave the infield in Pimlico were rewarded with a free pass to haul in as much alcohol as they could shove into a cooler. While both the Derby and the Preakness still managed to crank out their fair share of YouTube clips featuring the time-honored tradition of port-a-racing, it remained a safe bet to assume that the Preakness was topping the trifecta in the race to see which Triple Crown event could produce more drunken meatheads.

To read the blog post, click here.

Sometimes, the more things change, the more things don’t stay the same…

PICTURE OF THE DAY

We're pretty sure there is a completely reasonable explanation for this but only the folks at Falcon Racing know what it is!

(Photo by Jamie Sneed via Amanda Choby/Facebook)

IN RETROSPECT, IT WAS PERFECT

Nobody was complaining about the weather on Saturday simply because it wasn’t raining. Of course, it would be a bit better if it were seventy and sunny, but the clouds did nothing to deter the picnic, the party or the horse racing.

A balmy 60 degrees at 1:30 when the first race was run, the day made a perfect display of one of our favorite Virginia Gold Cup phenomenons. That would be the “I Bought This Outfit, I’m Gonna Wear It No Matter What The Weather” syndrome.

Kudos to the folks who stuck with their fashion choice, weather be damned. Sun dress, heels, sixty, cloudy – no problem, all ahead, full!

We couldn’t help but note that a lot of the locals went a bit more casual in anticipation of an afternoon rain, but all were delighted when the weather held.

Next year, we guarantee sunshine.

Photo by John Arundel - http://www.flickr.com/photos/selsheikh/3499349145/

VETERAN SALMO WINS 84th VIRGINIA GOLD CUP

On paper, yesterday's $75,000 84th Virginia Gold Cup looked to be between two horses -- the 2007 winner Salmo and the 2008 winner Bubble Economy.

Out on the Great Meadow race course, the timber classic played out as anticipated as Salmo jumped beautifully and had enough left to hold off defending champion Bubble Economy down the stretch.

Salmo also won the race in 2007 when trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Chip Miller. The 13-year-old son of Northern Baby gave owner Irv Naylor his third victory in the timber stakes. Erin Go Bragh was third.

Salmo was bred in Virginia by Sara and Bruce Collette of Pageland Farm in Casanova, VA. Coincidentally, the Collette's farm is next door to Spring Hill Farm where top three-year-old and injury Kentucky Derby contender Quality Road was born.

Irv Naylor owns the Gold Cup winner who is trained by Desmond Fogarty and who was ridden to victory by Darren Nagle.

For complete results of all the Gold Cup races, click here.

(Photo by Douglas Lees, 2007)

PERFECT WEATHER

Well, it looks like the local weather wags have nailed the forecast pictured here, and it’s going to be another picture perfect day the 84th running of the Virginia Gold Cup.

Ok, “perfect” if the race was held in Charleston, SC…

In reality, the forecast is for lots of clouds, temps in the sixties and chance of showers, but who really cares?

Let’s talk about the weather basics. First off, it’s not cold and isn’t that the critical point?

Cold is bad, warm is good. It’s warm. Game over.

There have been plenty of Gold Cup races and Gold Cup picnics/parties held under some clouds, and, quite frankly, they can be the best ones. Certainly takes that smelly sunscreen out of play…

So dress appropriately, and come have fun!

All ahead, full!

AND THE WINNER OF THE 135TH KENTUCKY DERBY IS…

Who knows?

Every year there are horses that we would categorize as “marginal” Kentucky Derby contenders. This year that group includes (in post position order):

WEST SIDE BERNIE (#1 – second to I Want Revenge. The winner fell down coming out of the gate, got blocked in once if not twice, and still beat him. Don’t think the extra furlong will help.)

ADVICE (#4 – Surprise winner of the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland is either improving daily or his Derby prep win was a fluke. Who knows? As Wayne Lukas once said “People have opinions, the horses have the facts.”

HOLD ME BACK (#5 – Has the connections and the pedigree and was second in the Blue Grass Stakes, a major Derby prep.)

REGAL RANSOM (#10 – Upset winner of the United Emirates Derby which means he’s the upset winner of the United Emirates Derby. Good luck figuring that out.)

CHOCOLATE CANDY (#13 – Second to Pioneerof The Nile in the Santa Anita Derby (polytrack), but has never run on good old fashioned dirt.

Which leads us to the real contenders, and they are horses who have either won or been closely placed in the major Kentucky Derby prep races. In post position order, they are:

MUSKET MAN (#2 – Second to I Want Revenge last out)

FRIESAN FIRE (#6 – Won three Derby prep stakes in Louisiana. Not great, but good enough)

PAPA CLEM (#7 – Won the Arkansas Derby)

GENERAL QUARTERS (#12 – Won the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland)

I WANT REVENGE (#13 – Won the Gotham Stakes by 8 ½ lengths and then won the Wood Memorial Stakes impressively after stumbling badly from the gate)

DUNKIRK (#15 – A $3.7 million yearling who ran an impressive second to Quality Road in the Florida Derby over a speed-favoring track most likely not to his liking.)

PIONEEROF THE NILE (#16 – Won the Santa Anita Derby - pictured)

Picks: Pioneerof The Nile, Dunkirk, Friesan Fire

LIKE THE SUBARU ADD SAYS: I LOVE ANTICIPATION

When it comes to anticipation, the only day better than the Thursday before the Virginia Gold Cup is the Friday before the Virginia Gold Cup, don’t you know?

In the grocery store last night for a few items when we eyeballed a beer sale related to Cinco de Mayo (what we like to call Post-Gold Cup Tuesday), and we thought “Hmmm…”

Well, it is Gold Cup weekend, there are college buddies and wives coming to town so why not stock up now and get ahead of the crowd? Don’t tell us we aren’t doing our part to stimulate the “Bubble Economy.”

Speaking of Bubble Economy, he didn’t scratch out of the $75,000 Virginia Gold Cup, but the undefeated My Lady’s Manor winner Incomplete and Private Attack both withdrew from the race. So now there are nine horses in the feature event.

And…speaking of our friends from Subaru, we wager (hypothetically speaking, of course) that they will have a few cars on display at Great Meadow on Saturday (sans the disinterested looking Russian model). Be sure to check them out.

Being a fan of racing, and road rally racing in particular, we’re gonna have to check out the standard model of the Impreza pictured above driven by Israeli rally driver Yuval Melamid zipping through the FIA Middle East Rally Championship near the Dead Sea in Jordan.

Drive safely!

WHAT NOT TO WEAR REVISTED

You may remember this one from 2007, but the picture is funny and we thought it was worth bringing back one more time…

By now you should have figured out what you are going to wear...

Here is one last minute tip: DON'T WEAR THIS. For starters, who knew they even made black metalic duct tape?

Secondly, the taped-up face is gonna scare people...kids, your friends, your date, your spouse, Homeland Security, you name it.

Bad idea, OK?

Finally, your tan lines are going to make you look like a Halloween pumpkin.

Get back in your closet and try again.

ELEVEN ENTERED IN 84th GOLD CUP

Eleven timber steeplechase horses have been entered in Saturday’s 84th running of the $75,000 Virginia Gold Cup. The two previous winners – Virginia-bred Salmo in 2007 (pictured) and Bubble Economy in 2008 – will face-off against nine “wanna-bes” tackling the four mile course that features 23 timber fences.

One of the contenders looking to grab the cash and the Gold Cup trophy is Seeyouattheevent who won the International Gold Cup over the same Great Meadow course in October of 2007.

The field also slated to include Incomplete, an 8-year-old bay, who is 3-for-3 in National Steeplechase Association-sanctioned races since beginning his career over timber two years ago. In his last start he won the 99th running of the My Lady’s Manor Steeplechase.

Runner-ups at My Lady’s Manor South Monarch and J. Alfred Prufrock are also entered. As predicted here five weeks ago, EMO Stables’ Orison has successfully made the switch from hurdles to timber and he to is entered in the Gold Cup.

Last time out, 2008 Gold Cup winner Bubble Economy defeated the International Gold Cup winner Seeyouattheevent in the Middleburg Hunt Cup at the Middleburg Spring Races. Gold Cup entrant Erin Go Bragh (NZ) was third in that race.

Scratches for the day’s card are due in at the National Steeplechase office later today.

To see all the entries for the day’s six races click here.

ANOTHER CHANCE FOR GOLD CUP

The Going Out Gurus at the Washington Post had this to say this morning:

Another Chance for Gold Cup - Three weeks ago, we wrote about a number of the available party options for the Virginia Gold Cup steeplechase races.

Almost all of them sold out in a matter of days. If you missed your chance to join University Row, the party area featuring an open bar, catered lunch and a huge meet-and-greet with alumni from more than 50 schools, a limited amount of tickets just went on sale for one of the tents, including passes that offer round-trip bus transportation from D.C. (This tent is sponsored by Marquette, but as is the case across University Row, you don't have to be an alumni of to attend.)

We're guessing these won't last long, so pick up your tickets, then start picking out your sundress or seersucker. We'll see you on Saturday. -- Fritz

PARIS HILTON DISSES GOLD CUP AND GOES TO KY DERBY

Are you kidding?

Evidently, Paris Hilton, who recently released her ninth perfume (called Famous For Being Famous?) has decided to attend the Kentucky Derby in lieu of the 84th running of the Virginia Gold Cup this Saturday.

What is she thinking?

Oh, yeah…

We checked in with gossip guru Perez Hilton who knows all about being famous for being famous and everything famous people are doing and why. Perez explained that Paris was attending the Derby because, as she told the New York Post earlier this week, “I don't care what anybody says. Baseball is not our national pastime.”

So is horse racing our “national pastime?”

Man, we’re confused.

Anyway, that shouldn’t matter to you because you are coming to the Gold Cup to be seen, not to see Paris Hilton or anybody else...although there will be a few celebs mixed in the revelry!

We look forward to seeing you.

WHAT TO WEAR SATURDAY: CLOTHING ANXIETY

So Belle over at Capitol Hill Style is having a little bit of anxiety about what she is going to wear on Saturday saying “..many of my friends are furiously trying to find something to wear. The concern has now become that if they go shopping at J. Crew, Nordstrom, Tickled Pink (or any of the other traditional options) they will wind up wearing the same thing as someone else. This is an understandable fear.”

Wow, it’s good to be a guy.

We have to worry about finding a designated driver, not forgetting the tickets and avoiding the Swine Flu.

Really, we already know we are going to show up at Great Meadow on Saturday wearing the same thing – pants, for example. Shoes and a shirt are likely as well, and sport coats are optional. A hat’s not a bad idea, or sunscreen, as needed.

For example, check out these guys. They are all dressed similarly, but not the same. Evidently, if you’re a dude, that’s acceptable. No stress involved. Usually, guys choose their “outfits” for a big day like the Gold Cup based on one very strict criteria – “clean.”

Now, we understand the pressure on women not to show up wearing the identical Lily Whats-Her-Name dress as one of her friends or fellow party goers.

So measures can be taken. Belle suggests the Sunday Brunch Dress Shop for an original dress.

We simply suggest you reach into the closet and find the most unique outfit you have or go buy a new one like Belle suggests (after all it’s good for the economy). Now check out these this group. The young woman is wearing a flower print sun dress which probably has some probability of duplication, but since there are millions of permutations and combinations involving colors, flowers and prints, we wager she gets away with this.

Which brings us to the guys – Far Left Guy looks like he strolled out of W&L or UVa frat party. Classic, but easily duplicated. We’d recommend a tie that makes more of a statement.

Hmm…like Center Guy, now that’s a tie and if somebody else is wearing it on the First Saturday In May we’d be shocked.

And that brings us to Far Right Guy. Home run, dude. We don’t know who designed the sport coat, but there had to be a party involved. Well done. We suggest you wear it on Saturday as a jacket like that needs to be let out of the captivity of your closet more than once a year!

Don’t forget the extra batteries. (Just kidding.)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

(Photo by Amanda McLean. http://www.flickr.com/photos/soleil1016/2466455702)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Here's a nice "hat picture" from last Saturday's Maryland Hunt Cup.

It's a nice little race, but the Virginia Gold Cup it is not...

VIRGINIA'S QUALITY ROAD OUT OF KY DERBY

For those of us plotting how we were going to find our way to get in front of a television for the Kentucky Derby after a big, fun day at the 84th Virginia Gold Cup, things just got a little simpler regarding the logistics for this Saturday...

Edward P. Evans' Virginia-bred Quality Road, who figured to be among the top choices for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Gr. 1) will not start in the Run for the Roses, it was confirmed Monday morning by Chris Baker, farm manager of Evans’ Spring Hill Farm.

“There was some tenderness in the foot this morning and he’s not 100%. (Trainer) Jimmy (Jerkens) wasn’t comfortable breezing him, and without a work, he can’t go,” Baker said. “He’s not going to make the race.”

On Monday morning, Jerkens noticed the colt’s foot was sore and that he was favoring it. "You’re just kidding yourself if you think you can go out there and run in the biggest race in the world and haven’t trained,” Jerkens said. “It’s a shame because he’s so talented.”

Quality Road was aiming to become the fifth Virginia-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby and the first Commonwealth-born horse to run in the prestigious race since 1996. Previous Virginia-bred winners were Reigh Count (1928), Secretariat (1973), Pleasant Colony (1981) and Sea Hero (1993).

Quality Road has three wins from four lifetimes starts. He was a smashing winner of the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) in his 3-year-old debut Feb. 28 at Gulfstream Park and last time out won the Blackberry Presents the 58th Running of the Florida Derby (gr. I).

“The good news is we have a very talented 3-year-old,” Baker said. “We’ll wait and get him right and go from there.”

MOTHER NATURE READIES FOR GOLD CUP

We made a quick trip down to Casanova this morning to visit Spring Hill Farm where Kentucky Derby contender Quality Road was born. We were reminded of how beautiful horse country is in the Spring, and in anticipation of another awesome day next Saturday at the Virginia Gold Cup, we thought we'd share a few images.

(TarDog Photos)

HEY! HO! LET'S MOW!

(We first ran this post back in 2007, but it's worth revisiting annually!)

It’s a three man grounds team here at Great Meadow, so for the three weeks prior to the Gold Cup we run at full tilt getting everything ready for the Virginia Gold Cup races. So what does that mean? It means we are mowing grass. And with the weather turning warm again today and all weekend, it means we will be mowing and weed-eating until the sun sets each day. Don’t tell us we don’t know how to have a good time!

To get the race course ready, it’s a process. First we mow the new spring grass to about 5 inches to thicken it up. Then, we slowly raise the height up on the race course to 6 or 7 inches to make the perfect cushion for the horses. (We also have our own rain dance here at Great Meadow because it is important that the ground have a certain level of moisture on race day.) So, about two weeks ago, we rolled our irrigation reels out onto the course so they would be ready to irrigate as the weather had been very dry. Sometimes, this process is kind of like getting your car washed on a sunny day, it brings the rain. It worked again this year.

Lots of people ask if we aerate. Fortunately, the girls wearing high heels take care of that for us at the fall and the spring races. Once they figure out that while high heels are fashionable, they aren’t the best answer for steeple chase footwear, we’re going to have even more work on our plate.

There is also the work we do to the jumps, fences and other structures in preparation for race day. We’ve repaired, painted and stained fencelines, jumps and more. The roads are groomed so they are ready to handle the nearly 8,000 cars and buses that will pull through the gates on the first Saturday in May.

That’s basically the strategic plan for Gold Cup preparations. Lots of work, but you’re worth it. Did I mention that we have to mow? I’m off to draw straws to see who gets to use the John Deere Chopper Snapper today. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

PRE-GOLD CUP THURSDAY LUNCH: ONE SPRING ROLL, ONE GOLD CUP BLOG ROLL

…no waiting.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/goingoutgurus/2009/04/tally_ho_for_the_virginia_gold.html The one where the Washington Post’s Going Out Guide gives you all the scoop.

http://capitolhillstyle.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/haute-week-virginia-gold-cup-races/
The one where Capital Hill Style weighs in on fashion sense including “Critter pants.” http://www.thedctraveler.com/horses-race-for-the-cup-the-virginia-gold-cup/
The one where D.C. Traveler dispenses some good fashion advice including the oft ignored classic “Flat heels are suggested.” Now, that’s funny.

http://www.cornellclubdc.org/events/2009/05/02/university-row-virginia-gold-cup-races
The one where you can link to all the scoop on “University Row” and learn that “Cornellians” is a word for Cornell grads.

http://jcinthedistrict.blogspot.com/2009/04/its-time-84th-annual-gold-cup.html
The one where In The Distict actually suggest that the dudes wear seersucker suits. Jordan, puh-leez, anything but that!

http://thesebootsrmadeforwalking.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-gold-cup-hat.html
The one where Jamie Lynn at These Boots Were Made For Walking reveals her Gold Cup hat.

http://www.visitwinchestervirginia.com/2009/03/virginia-gold-cup/
The one where the city of Winchester says the Gold Cup is “the largest steeplechase course in the country” with “the best viewing anywhere.” You don’t really need to visit the link ‘cause that’s all it says, but we like that is says “the largest steeplechase course in the country” with “the best viewing anywhere” so we click on it all the time!

GOLD CUP OR HUNT CUP?

You might have thought that Coal Dust, the impressive winner of the $35,000 Grand National in Maryland on Saturday, might have his sights set on the Virginia Gold Cup.

But, now it appears that the winner Coal Dust and the runner-up Private Attack will run in the Maryland Hunt Cup this Saturday. Horses have run in the grueling Maryland race and then run in the Gold Cup just one week later, but it’s quite rare.

On the same day, former Gold Cup winner Bubble Economy won a $20,000 Middleburg Hunt Cup at the Middleburg Races. That would set him up perfectly if his connections deem it appropriate. Bubble Economy is trained by Jack Fisher of Saluter fame (six Gold Cup wins, all with Fisher riding).

Frankly, all four starters in the Middleburg Hunt Cup would seem to be likely Gold Cup starters. Time will tell.

Grand National
First Race. $35,000 Grand National timber stakes.
1. Coal Dust (Armata Stable, Tom Voss, Blair Wyatt).
2. Private Attack (Sportsmans Hall, Alicia Murphy, William Santoro).
3. Western Fling (Stewart Strawbridge, Katherine McKenna, Jason Griswold).

Middleburg Spring Races
Second Race. $20,000 Middleburg Hunt Cup.
1. Bubble Economy (Arcadia Stable, Jack Fisher, Xavier Aizpuru).
2. Seeyouattheevent (Arthur W. Arundel, Jack Fisher, William Dowling)
3. Erin Go Bragh (NZ) (Magalen O. Bryant, Doug Fout, Paddy Young)
4. Irish Prince (Augustin Stables, Sanna Hendriks, Jody Petty)

HAT REDECORATING MADE EASY

No we aren’t kidding. This “recession” has had all different kind of impacts on all different kinds of businesses including hat sales.

Evidently, sales are off in the biz of chapeaus, but the savvy distaff hat haberdasher has learned how to compensate by selling a redecorating service. There’s a word for that and it’s “clever.”

So if you were down and out about not having a new hat for this year’s Virginia Gold Cup, why not find a hat redecorator and give that old lid a nice new makeover?

Truth be told, why not have a couple Margaritas with your girl pals and then redecorate the darn thing yourself?

Really, we aren’t looking to take any business away from Hat Redecorator Extraordinaire Vicky Hoskinson (pictured here), but why not take this on as a post happy hour project.

Cocktails, scissors, feathers, ribbons, Sharpie pens…Go crazy!

Whether adorned with feathers or flowers, hats are as much a part of the Gold Cup spectacle as fast horses, tailgates and sunburns. The trick is to get your hat just right…so get busy, the Gold Cup is now a mere eleven days away.

Besides, “recycling” your Gold Cup hat is a perfect way to celebrate Earth Day!

AN UPDATE ON THAT "OTHER LITTLE RACE"

Virginia owned and bred Kentucky Derbyleading contender Quality Road is doing great. According to sources close to the Florida Derby winner, he hacked around the horse paths at Belmont Park yesterday when rain made both the main track and the training track soup.

Paul Moran wrote a nice piece about Quality Road, his Virginia connection and his public relations/media campaign be orchestrated by the Virginia Thoroughbred Association for ESPN.com.

Down at Churchill Downs, the other two favorites Pioneerof The Nile both and I Want Revenge both worked five furlongs impressively. Pioneerof The Nile has a win last time out in the Santa Anita Derby bolstering his resume, and I Want Revenge won the Wood Memorial in a very impressive fashion last out after falling down coming out of the gate. It’s worth watching. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUUdR0fXCNo

Hook up with QR on Facebook to become a FAN OF QUALITY ROAD and/or keep up with him on Twitter.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=75003471943&ref=ts
http://twitter.com/Quality_Road

(Photo by Tony Rosca)

LOOK WHO'S ON FACEBOOK

Well, besides you...

The Virginia Gold Cup Races are now on Facebook.

Pay us a visit. Write something clever on our Wall or post some of your favorite Gold Cup pictures. Invite your friends!

http://www.facebook.com/wall.php?id=75003471943#/event.php?eid=47418509785

LOOK WHO ELSE IS ON FACEBOOK

Virginia's entry in the Kentucky Derby, Quality Road won the race to Facebook and Twitter rather convincingly over his primary rival I Want Revenge. The other top pick, Pioneerof The Nile hasn't even gotten the computer turned on yet..

The three-year-old colt who was born at Edward P. Evans' Spring Hill Farm (about 20 minutes from the Virginia Gold Cup racecourse) is up and running on both Facebook and Twitter and training well in New York. He will ship to Kentucky next Tuesday.

QR is considered one of the favorites for this year's Run For The Roses, as is I Want Revenge. IWR now has his own Facebook page as well, but QR beat him there by about a week.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=78485995814#/group.php?gid=75003471943

www.twitter.com/Quality_Road

APRIL SHOWERS...

...bring May flowers.

Yep, it's raining again.

Just be glad you don't have to mow all the beautiful green grass at Great Meadow once it finally stops.