Pictures Of The Day

Apprentice goat handlers, known as "jockeys", race to the finish line during the apprentice (under 15) race at the annual Buccoo Goat and Crab Race Festival in Tobago on April 10, 2012. Goat racing is an indigenous sport in Tobago and has been held since 1925.  Hey, that gives us a great idea.... (Rueters Photo)

Modern Society, a rare "pinto" racehorse at Kempton racecourse on April 07, 2012 in Sunbury, England. (Getty Images)

A Budweiser clydesdale sticks his head out of the trailer before the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Houston Astros on Opening Day at Minute Maid Park on April 6, 2012 in Houston, Texas. (Getty Images)

A horse is washed down with a hose during preparations for 2012 Sydney Royal Easter Show at the Sydney Showground on April 4, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. The annual event is Australia's largest, attracting around 900,000 visitors over the duration of the two week agricultural show.  (Reuters Photo)

Pictures Of The Day

Clorevia Farm's Double Eagle (Chris Read - leading) won the maiden hurdle race over Daybreak Stables' Manacor (Willie Dowling) at the Old Dominion Hunt Point-to-Point on Saturday, April 7, 2012. (Douglas Lees Photo)

(L to R) Indian Run Farm's Fogcutter (Woods Winants), Annie Yeager on Mischief and Michael Harris on Mariah's Promise in the Amateur/Novice Hurdle Race at the Old Dominion Hunt Point-to-Point on Saturday, April 7, 2012. (Douglas Lees Photo)

Thomas Hulfish, III's What a Warrior (Carl Rafter) won the open timber race. at the Old Dominion Hunt Point-to-Point on Saturday, April 7, 2012. (Douglas Lees Photo)

Mysterious “Divot” Found On Great Meadow Race Course

(Andrew Remington/Getty Images)

In this photo taken last Sunday morning, the grounds’ crew at Great Meadow repairs a crater full of sand that appeared out of nowhere earlier that morning.

Several Saturday night revelers in the area claim to have seen what caused the giant bunker saying, “it was a FUO...er...uh...a UFO...you know whatismean” while another claimed it was a “divot from a giant, really big horse, not that I’ve ever really seen one at the Gold Cup, but I think I remember what they look like.  I saw War Horse, you know.”

That said, from where did all the sand come?  Huh? Riddle me that Really Big Giant War Horse Guy!

April Fools!   

Actually, this is the grounds crew repairing a storm damaged bunker during a practice round prior to the start of the 2012 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 4, 2012 in Augusta, Georgia. 

The Great Meadow Racecourse is perfect and virtually free of both UFOs and giant horses.


For now.

What Not To Wear, Part LXVII

(Feng Li/Getty Images)

Well...you could if you wanted to, but...

The annual Virginia Gold Cup is about many different things to different people, but for the majority of the crowd clothes matters.   For most, a great deal of effort goes into creating the right Gold Cup outfit with the right accessories be it a hat for the ladies or a tie or sunglasses for the guys.

Mistakes are made -- the most common being spiked heels which do little more than aerate the lovely grass at Great Meadow while bogging down the beaux femmes who insist on wearing them...

The other common error is “over reaching.” 

Here, a  model showcases a unique design on the catwalk during Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology Graduates Show 2012 of China Fashion Week at Beijing Hotel in Beijing, China.

People who over reach where skeletal masks and accessories.

Skeletal masks and accessories scare people.

People who scare people are shunned at tailgates and ignored by potential suitors.

Don’t over reach.

And don’t look for this particular graduate of the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology to appear in next season’s Project Runway.

Now if you have any Scottish heritage you might go for this...

(Thomas Concordia/Getty Images)

On second thought...stick with the program, don't over reach. (See above)

(Thomas Concordia/Getty Images)

Don’t even ask.

Pictures Of The Day

Runners return after racing at Lingfield racecourse on April 04, 2012 in Lingfield, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

Racegoers watch the pre parade ring at Lingfield racecourse on April 04, 2012 in Lingfield, England.  (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

Virginia Gold Cup Season "Officially" Underway

(Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

OK, by now you should know the drill.

When March Madness is over, the ramp up for the Virginia Gold Cup, run the first Saturday in May, is in full swing.  At least that's how we do it at the Virginia Blog Cup.

Play time is over, people. 

When Kentucky dispatched of Kansas last night in New Orleans, your brain should have switched out of basketball mode and into Gold Cup mode: Do I have my tickets, transportation, tailgate and wardrobe all organized?

You only have a month, so if you haven’t figured all of that out by now, get busy.

Based on the unusually warm spring so far, it promises to be an awesome day...

Pictures Of The Day

Thomas Garner riding Kasbadali (R) clear the last to win The Group Travel Organisers Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle Race from Balzaccio (L) at Ascot racecourse on April 01, 2012 in Ascot, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

Mary Fleming Finlay's Hey Doctor (Jacob Roberts - right) and EMO Stables' He's A Conniver (Roddy Mackenzie) in the open timber race at the Orange County Hunt Point-to-Point on Saturday. (Susan M. Carter Photo)

Indian War held off Indian Run Farm's Swimming River (Amy Mullen - 3rd) and Magalen O. Bryant's Bet a Buck (Sam Frederickson - 4th) to win the second division of the novice rider flat race at the Orange County Hunt Point-to-Point on Saturday. (Douglas Lees Photo)

Jason Maguire riding Lexi's Boy (L, blue cap) turn down the side of the track before winning The A. P. Security Juvenile handicap Hurdle Race at Ascot racecourse on April 01, 2012 in Ascot, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

Kinross Farm's Old Timer (Chris Read) won the open hurdle race  at the Orange County Hunt Point-to-Point on Saturday. (Douglas Lees Photo)

French jockey Mikael Barzalona (R) celebrates after leading Monterosso to win the $10 million Dubai World Cup at the Meydan racetrack in the Gulf emirate on March 31, 2012. (Photo by Marwan Naamani/AFP/Getty Images)

Take Charge Indy, ridden by Calvin Borel, leads to win the $1 million Florida Derby Gr.1 horse race at Gulfstream Park, Saturday, March 31, 2012, in Hallandale Beach, Fla.  The Florida Derby is a major prep race for the Kentucky Derby run the same day as the Virginia Gold Cup. (AP Photo/Gulfstream Park, Adam Coglianese)

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)

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.

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)

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)