Steeplechase Complimentary The & Eventing
A Publication of ST Publishing, Inc. Times Vol. 15, No. 1 • Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Good to Go 2007 champion Good Night Shirt gets set to return
INSIDE: Steeplechase Division Previews, NSA Hires Lou Raffetto, Eventing Updates Steeplechase Entries The and Eventing What’s Happening and Where To Find It Time s Here’s your newspaper. Sorry it’s late. Like a horse that wouldn’t load, this one wouldn’t get to the printer. Still, it’s packed with information as steeplechasing and eventing steam into new seasons. Jump racing seems to be at another crossroad, and hired a new traffic director. Eventing wrestles with its future as well, with injuries to riders and horses ST Publishing, Inc. chief among the concerns. This newspaper enters its 15th year in business – thanks for riding along. 364 Fair Hill Drive, Suite F, Elkton, MD 21921 PageS 6-12 In the Heart of Fair Hill Horse Country Phone: (410) 392-5867 Fax: (410) 392-0170 NSA hires leader, works at unity E-mail: [email protected] Longtime racing executive Lou Raffetto takes over in the newly created On the Web: www.st-publishing.com position of chief executive officer. Meanwhile, work continues to bring back the two meets that left the circuit. The Staff PageS 14-15 Editors/Publishers: Sean Clancy and Joe Clancy Jr. Copy Editor: Jamie Santo Staff Writer: Brian Nadeau Advertising Representatives: The best play high stakes game Michelle Rosenkilde (410) 557-7652 Defending champion Good Night Shirt heads the list, but could get plenty Harford/Baltimore Co. Maryland of competition from Sur La Tete and a host of others. Gliding makes Reney Stanley (540) 837-1397 Virginia plans for Japan Contributors: Barry Watson, Katy Carter, Tod Marks, Pages 17-19 Cathy Roelke, Sam Clancy, Anne Clancy, Joe Clancy Sr., Ruth Clancy, Ryan Clancy, Jack Clancy, Nolan Clancy. Novice, timber horses get ready Second-year hurdling stars Planets Aligned, Divine Fortune headline the novice group while unbeatens Irish Prince and Miles Ahead aim for 2008 Publication Dates clash over timber. March 19 May 23 October 10 April 4 June 6 October 24 April 25 July 18 November 14 Pages 24-25 May 9 September 19 December 12
A friendship continues Don’t Forget to Advertise! Trainer Mike Berryman helps a family (and their horses) adjust to life without trainer Bruce Haynes.
Member: American Horse Publications American Horse Publications is the nation’s only asso- ciation of equine periodicals. AHP’s over 200 members are dedicated to promoting better understanding and communication within the equine publishing industry. Pages 33-37 www.americanhorsepublications.org
Eventing News On the Cover Champion steeplechaser Corinne Ashton and Dobbin shine at Pine Top. How does the Olympic Good Night Shirt takes team get selected? Other reports and updates. in some winter sunshine during his “vacation” at trainer Jack Fisher’s farm Steeplechase in Butler, Md. Th e and Eventing I PICKED UP THE TIMES AT: ______Ti m e s Photo: Lydia A. Williams SUBSCRIBE: Name:______Address:______Also by ST Publishing: ______The Saratoga Special, The Special At Keeneland, Thoroughbred Rac- Telephone:______Email:______ing Calendar, Writing for Daily Racing Form, Mid-Atlantic Thorough- If gift subscription, please list your name and address. The Times will send a gift card in your name. bred, The Blood-Horse, The Racing Post, etc., Newsletters, American Steeplechasing yearbook, National Steeplechase Association public Subscription Choices (Check One) relations consulting, Specialty products from lawn jockeys to Tervis ___ First Class Mail: $35 per year. Send check to: ST Publishing, Inc., 364 Fair Hill Drive, Suite F, Elkton, Md 21921 Tumblers, Custom brochures and graphic design for your farm or ___ Canada: $45 (first class). or call (410) 392-JUMP to use your Visa or MasterCard. business. ___ Other Foreign: $65 (air-mail). Maryland residents, please add 5% sales tax. Copyright ST Publishing, Inc. 2008. All Rights Reserved.
2 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008 ȱ KESWICK LIFE ȱ KESWICK LIFE
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/,77/((1*/$1'& $/,1 ,'*( Greenwood - Historic Orange Co. equestrian estate dating to c. 1800. 0 5 )JTUPSJDBM (FPSHJBO TUZMF IPNF JT POF PG UIF Little England - c."XFMMCVJMUTPVUIFSODPMPOJBMTUZMFIPNFTJUVBUFE 1716 historic Georgian home is one of the country’s House sits on 111 rolling acres of productive pasture with some hardwoods. best preserved colonial plantation homes. Property is bounded by York River 7JSHJOJBTWell built CFTU9-stall QSFTFSWFE center aisle DPMPOJBMstable with QMBOUBUJPO large office/apt., full bath & board and Sarah’s Creek providingPOBQSPNPOUPSZPWFSMPPLJOH BDSFTPGSPMMJOH docking for a large yacht. Surrounding land is IPNFT1SPQFSUZJTCPVOEFECZ:PSL3JWFSBOEfencing makes this a prime horse property. Dependencies include guest mostly pasture with oneQSPEVDUJWFQBTUVSFJOUIFIFBSUPG,FTXJDL/FTUMFE acre freshwater pond. e fourteen rooms showcase 4BSBITcottage,,77/( $SFFL smokehouse QSPWJEJOH 1*/$1' and summer EPDLJOH kitchen.& GPS B 5 MBSHFmin. to Orange, 35 min. to some of the finest examplesCFMPXUIF4PVUIXFTU.PVOUBJOT UIFQSPQFSUZIBT of colonial paneling and woodwork in Virginia. Charlottesville,./ (Property on National Register. 0$/,15,'*( ZBDIU4VSSPVOEJOHMBOEJTNPTUMZQBTUVSFXJUI QBOPSBNJD WJFXT PG UIF TVSSPVOEJOH DPVOUSZTJEF )JTUPSJDBM (FPSHJBO TUZMF IPNF JT POF PG UIF ǰFMBOEJTXFMMTVJUFEGPSIPSTFT DBUUMFPSBHSJDVM"XFMMCVJMUTPVUIFSODPMPOJBMTUZMFIPNFTJUVBUFE POFBDSFGSFTIXBUFSQPOEǰFGPVSUFFOSPPNT7JSHJOJBT CFTU QSFTFSWFE DPMPOJBM QMBOUBUJPO UVSFPOBQSPNPOUPSZPWFSMPPLJOH BDSFTPGSPMMJOH BOE DSFBUFT B TFDMVEFE TFUUJOH GPS UIF NBJO TIPXDBTFTPNFPGUIFmOFTUFYBNQMFTPGDPMPIPNFT1SPQFSUZJTCPVOEFECZ:PSL3JWFSBOE IPVTFQSPEVDUJWFQBTUVSFJOUIFIFBSUPG,FTXJDL/FTUMFE BOE TUBCMF " SBSF PQQPSUVOJUZ GPS BOZPOF OJBMQBOFMJOHBOEXPPEXPSLJO7JSHJOJB1SJDF4BSBIT $SFFL QSPWJEJOH EPDLJOH GPS B MBSHF JOUFSFTUFECFMPXUIF4PVUIXFTU.PVOUBJOT UIFQSPQFSUZIBT JO B TNBMMFS ,FTXJDL FTUBUF 4IPSU VQPOSFRVFTUZBDIU4VSSPVOEJOHMBOEJTNPTUMZQBTUVSFXJUI EJTUBODFQBOPSBNJD UP WJFXT ,FTXJDL PG UIF )BMM TVSSPVOEJOH BOE $IBSMPUUFTWJMMF DPVOUSZTJEF $POWFOJFOUUP%$ǰFMBOEJTXFMMTVJUFEGPSIPSTFT DBUUMFPSBHSJDVM Price upon request. POFBDSFGSFTIXBUFSQPOEǰFGPVSUFFOSPPNT UVSF BOE DSFBUFT B TFDMVEFE TFUUJOH GPS UIF NBJO TIPXDBTFTPNFPGUIFmOFTUFYBNQMFTPGDPMP IPVTF BOE TUBCMF " SBSF PQQPSUVOJUZ GPS BOZPOF OJBMQBOFMJOHBOEXPPEXPSLJO7JSHJOJB1SJDF JOUFSFTUFE JO B TNBMMFS ,FTXJDL FTUBUF 4IPSU VQPOSFRVFTU EJTUBODF UP ,FTXJDL )BMM BOE $IBSMPUUFTWJMMF $POWFOJFOUUP%$ Price upon request. REDUCED PRICE
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2 ȱ KESWICK LIFE
2 ȱ KESWICK LIFE Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 3 News and Notes from around the circuit FOR STARTERS Worth Repeating “I’d tell you who my best maidens are, but I’m always wrong anyway.” Trainer Jack Fisher, Jumping asked about his new prospects for 2008
“He’s the man. Well, he thinks he’s the man anyway.” for Dollars Trainer Neil Morris, discussing the well-liked Run The Light Want to earn extra money? “I’m not retired yet, so I guess I’m going to ride this year.” Have sales experience? Trainer (and jockey) Billy Meister, asked if he will be riding this year as well Just think you want to try? “He’s retired. It was pretty painful to see him go, but it was time. He sure went out on a high.” Trainer Kathy McKenna, ST Publishing seeks of River Bed, who won four races in 2007 advertising sales help for: “I’m related to Christopher Columbus – he was looking for India and found America and I just succeeded at getting off Steeplechase/Eventing Times the wrong exit. Luckily I know what continent I’m on.” Owner and NSA board member Frank Petramalo, The Saratoga Special after a wrong turn during a telephone interview
The Special at Keeneland “One-third of the people tell me they liked it, one-third st-publishing.com think it’s too much information and the other third just look at me funny – well, I guess they did that anyway.” & other projects. Trainer Jack Fisher, on a revealing article (written by ST’s Joe Clancy) in the March edition of Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Commission-based “Ticket sales start Saturday – I’m going out of my mind.” Local and/or national Jill Abbott, Winterthur race director, on her state of mind in late February Enthusiasm, motivation, Take A Number basic knowledge of horse 1,481,000: Value of Japan’s 2008 Nakayama Grand Jump in U.S. dollars. American representative Gliding is industry necessary. pointing to the world’s richest steeplechase, which will be run April 19 at Nakayama Race Course near Tokyo. Southeastern Pennsylvania 28: Percent of total National Steeplechase Association purses (2007 figures) represented by the Nakayama race’s and national equine product total value. territories available now! Douglas Lees 240: Two-by-fours made from the 84-foot Rockefeller The Eclipse Award-winning photograph of Navesink View and Will Haynes at the Interna- Center Christmas tree placed by Torsilieri, Inc., the land- tional Gold Cup in October. Horse and jockey were uninjured. scaping company owned by Far Hills Races co-chairman Send letter of interest Guy Torsilieri and family. The boards were donated to Lees wins Eclipse for jump photo Habitat for Humanity. to Veteran steeplechase photographer Douglas Lees won the 2007 Media 222: First-place votes garnered by Good Night Shirt in the 2007 Eclipse Eclipse Award for Photography for his picture “Down to Earth” of jockey Award voting for champion steeplechaser. McDynamo (13), Footlights (1) Will Haynes and Navesink View tumbling over a fence at the International ST Publishing and Planets Aligned (1) rounded out the contenders. Gold Cup Oct. 20. The photograph appeared in the Oct. 24 sports section of the Fauquier (Va.) Times Democrat. 364 Fair Hill Drive, Suite F, This is the second Eclipse Award for Lees, 57, who won in 1978 for another steeplechase photo – Master’s Degree and Buzz Hannum coming Elkton, MD 21921 a croppper at Foxfield. Lees also earned honorable mention for the Eclipse or fax to And the Odds Are. . . in 1980, 1981 and 1994. There is no ante-post market for National Steeplechase Association “It feels phenomenal. I’m just blown away to win again,” said Lees, a (410) 392-0170 trainer and jockey championships, but that does not stop people from freelance photographer and frequent ST contributor. “I’ve been trying for trying to choose winners. ST oddsmaker Richard Hutchinson (steeple- many years since 1978 to get another award, so this is a great thrill. The or e-mail to chasing’s most studious fan) gave his opinion of the 2008 market. most important thing about this photo is that both the horse and the rider [email protected] In 2007, Hutchinson listed champion jockey Xavier Aizpuru as the were alright after the spill.” fourth choice at 7-1 while champion trainer Jack Fisher was listed third In the $50,000 Gold Cup, a timber stakes at 3 1/2 miles, Lees captured at 3-1. 8-year-old gelding Navesink View pitched forward on his front two legs As always, ST does not encourage gambling – but Tom Voss (7-1) over a fence, while jockey Haynes is upside down, still holding the horse’s and Doug Fout (8-1) look like value. reins before landing on the ground. Lees took the photo at approximately 75 feet from the fence with a 70-200 telephoto zoom lens. Champion Trainer Honorable mention is the Photography category went to Michael Clev- enger, whose photograph of Street Sense winning the Kentucky Derby was Jack Fisher 9-4 Tom Voss 7-1 published May 6 in the Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal. Sanna Hendriks 5-2 Doug Fout 8-1 The panel of judges in the Photography category was comprised of Ed Jonathan Sheppard 11-4 Kathy McKenna 18-1 Reinke, Associated Press; Jim Gensheimer, San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News All others 30-1 and Dan Farrell, former photographer for the New York Daily News. Champion Jockey Pick Six Reminder Xavier Aizpuru 9-4 Danielle Hodsdon 6-1 Jody Petty 3-1 Chip Miller 16-1 Don’t forget to sign up for – and tell other people about – the Hoffberger Matt McCarron 3-1 Carl Rafter 20-1 Insurance Pick Six fantasy stable game (see page 23). There are loads of Paddy Young 5-1 All others 30-1 prizes to win and it’s a great way to share in the season. Deadline is April 12 before the first race runs at Atlanta, My Lady’s Manor and Strawberry Hill.
4 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008 SteepleChase ad:10x13.5 01/29/2008 4:50 PM Page 1
THE 87TH RUNNING OF THE
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Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 5 The Raffetto tapped MARYLAND to head the NSA HUNT CUP Brings racetrack 2007 winner The Bruce experience to new position BY Joe clancy Members of the National Steeple- chase Association committee charged with filling the newly created position of chief executive officer held meetings, wrote a job description, discussed the various search options available and prepared for months of work. Then, they took a chance and called a seemingly out-of-their-league Thor- oughbred racing executive with every- thing the committee wanted. Lou Raffetto started March 19. To some, the hiring may seem quick (no advertisements, no corporate head- hunters, no long list of candidates). To Lydia A. Williams others, the choice was a no-brainer. Lou Raffetto A person with Raffetto’s background the racing product and gives some con- seems overqualified for steeplechasing. trol for the future of the company to a Like an ambitious baseball team play- full-time person rather than the all-vol- ing to win now, the NSA courted and unteer board of directors. signed a top free agent. “The biggest thing he brings is race- Raffetto had his first contact with the track and racing experience,” said Ab- NSA at about the same time the process bott. “I’m not sure where we would started, via a telephone call from search- have found or if we could have found committee member Guy Torsilieri. They anybody with his background, his per- talked, then met for four hours in per- sonality, his seemingly universal repu- son some time later. All the while, the tation as being a great person who can process of finding a CEO continued. manage racetracks – and we are a series “We drafted a job description, we of small racetracks. In Maryland, he were discussing what we wanted in a brought everybody to the table. That’s TH 2UNNING CEO, we interviewed people,” said Tor- very hard to do and that’s something silieri. “We didn’t know if we were go- this board needs. Coming from outside ing to make a deal with Lou, and we steeplechasing gives him a whole differ- were in the process of posting the job. ent perspective that we inside steeple- 3ATURDAY !PRIL In the end, we didn’t have to.” chasing can’t see.” Most recently with the Maryland Raffetto worked at Laurel Park Jockey Club (Laurel Park and Pimlico and Pimlico, owned by Magna Enter- racetracks), Raffetto brings a resume tainment Corp., for seven years as the 7ORTHINGTON &ARMS s 'LYNDON -$ with everything the committee was president/chief operating officer. He looking for – experience, connections, a ran the racetracks – dealing with horse- 'ATES /PEN 0- s 0OST 4IME 0- reputation, a working relationship with men, employees, politicians and more. horsemen and more. Magna fired Raffetto in November, the The world’s oldest and most important timber race! “We were lucky to have someone of latest in a series of staff changes for his caliber available when we came to the company which also owns Gulf- the conclusion that we wanted someone stream Park, Santa Anita Park, Lone s -ILES s &ENCES to run the company,” NSA President Star Park and other racetracks. Before Franny Abbott said in a press release Maryland, Raffetto was the executive s !MATEUR *OCKEYS s 0URSE announcing the hiring. “I love his en- vice president/general manager at Suf- thusiasm, I love his history in flat racing. folk Downs in Boston. He took over a He’s got the people skills to be helpful track that hadn’t run in two years and with our race chairmen and horsemen rebuilt a racing product that included PARKING RESERVATIONS and he will be able to help in our goal to the reinstatement of the Massachusetts become a bigger part of the Thorough- Handicap as a major race that attracted t(FOFSBM1BSLJOH DBS NBZCFQVSDIBTFEBGUFS"QSJMBU#VUMFS4UPSF 7BMMFZ bred industry.” such standout entries as Cigar and Skip Abbott and the NSA board of direc- .PUPST 8JOF.FSDIBOU %PHXPPE5BDL 5IF'JMMJOH4UBUJPOBU4IBXBO Away. Further back, Raffetto served tors chose to create the CEO position in as assistant general manager at Mon- BOE6OJPOWJMMF4BEEMF4IPQt1BUSPO1BSLJOH DBS (FOFSBM1BSLJOHNBZ response to a number of factors, includ- mouth Park, racing secretary/director CFQVSDIBTFEPOUIFJOUFSOFUBUXXXNBSZMBOEIVOUDVQDPNPSTFOEDIFDLUP.BSZ- ing the defection of Little Everglades of racing at Laurel, racing secretary at and the Queen’s Cup race meets from MBOE)VOU$VQ"TTPDJBUJPO 10#PY 8FTUNJOTUFS .% Hialeah Park, assistant racing secretary the schedule in 2008. The hiring also at Monmouth, placing and patrol judge "EWBODF3FTFSWBUJPOT0OMZ/P4BMFTPS1BSLJOH"WBJMBCMFPO3BDF%BZ addresses an increased desire to look at Garden State Park, Monmouth and /P'PPE"WBJMBCMFGPS1VSDIBTFo#SJOHB1JDOJD at the sport’s growth, its position in the The Meadowlands and a trainer on the /4"IPSTFNFOBOENFNCFSCBEHFTHPPEGPS(FOFSBM"ENJTTJPOPOMZ Thoroughbred industry and its relation- New Jersey/Pennsylvania circuit. ship with various constituents. Along the way, Raffetto garnered Late last year, the board wrestled a reputation for improving the rac- with making other staff changes. In- ing product, doing the right thing and Photo by Douglas Lees stead, Abbott said, the move to a paid CEO position expands the staff beyond See raffetto page 8
6 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 7
climate in Maryland (which has strug- Two race meets dropping off the play on some of the relationships I have gled in the face of increased competi- schedule will cause a reaction, but the and hopefully expand the sport a little Raffetto – tion from Delaware, West Virginia and bigger picture remains the sport’s devel- bit. I’d like to work on some of the con- Continued from page 6 Pennsylvania). opment in terms of racing opportunity, cepts that have been brought up.” “The experience in racing mattered purses and participation. Several proj- Torsilieri sees Raffetto giving mo- creating an atmosphere of cooperation for sure, but it was also the development ects have made it to the discussion stage mentum to projects, expects him to bro- among all the stakeholders. and building he did in Maryland and in within steeplechasing without becom- ker future agreements with racetracks “He really had the horsemen’s inter- Massachusetts,” said Ken Luke, chair- ing reality – including new race meets, and wants him to be the frontman the est and the racetrack’s interest at heart,” man of the search committee. “That’s an expansion of race meets at otherwise NSA needs. said Richard Hoffberger, president of the type of development and building dormant racetracks (as done at Straw- “He’s going to start meeting and the Maryland Thoroughbred Horse- we need.” berry Hill and the Saratoga Open House greeting people, listening to people, try- men’s Association. “He understands Queen’s Cup race chairman Bill Price for example), pari-mutuel wagering and ing to figure out the pluses and minuses horses, he understands the horse busi- reacted positively to the move, and looks more. of our sport,” said Torsilieri, co-chair of ness. I don’t know that much about forward to working with Raffetto. For his part, Raffetto expects to work the Far Hills Races and vice president jump racing, but he’s going to be a good “I don’t know the gentleman, but I’ve through a learning curve and capitalize of the NSA in 2007. “We’re very much addition. At the end of the day, 99 per- heard some good things,” Price said. on some of the connections he has in aware of the fact that racing opportu- cent of the horsemen in Maryland were “He’s been involved in organizations the Thoroughbred industry – while also nity is extremely important. There’s a sorry to see him leave.” that have been troubled – in Maryland addressing the concerns of steeplechase balance between increasing purses and Hoffberger didn’t attend Raffetto’s and at Suffolk – and I’m not sure if the participants. increasing the racing opportunity, but job interview, but opinions like that NSA is ready to concede there are trou- “It’s going to be a little different than we’ve got to continue to grow the sport. helped the NSA committee make its bles but if they are, he seems like the running a racetrack, that’s for sure,” he It became very apparent that we needed choice – especially given the racing right guy.” said. “The challenge for me will be to somebody who can actually get this stuff moving and he’s the guy.” Raffetto should be an asset in terms of expanding steeplechase opportunities at racetracks – arguably the fastest way to inject new purse money and visibility into the sport. “It is a major coup for the NSA to THE NATIONAL BANK have hired Lou Raffetto,” Charlie Hay- ward, president and CEO of the New York Racing Association, wrote in an e-mail. “Lou is the rare racing execu- OF MALVERN tive that has an acute understanding of the business issues of racing while also being able to communicate effectively with owners and trainers about their needs and issues. Lou has a great pas- sion for the sport and tremendous cred- ibility with the broad range of industry stakeholders. We at NYRA have been engaged with the NSA on ways that we can advance steeplechasing at Sara- toga and Belmont and I look forward to Lou’s contributions to those efforts.” Chip Tuttle, now the chief operating officer at Suffolk Downs, worked with Raffetto for the better part of 10 years on that track’s advertising and market- ing and automatically thought of big things for steeplechasing when he heard the news. “It’s a great opportunity for the steeplechase association because Lou is so wired into the Thoroughbred com- munity and such a great facilitator and salesperson,” said Tuttle, who is also in- volved in advertising and marketing de- cisions for the NTRA and the Breeders’ Cup through the Boston-based agency Conover, Tuttle, Pace. “He’s going to add tremendous value to the steeple- chase association. He’s as smart a guy as you’ll meet in this industry.”
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8 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Virginia Steeplechase Association Congratulations to the 2007 Award Winners! LEADING OWNER £°Ê ÀÃÃÊ>ÀÊÊÊÊÊÓ°Ê,>`« Ê,ÕÃiÊÊÊÊÊÎ°Ê ÀiÛ>Ê>À Salmo LEADING TRAINER £°Ê Õ}ÊÕÌÊÊÊÊÓ°Ê iÊ ÀÀÃÊÊÊÊÎ°Ê ÌÊ-Ì ÜV Remaining 2008 VSA Schedule LEADING JOCKEY March 22 ...... Piedmont Fox Hounds Point-to-Point (540) 687-3455 Salem Course, Upperville £°Ê >ÀÊ,>vÌiÀÊÊÊÊÊÓ°ÊivvÊ ÕÀ« Þ March 30 ...... Orange County Hunt Point-to-Point (540) 687-6528 Locust Hill Farm, Middleburg LEADING HURDLE HORSE April 5 ...... Old Dominion Hounds Point-to-Point (540) 364-4573 Ben Venue Farm, Ben Venue £°Ê"iÊ-i>Ê,>`« Ê,ÕÃi®°ÊÊÊÓ°ÊÕ`}iÀÊ ÀÃÃÊ>À®ÊÊ April 12 ...... Strawberry Hill Races ÊΰÊ>Ì iÀÊ Ê ÃÃÊ >ÜÊ ÃÀÊÀ°®]Ê/ i}``iÞÕ}Ê ÀÃÃÊ>À® (804) 569-3238 Colonial Downs, New Kent April 13 ...... Loudoun Hunt Point-to-Point (703) 777-8480 Oatlands, Leesburg LEADING TIMBER HORSE April 19 ...... Middleburg Spring Races £°Êi`ÃÊ"vÊ">} Ê,>`« Ê,ÕÃi®ÊÊÓ°Êi} ÃÊ->À>Ê iÌÌi® (540) 687-6545 Glenwood Park, Middlenurg Î°Ê >`Ê }Ê*ÀiÃÃÊ/ >ÃÊÕwà ʮ]Ê-iiÞÕ>ÌÌ iiÛiÌÊÀÌ ÕÀÊÀÕ`i® April 20 ...... Fairfax Hunt Point-to-Point (703) 787-6673 Morven Park, Leesburg April 26 ...... Foxfield Races LEADING HORSE ON THE FLAT (434) 293-9501 Foxfield Race Course, Charlottesville £°Ê >«Ì>Ê*i>Ê ÀÃÃÊ>À®]Ê ià Ü>>ÀÊ ÀÃÊ Àî April 27 ...... Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point ΰÊiÀÊ««>ÀiÌÊ >ÜÊ ÃÀÊÀ°® (540) 454-2991 Glenwood Park, Middleburg May 3 ...... Virginia Gold Cup (540) 347-2612 Great Meadow, The Plains FILLY/MARE FLAT SERIES May 4 ...... Bull Run Point-to-Point £°Ê,Þ>Ê ÃVÛiÀÞÊ,>`iÃÌÊ>À® (703) 866-0509 Brandywine Park, Culpeper May 10 ...... Bedford County Point-to-Point (540) 297-3419 Wolf Branch Farm, Forest September 13 ...... Thornton Hill Hounds Point-to-Point HORSE OF THE YEAR (540) 987-8346 Thornton Hill Farm, Sperryville September 20 ...... Blue Ridge Fall Races ->ÊÀÛÊ-°Ê >ÞÀ®ÆÊ (540) 539-1577 Woodley Farm, Berryville Ài`ÊÊ6ÊLÞÊ->À>Ê iÌÌi September 28 ...... Foxfield Races (434) 293-9501 Foxfield Race Course, Charlottesville October 4-5 ...... Virginia Fall Races FRANCIS THORNTON (540) 687-5662 Glenwood Park, Middleburg GREENE AWARD October 11 ...... Morven Park Races ÛiÊÕÌ (703) 777-2414 Morven Park, Leesburg October 18 ...... International Gold Cup (540) 347-2612 Great Meadow, The Plains October 26 ...... Steeplechase at Oak Ridge Eve Fout (540) 364-1962 Oak Ridge, Covington Photos by Douglas Lees November 1 ...... Montpelier Races (540) 672-0027 Montpelier Race Course, Montpelier Station Become a V.S.A. Member Help promote and support steeplechase racing in Virginia.
*°"°Ê ÝÊ££xn]Ê ``iLÕÀ}]Ê6ÊÓ䣣nÊUÊÇäήÊÇÇÇÓxÇxÊUÊ(You must be a member to earn championship points) NAME ______
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INDIVIDUAL $30 FAMILY $45 JUNIOR $15 (Make checks payable to Virginia Steeplechase Association)
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 9 Meets Apart Little Everglades runs without sanction, but progress being made BY Joe clancy The Little Everglades Steeplechase went on without National Steeplechase Association sanction March 9 – the first of two meets opting out of sanctioning this year – and the world kept spinning. Glorious weather, another solid crowd, six races, the event had everything it did in its previous seven Tod Marks runnings as an NSA meet. Except sanction. The races Little Everglades (shown here in 2007) hosted steeplechase action for the eighth year March 9. didn’t count, and that’s probably the only real dif- ference. Thirty-nine horses ran, nine fewer than in (than an NSA meet) for some reason. It helped that we took care of me and I called them up from the begin- 2007. Bigger-name trainers Jack Fisher, Doug Fout, still had the same stewards (Steve Groat, Ivor Stod- ning and told them I would be there even if I was not Jonathan Sheppard and Tom Voss did not participate dard, Don Shanklin), the same starter (Jeff Teter) so riding,” Petty said. “I booked my flight early. I wanted (though Fisher and Voss did not start horses there in it wasn’t a total different feel. It really could have to be there.” 2007 either). gone the other way because someone could ride like it Still, he would have preferred Little Everglades as Kentucky shipper Hip Hop, owned and trained by didn’t matter if you claimed foul or not, since there’s an NSA meet. John Griggs, won the feature while other races went to no next week.” “My first instinct is it does matter to be sanc- Bounding Cat (maiden hurdle), Cuse (maiden hurdle), Petty went because he picked up several rides, but tioned,” he said. “The leading jockey can be decided Meneef (allowance hurdle), Pleasant Pick (Florida- said he would have supported the meet regardless by the smallest things sometimes and that meet doesn’t bred flat) and Monsieur Henri (training flat). based on a personal relationship with founders Bob count. We’d rather it did.” and Sharon Blanchard. “The day went off without a hitch,” said jockey See meets page 11 Jody Petty, who rode Hip Hop. “It was more relaxed “When I got hurt down there last year, those people
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10 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008 more. The survey responses mirrorred many of the same discussion points and Meets – Petramalo expects those results to be Continued from page 10 used to further formulate plans and ac- tion. Like Petty, others reported a smooth, News from “Restructuring the election process efficiently run race meet that included is a real possibility and I’m hoping the pretty much all of the aspects of an NSA committee will recommend that we open meet. up voting to all members,” said Petra- “The weather was postcard perfect, malo. “We can open up the nomination the NSF the course looked spectacular and the process and the election process to all The National Steeplechase Foundation is dedicated footing was the best I’ve ever walked members. There’s a ‘them and us’ feel- to the preservation and advancement of American on,” said owner and NSA board mem- ing out there between the board and the steeplechasing through programs that promote safety, ber Frank Petramalo. “The quality of participants and there shouldn’t be.” education, fairness, and the spirit of amateurism. racing was very good and the only thing Currently, the board is composed that pointed out a difference was in the of (and elected by) patron members of SUPPORT YOUR FOUNDATION! owner/trainer hospitality tent – there the NSA. Patron membership requires a were a third to a half of the people you contribution of $500 beyond licensing normally see.” fees. Learning from the Experts II Meanwhile, back at headquarters, Queen’s Cup chairman Bill Price par- For the second consecutive year, the National Steeplechase the work continues to bring Little Ev- ticipated in one of the ad hoc meetings erglades and the Queen’s Cup (set for Foundation sent Barry Watson, National Steeplechase Asso- along with Little Everglades chairman ciation starter and safety advisor, to England for a fact-finding April 26 in Mineral Springs, N.C.) back Bob Blanchard, and sees progress. trip aimed at seeing what can be learned from British jump rac- to the schedule. Since the new year: “They’re absolutely well-intentioned • An ad hoc committee of race chair- and for that I’m thrilled,” said Price. “If ing and what can brought home for use in the United States. men, NSA board members and horse- I had any reservations, it’s probably just During his 10-day visit in December, Watson visited the San- men has met three times with the goal that they really don’t have any control down, Warwick, Chepstow and Cheltenham race courses and of addressing concerns raised by the over making the board follow through talked to eveyone from Jockey Club officials to fence builders. two meets (and others) about the NSA. with the ideas they come back with. It He also spent time at the start during each racing day. In short, • A survey of NSA members and was good listening, good discussion. the trip proved valuable in many areas – course safety, course horsemen solicited opinions about vari- Are they going down the right path? I maintenance, starting procedures and the strengthening of ous topics. think so, but I do worry that it’s going contacts with various English racing officials. • The NSA created and filled the new to get stalled at the board level.” position of chief executive officer. The first installment of Watson’s day-by-day report follows, and will appear in the next few NSA President Franny Abbott spear- Foundation advertising placements. The ad hoc committee consists of headed the formation of the committee NSA directors Frank Petramalo, Peter and expects to give its findings plenty Fenwick and Sam Slater, race chair- of weight. UÊÊUÊÊU men’s committee representative Don “The committee was formed because My second trip to England began just west of London, with a day’s Yovanovich, Steeplechase Owners and the exodus of Little Everglades and racing at Sandown Park Racecourse, a track that is a favorite of many in Trainers Association representative Queen’s Cup brought to the fore issues British jump racing. Last year’s trip proved to be so beneficial that it only Laura Shull and race-meet represen- people needed to talk about,” said Ab- made sense to return and carry on were we left off. Several connections tatives Guy Torsilieri (North region), bott. “We decided to create a group to Will O’Keefe (Central) and Jeff Teter were made prior to this trip, some new, and many others were reestab- listen, to see if the people have ideas to lished. (South). rectify the issues. The committee’s job The meetings have included race-meet On our way to the start of the first at Sandown, I noticed an asphalt has been to get feedback and put it all road crossing on the clubhouse turn. Surprisingly, the road was covered representatives and horsemen from the together in a report so the board can three regions. Goals include establishing look at it and see what people want to with coco mats and straw which work very well. During the flat racing dialogue and collecting facts and opin- see changed, improved or explained.” dates, grass clippings are used instead of the straw in an effort to pacify ions with an overall aim of improving Abbott said the committee may stay the “green” horses. I was assured by everyone that there has never been a the NSA and its service to the various in operation beyond this spring as a problem on this part of the course. stakeholders. The committee will make way to activate more of the board and As senior starter Peter Haynes was bringing the horses onto the course a report, with recommended actions, to to continue communications efforts. for the opener, jockey Warren Marston began complaining about the state the NSA board March 28. of his bridle; which had slipped over the pole and onto the base of the “The report is going to be a general report on what we did and what we But are the meets coming back? horse’s ears. Champion jockey Tony McCoy, who normally doesn’t have learned,” said Petramalo. “The second The ad hoc committee was not creat- too much to say, couldn’t resist having a little fun by telling Warren he part would be recommendations. We ed solely to bring back two race meets, thought he preferred riding his horse that way, and then turned and gave all agree that we ought to make some but that remains a goal and Petramalo me a sly grin. There’s always plenty of action down at the start. At any rate recommendations. They have been and Price see movement in the right di- Peter sorted out the bridle, Warren calmed down, and five seconds later very constructive meetings that ran the rection. The hiring of Lou Raffetto, the the first race at Sandown was on its way. whole gamut from structure of NSA to survey, the committee’s work are all The southern half of the country had been getting a great deal of rain nuts-and-bolts things.” good signs. There is no doubting the at- over the past few days and endangering the racing schedule over the next Topics of discussion have included tention the two meets generated at the couple of days. This morning, Sandown was subjected to a 7:30 inspec- the NSA board election process, com- NSA board level. tion to see if the ground had received too much rain. The course had been munication, representation, the revert- See meets page 12 spared the forecasted deluge and was deemed safe for racing. The six race ed-purse fund, insurance for jockeys and card was completed without mishap, and the course held up very well. One of the more interesting discussions took place before the start of the fifth race. Steward Tim Motley joined the starters as an official ob- server. The topic of conversation was the start of the 2007 Grand National 4HE RIDE SAFE TRANSPORT OF YOUR HORSES IS OF THE in Aintree. Peter had come under some criticism for starting the race nine UTMOST IMPORTANCE "ACKED BY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE minutes late. It didn’t help that the field arrived six minutes late. It took BUILDING CUSTOM COMMERCIAL TRAILERS %BY HAS an additional three minutes to get the 40-horse field under way, and that EVOLVED INTO THE PRODUCTION OF STANDARD EQUINE included a recall after several jockeys attempted to crowd the gate in an ef- TRAILERS DESIGNED WITH THE SAME ATTENTION TO DETAIL STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AS THEIR LARGER PREDECESSORS fort to force the starter’s hand. Four jockeys were reported to the stewards 7HATEVER YOUR DISCIPLINE OR LEVEL OF COMPETITION for disobeying starter’s orders. The stewards decided against taking ac- CONSIDER A MOVE TO %BY INSURE THAT YOUR HORSES tion, citing it had otherwise been a good day. This kind of decision leaves ARRIVE READY TO COMPETE EVERY TIME the official in a difficult position. ./7 OPTIONAL !IR 2IDE The National Steeplechase Foundation supports )T´S %BY )N 4HE 3TRETCHAVAILABLE ON ALL MODELS various initiatives to aid the growth of American steeplechase racing.
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Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 11 replacing director of racing Bill Gallo. That has not president or CEO, a position now filled by Raffetto. happened, but there clearly has been major change. Another aimed at the structure of the board of direc- Meets – Petramalo sounds optimistic. tors, which appears open for discussion. Other top- Continued from page 11 “Now that (the Little Everglades) meet is over with, ics included sanctioning, fence construction and race there’s less pressure and we can focus on their issue,” conditions. “We want them back – the more race meets we said Petramalo. “When Lou Raffetto takes over and Some of Price’s concerns have been addressed, or have the stronger we are,” said Abbott. “I hope Little he does the good job everybody thinks he can do, that are on their way to being addressed, and he envisions Everglades will see enough in the next 10 months that should go a long way to assuaging their concerns.” returning to the circuit – though even he’s not sure they will come back (for 2009) and there is still time Price put a list of more issue-driven factors together when that will be. for Queen’s Cup to come back this year. We’ve made and shared it with the NSA board and the ad hoc com- “Going into (Little Everglades) I was on the fence changes and I hope we can convince them that we’re mittee. with a slight lean to coming back,” Price said. “I saw a trying.” The two-page document, titled “Reinventing the lot of happy faces and was pleased with the race meet Little Everglades pulled out over issues summed up National Steeplechase Association,” gets personal in – I’m still on the fence. When we do become sanc- simply as “heartburn.” There’s more to it than that, some areas while also setting out concrete steps to tioned – not if – the NSA is still going to have to deal but chiefly the Blanchards and others have lobbied for improve the association. One point suggested a paid with the issues the sport has.”
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12 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] 08042_OrElse_Lg_Ad.indd Wednesday,1 March 19,3/6/08 2008 2:23:03 PM HORSES WANTED
The 13th Annual Queen’s Cup Steeplechase Races Saturday, April 26th
$100,000 in purses Featuring s &IVE 2ACES IN ALL INCLUDING THE s !GGRESSIVE YEAR ROUND TURF MAINTENANCE PROGRAM 1UEENS #UP !LLOWANCE s &ULLY !UTOMATIC 4ORO )RRIGATION (URDLE 3YSTEM s #ERTIlED &IRST 2ESPONDERS AT EVERY s 1UEENS #UP WINNER RECEIVES AN JUMP W THREE !,3 !MBULANCES ORIGINAL BRONZE TROPHY s 2UNNING HOT AND COLD WATER ICE IN s 4HREE JUMP RACES OVER .ATIONAL THE STABLE AREA AND ALONG STRETCH s 'ROOMS BREAKFAST LUNCH CASH &ENCES ONE TIMBER ONE TRAINING AWARDS mAT s #ERTIlED 3TEWARDS /FlCIALS s 0HOTO lNISH ON COURSE CAMERAS s 2UNNERS 2EWARD s 0RE POST RACE MED TESTING s 'REAT &UN 3OUTHERN (OSPITALITY (ORSE )$ Updated Conditions The VISA, USA Starter Maiden Hurdle The GMC Timber Allowance Purse $20,000. Hurdle. For Maidens, Four Years Old and Upward which have Purse $20,000. Timber. For Five-Year-Olds and Upward which have never won never won a race over hurdles and have started for a claiming price of $30,000 or three races over timber. Five-year-olds, 160 lbs.; older, 165 lbs. Non-winners of two less in 2007 or 2008. Four-year-olds, 144 lbs.; older, 156 lbs. Entry Fee $100; $100 races at any time, allowed 5 lbs.; of a race in 2007-2008, 10 lbs.; of a race at any time, additional if not scratched on time Wednesday; with $200 additional to start. 15 lbs. Entry Fee $100; $100 additional if not scratched on time Wednesday; with $200 Two Miles and One Quarter over National Fences. additional to start. Three Miles and One Furlong over the George A. Strawbridge, Sr. Memorial Timber Course. The Brigadoon Stable Maiden Hurdle Purse $25,000. Hurdle. For Maidens, Four Years Old and Upward which have not The TruGreen/ChemLawn Open Flat started for a claiming price over hurdles in 2007 and 2008. Four-year-olds, 142 lbs.; Winner Take All. Purse $4,000 to the owner and $1,000 to the trainer of the winner. older, 154 lbs. Entry Fee $125; $125 additional if not scratched on time Wednesday; Four-year-olds, 145 lbs.; older, 150 lbs. Amateur riders allowed 5 lbs. Winners, other with $250 additional to start. than maiden, claiming or starter, 5 lbs. extra. Maidens allowed 5 lbs. Entry Fee $100. Two Miles and One Quarter over National Fences. One Mile and One Quarter on the Turf.
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Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 13 New Guard Good Night Shirt defends title as challengers line up for 2008 by Brian Nadeau open stakes preview There was no swearing-in ceremony, the Royal Chase April 17 and Nash- no oath of office administered. When ville for the Iroquois May 10. Each race Good Night Shirt defeated the legend- carries a $150,000 purse and Grade I ary McDynamo last fall in the Colonial status. Another Grade I, the $100,000 Cup to sew up the 2007 Eclipse Award, Georgia Cup (April 12) will also be a the changing of the guard was com- key stop for the open stakes horses. plete. Sonny Via’s Good Night Shirt en- McDynamo, one of the best the tered 2007 like every other steeplechase sport has ever seen, retired sound and horse not named McDynamo – long on happy immediately after the race, and talent and short on accomplishments. A the torch passed to Good Night Shirt. Grade III winner in 2006, he had pro- The sport’s future stood proudly in the gressed nicely for trainer Jack Fisher winner’s circle at Camden. Good Night but was not on anyone’s short list of Shirt looked to be running unopposed Lydia A. Williams title contenders. He kicked off 2007 in Good Night Shirt tests out his speed in the field at Jack Fisher’s training barn in Butler, Md. on the 2008 championship ballot in the Grade I Royal Chase at Keeneland early polling. with a second (beaten a neck) at 21-1 handicap) and monitor the weight to May. But the Kinross Farm star is ready But there’s always a dark horse wait- to the accomplished Mixed Up. Good see if he’ll run or not. The horse is doing and willing, and if things go according ing in the wings. Or in this case, a bay Night Shirt suddenly found himself on great, he’s been galloping right along for to plan he’ll be around for more than 5 gelding. the fast track. A dominating win over some time.” minutes and 52 seconds this season. A familiar candidate harbors thoughts Sur La tete and McDynamo in the Iro- Good Night Shirt was an epiphany of Trainer Neil Morris foxhunted the of making another run. Sur La Tete, quois highlighted a spring season that sorts for the Irish-born Dowling. Don- son of Sky Classic all winter and ex- with six Grade I wins and $664,050 in saw him go from one of the many to ning a tuxedo for the Eclipse Award pects big things this spring. his coffers, is ready to return to the pub- one of the few. dinner was the furthest thing from his “We’re pointing him to the Iroquois lic eye. “The horse just kept surprising me,” mind after a disappointing start to the – that’s his race.” And so, Good Night Shirt gets com- Fisher said. “I thought he was a little season. Indeed. Sur La Tete has made four pany on the campaign trail which no short at Keeneland and he ran great. At “This horse gave me a lot of confi- starts in the past three seasons, and three doubt includes stops at Keeneland for the start of the year I thought he might dence – it was gone up until ‘The Shirt’ were in Nashville’s Grade I fixture. Af- be a timber horse by the end of the sea- came along,” Dowling said. “I think ter winning the prestigious race in 2005 son.” that really showed at Camden, where and 2006, he chased Good Night Shirt After a summer vacation, Good Night turning for home on the lead I would home last year. Now 10, Sur La Tete Shirt returned to take the Grade I Lone- have went on with it. But I looked over, battles time but instills some confidence some Glory at Belmont Park before run- saw them all pushing their horses, and in his trainer. ning fourth to McDynamo on his home I just waited. There was still a half- “He’s doing great and God will- court at Far Hills in the Breeders’ Cup mile left and I knew I had to save some ing you will see him this spring in the Grand National. In their rubber match horse.” major races,” Morris said. “He’s been at Camden, Good Night Shirt proved Now 7, Good Night Shirt has grown foxhunting right along and it gives him his championship aspirations were more up considerably, and he has the founda- a good level of fitness. He’s out there than dreams. tion to carry the division on his shoul- training when he doesn’t even know it. Assuming control early under Willie ders. As older horses they tend to take care of Dowling, Good Night Shirt fended off “This horse was just a gangly horse themselves a little better.” several challenges through the lane to when he was 4 and 5, but now I can Morris did not rule out the Royal take home the Colonial Cup by 2 1/4 barely get the tack around his girth,” Chase, which Sur La Tete won in 2006 lengths, setting a single-season earnings Dowling said. “Sure, there’s some pres- and finished second in 2005. Last year, record of $314,163 in the process. sure being on him, but he’s versatile the trainer opted to scratch rather than As for 2008? Why change what enough to do what you want to do with give weight away in the handicap. Like works? him. I’m really looking forward to start- Fisher, he will consider the assignments “Right now we’ll follow the same ing the year.” before gassing up the van. plan as last year, with the Iroquois be- Sur La Tete fans got a mere glimpse “If we make Keeneland, great, but Tod Marks ing the main goal for the spring,” Fisher of their idol in 2007. He made just one that’s a handicap race and he tends to be Kilbride Rd eyes a return to competition after appearance on the NSA scene last year, said. “We’ll point him to Keeneland (a See Stakes page 15 missing all of 2007. a runner-up performance at Nashville in
14 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Stakes – Gliding set to try rich steeplechase in Japan While Sur La Tete and Good Night Shirt prepare to take on America, Brigadoon Stable’s Gliding aims for the world in Continued from page 14 Japan’s Nakayama Grand Jump. Worth nearly $1.5 million, the world’s richest steeplechase is 4,250 meters (just shy of weighted pretty high there,” Morris said. “The main 2 3/4 miles) and run at the Nakayama course outside Tokyo. With a star-studded international field, including the three- spring goal is the Iroquois.” time Grand Jump winner Karasi, Gliding will have his work cut out for him. Good Night Shirt and Sur La Tete are not the only “Just going is fantastic, but we think if he runs his race he’ll give a very good account of himself,” trainer Doug Fout names on the stakes docket, so look for these contend- said. “The racing over there is quick and sharp, but there are only three hurdles over the last five-eighths, and that’s ers (with owner) to make an impact: really going to suit a horse like Gliding, who has a big turn of foot.” Gliding began 2007 as a novice, and he took home the Grade II Temple Gwathmey at Middleburg in April. His fall Best Attack (Sally Radcliffe): Like a host of others, he season included a win in the Grade I Foxbrook at Far Hills in October and solid efforts against open company in the New struggled with the hard ground last fall. When he did York Turf Writers, the Noel Laing, and the Colonial Cup, where he finished fourth, beaten only 3 3/4 lengths by Good show up he proved talented enough to compete with Night Shirt. the best, as evidenced by his third to McDynamo in The hurdles at Nakayama are larger (but softer) than the National Fences used here, and can best be compared to the Breeders’ Cup. Trained by Bruce Miller, the 2007 those at the Colonial Cup, which is an important factor in Gliding’s favor. With a training flat race at the Rappahannock National Hunt Cup winner could open his season in Point-to-Point (March 1) behind him, Gliding aims for Aiken’s Imperial Cup March 22. the Royal Chase. Mon Villez (Calvin Houghland): Three-time winner Preemptive Strike (Polaris Stable): If there’s a stakes Kilbride Rd (Betsy Mead): Stormed to a novice cham- of the Noel Laing may head to Atlanta for the newly race, this familiar front-running fellow is probably pionship as a 4-year-old in 2006, then sat on the side- promoted Georgia Cup, now a Grade I, April 12. The there. He’s usually there at the end, too. In 16 career lines with an injury in 2007. Recently returned to Bruce Miller trainee struggled early last season after open stakes, he’s hit the board 13 times; the three times trainer Doug Fout, the 6-year-old is on the comeback finishing 2006 on a high with a close second to McDy- he didn’t he fell or pulled up. Switched barns in 2007, trail and pointing toward a spring campaign with de- namo in the Colonial Cup. The “three-peat” victory at and made his presence felt despite missing the winner’s signs on the Iroquois. He won three of his four starts Montpelier could signal he’s back on his game, which circle. All set for second season with Sanna Hendriks, in his championship season, which culminated in a means he’s a player. who points him for the Imperial Cup at Aiken. 7 3/4-length victory in the Foxbrook at Far Hills. “He just had his second work the other day and he is doing Orison (EMO Stable): Gave a good account of him- Sweet Shani (Calvin Houghland): Mighty mare test- great,” Fout said. “Man, it took a long time to get this self last fall when he tested open company in a quar- ed the boys all summer and fall and was hardly dis- guy back, but I’m excited. We’ll need to get a couple of tet of stakes after a solid spring novice campaign. The graced. Her second to McDynamo in the Breeders’ flat prep races into him, but he’s getting ready.” Carolina Cup winner finished a hard-charging second Cup showed she belonged and with Sheppard taking to Good Night Shirt at Belmont Park and ended his a patient approach she should once again be a factor. Mixed Up (Bill Pape): Started quickly in 2007, win- year with a fifth to the champion in the Colonial Cup. She did her best running outside of the filly/mare divi- ning the Royal Chase at Keeneland over Good Night Trainer Doug Fout has penciled in the Imperial Cup sion, but could turn up in restricted races too. Shirt and Paradise’s Boss, before tailing off in the fall. and the Royal Chase as early season goals for the son Trained by Jonathan Sheppard, the Pennsylvania-bred of Pulpit. Three Carat (Jonathan Sheppard): Runner-up to Mc- scored in the 2006 New York Turf Writers Cup at Dynamo in the 2005 Breeders’ Cup missed all of 2006 Saratoga and should once again be a factor at the Spa, Orsay (Armata Stable): He struggled later in the year with an ankle injury. Returned last fall to run a big sec- where he took the A.P. Smithwick last summer. A de- after beating Best Attack in May, but could be set for ond to Good Night Shirt in the Colonial Cup, which fense of his Royal Chase title isn’t out of the question. a big season. “He had a lung infection last year, we followed a fall at Far Hills. Owned by his Hall of Fame “I’m taking it slow with him right now,” Sheppard found abscesses in every part of his lungs,” said trainer trainer (or is that trained by his Hall of Fame owner), said. “We’ll look to Keeneland and see where he is at Tom Voss. “It’s cleared up now, and he’s doing really the homebred could make an impact at the longer dis- when that comes around.” well. I think he’s a really good horse.” tances if he’s able to enjoy an uninterrupted campaign.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 15 16 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Bigger Planet gets set to fly ’07 division champ heads early list BY Joe CLancy & Brian nadeau novice hurdle preview Do 6-year-old horses grow? Maybe. “I hate saying it, but he’s bigger and 2007 season saw her win the Peapack in rounder than he was. He did better than the soggy going at Far Hills and the Val- some horses do, put it that way.” entine Memorial over hard turf at Fair That was trainer Tom Voss talk- Hill for trainer Sanna Hendriks. That ing about 2007 National Steeplechase versatility, and her devastating closing Association novice champion Plan- kick, should prove quite useful. And she ets Aligned. Now 7, he comes off a 2 could always drop back into the filly/ Tod Marks 1/2-month break and could be primed mare division. Planets Aligned (right, battling in the stretch with Gliding and Sovereign Duty at Far Hills) won the for a big season after winning three of 2007 novice championship and casts a long shadow on the 2008 spring division. eight starts and winning $142,600 for C R’s Deputy (Barracuda Stable): The Voss and owner/breeder Fox Ridge 3-year-old champion will be tested Farm. The horse’s rookie year began against more experienced foes in 2008. slowly with a fall at Atlanta in April, Broke his maiden over the sun-baked but ended with a Grade I score at Cal- ground at Middleburg last fall and then Like The Times? laway Gardens in November. captured the Gladstone over a rain- As a sophomore, Planets Aligned will soaked Far Hills course to clinch the ti- point for the Steeplechase Triple Crown tle, so he doesn’t need to bring his track Support our advertisers, or become one. races for novices – then again maybe with him. Will get huge weight conces- not. sion as a 4-year-old with nothing but “Maybe Camden, we’ll see,” said restricted victories. www.st-publishing.com Voss. “We might take a look at the other (open) races. Horses like him sometimes Diego Cao (Brigadoon Stable): The (410) 392-JUMP get in pretty light in races like that.” Kiwi contingent may have found a hero Planets Aligned broke a three-year in this 6-year-old. The New Zealand- hold on the novice crown by 4-year- bred broke his maiden at Aiken last olds – following Kilbride Rd, Guelph March, which works out nicely for these and Paradise’s Boss. The last 6-year-old conditions, and trainer Doug Fout is ex- to win the junior crown – Pompeyo in cited to get the two-time winner back 2000 – won the Eclipse Award as cham- to the races after an extended vacation. WEDNESDAY IS pion steeplechaser at 7. “We’ll give him a run on the flat and Voss could have another potential point him to the National Hunt Cup (at novice player in Be Certain, who closed Radnor) and then Saratoga,” Fout said. RACE NIGHT his 2007 season with a stakes score in “He’s one of the nicest young horses the Raymond Woolfe Memorial. Now I’ve had in a long time.” AT 4, the New York-bred will make his 2008 debut in allowance company at Fantorini (Sonny Via): Earned his keep Aiken. last year at the Colonial Cup with a Best English Pub “He’s doing great, improving by leaps late-running, last-minute maiden vic- and bounds,” said Voss, whose horses tory that put Via over the top for the might be ahead of schedule thanks to owners’ championship. The Jack Fisher mild winter weather and his all-weather trainee made eight jump starts in 2007 track. and defeated a full field in his break- On paper, the novice crop does not through score, so he’s fairly well-sea- seem as deep as it did in 2007 – when soned. A 6-year-old son of Theatrical, Orison, Gliding, Rare Bush, Best Attack he could be a factor with continued de- and Orsay slugged it out – but there are velopment. still plenty of contenders. The players (with owner) also include: Letter Perfect (EMO Stable): Arguably the best bred horse to attack a hurdle Divine Fortune (Bill Pape): Enjoyed last season, the son of A.P. Indy out of a gaudy allowance victory at Saratoga a Mr. Prospector mare won decisively and drew clear in the novice Somerset over hurdles at Morven Park last fall. Medical Center at The Meadowlands, Injured after that race, his only jump but was upended by Planets Aligned start, he’ll take the spring off and point and the soft ground in the Foxbrook to a summer campaign for trainer Doug at Far Hills. Now 5, he jumped three Fout. Post Time is 5 o’clock with replays through the evening times as a 3-year-old so he brings plenty of experience. This season will start just Swagger Stick (Gil Johnston): Made a bit later than planned, however. “He his jump debut at Saratoga Open House March 19 April 2 April 9 April 16 had a slight setback with a viral infec- for flat trainer Graham Motion, then warrenton orange county stoneybrook loudon tion, but he’s doing good now,” said headed to Jack Fisher’s barn. After los- March 26 carolina cup elkridge atlanta trainer Jonathan Sheppard. “He won’t ing Xavier Aizpuru at Shawan, he re- aiken green spring marlborough my lady’s manor turned to break his maiden at Callaway make Camden but could make one of cheshire brandywine the Triple Crown races.” Gardens. The 6-year-old son of Cozzene valley could start his season in the Carolina Imagina (Augustin Stable): Classy Cup. Like Letter Perfect, Swagger Stick Chilean-bred mare broke her maiden at packs plenty of pedigree as a half-broth- 1383 North Chatham Road, West Marlborough, Pennsylvania 19320 | 610.383.0600 Camden last March and fits in snugly er to 2003 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner www.thewhiptavern.com under the novice conditions. Successful Pleasantly Perfect.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 17
Timber preview Perfect Horses Miles Ahead, Irish Prince could meet in Gold Cup BY BRIAN NADEAU Miles Ahead remembers the good old days – 2005 and 2006 – back when the Virginia Gold Cup was worth $50,000. The Kinross Farm star brought home the trophy both years, and only had to defeat a grand total of eight horses to do it. Fast-forward to 2007. The Gold Cup was amped Tod Marks up to a record $100,000 and 12 runners took their Miles Ahead (here winning the Virginia Gold Cup in 2006) could take another try in 2008. shots at the big payday. Miles Ahead was not one of them. His 22-length romp in the 2006 renewal proved have the schedule all mapped out.” Gold Cup,” said trainer Sanna Hendriks of his spring a send-off to an extended vacation. To say the least. Jockey Chris Read expects more of campaign. After nearly 18 months on the shelf, he returned the same from the undefeated 10-year-old. Last year’s division leader started 2007 as an un- last fall to capture the Genesee Valley Hunt Cup, “He’s exactly the same horse he has always been. known, sporting a relatively undistinguished resume stretching his winning streak in the process. Unbeaten He lets you gallop him with loops in the reins,” Read from a hurdle career that ended following a bowed in eight lifetime starts over the lumber, the 2005 tim- said. “I hunt on Miles Ahead and he’s getting geared tendon in the old Meadow Brook at Belmont Park in ber champ is back on the scene, and he casts a long up; he’s always excited to jump that first time.” 2005. shadow over the division. Many people will be more excited for his second The New Zealand-bred went from timber maiden “Miles Ahead has been doing great and the goal time, which could be a Gold Cup gunfight with fellow to timber champion in four short steps. He followed has always been the Virginia Gold Cup,” said trainer unbeaten Irish Prince. up a successful debut at Camden with a 9 3/4-length Neil Morris. “We’ll use the same plan as we have in Augustin Stable’s reigning timber champ is ready for tour de force in the Mason Houghland at Nashville, the past; a point-to-point, then Middleburg, then the action, and perhaps a showdown at Great Meadow. See timber page 19 Gold Cup. It’s worked out pretty well in the past so we “He could possibly go to My Lady’s Manor and the
On the fifth day of February in 1949 a horse called Huaso set the equestrian high jump record at the show grounds of Vina del Mar in Chile. Huaso and his rider, Captain Alberton Larraguibel Morales, were in an organised jump off against a consistent rival of theirs. Both horses were given three attempts to clear the obstacle, the height gradually increasing to surpass the existing record of just over 8ft, or 2.44m. When the rails reached 8ft 1…in (2.47m), Huaso s rival crashed through the obstacle and was retired. Huaso s first attempt, understandably, was a refusal in the face of a fence so high not horse nor rider could see over the top. On his second attempt he grazed the top bar with his belly, but on the third effort Morales guided his horse squarely and the two jumped clear into history. 34th Annual Marlborough Hunt Races at Roedown in Davidsonville, Maryland Sunday, April 6 Huaso and Morales climb over the top rail... and down into history. POST TIME AT NOON ANNOUNCING THE FIRST � � Maiden/Open Flat - 1 mile CHESHIRE FOXHOUNDS HIGH JUMP CONTEST! � � Maiden Hurdle - 2 miles WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2ND AT 2 O CLOCK � Novice/Open Timber - 3 miles � AT VINCE DUGAN’S RING (thank you Vince and Janice for donating the space!) � Amateur Flat - 2 miles � $500 prize money per division � � There will be two divisions: FOXHUNTER and OPEN. A foxhunter is a horse whose primary use is hunting...not show- Foxhunters Relay Flat - 3 miles ing, eventing or racing. This horse must be shown by a member of a Hunt. Any horse who is NOT a foxhunter must � Pony Race - Junior Horse Race � go in the OPEN division. There will be a puissance type wall in each division and the winner of each division will take home $500. ENTRY FEE $25.00 per horse Please bring proof of health insurance and coggins. RIDERS MUST BE OVER Marlborough helped champion steeplechaser Good Night Shirt and 17 years of age and must sign a release with their entry which will be at the registration table. stakes winners Footlights and Best Attack get ready in 2007. QUESTIONS? contact... $12,000 IN PURSES LEASA DOWLING Horsemen’s Information: 410-798-5040 443-417-8090 General Info./Tickets: 410-798-8275 [email protected] www.marlboroughhuntraces.com
18 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Bubble Economy (Arcadia Stable): As- ter and is a very happy horse,” trainer Grand National and the Maryland Hunt kim, Miles Ahead, Irish Prince aren’t the Alicia Murphy said. “We’re going to try Cup,” Miller said. “I might look to get Timber – only former champs gearing up for the and defend our title in the Manor.” him started in a point-to-point but as of Continued from page 18 season. The 2004 titlist returns for Jack now my rider is still up in the air.” Fisher after a 2007 season that included Fields Of Omagh (Randy Rouse): The then returned in the fall to take the Ski a Grand National win and on-the-board Chronicle Cup winner could reappear Private Attack (Sportsmans Hall): Up- Roundtop and the New Jersey Hunt finishes in several other stakes. Though at Middleburg. Quality stakes perform- and-comer never missed a check in four Cup. A flawless 4-for-4 on the year, Irish he won the title four years ago, he’s the er took International Gold Cup in 2005 starts last season and seeks to make a Prince collected $102,000 in checks, be- same age as Irish Prince (9) and younger and can be tough at middle distances. name for himself in 2008 with ama- coming the first timber horse to earn six than Askim and Miles Ahead. He’ll look “I did a little jogging and a little fox- teur Billy Santoro in the saddle. “He figures in a single season. to defend his Grand National win and hunting with him over the winter,” said may point to the Maryland Hunt Cup,” By beating all comers over all types of could prep for that spot in the My Lady’s owner/trainer Randy Rouse. “He’s get- trainer Alicia Murphy said. “He really ground – sand at Camden, good to soft Manor. ting ready and could have a point-to- loves his jumping, so he could do it. at the Iroquois, a hard, drying course point or go to Middleburg. I’m not sure He’s happy on any type of ground, so at Shawan Downs and a boggy surface Bug River (Northwood Stable): Double about the Virginia Gold Cup, he might that is another thing in his favor.” at Far Hills – Irish Prince provided an- Maryland Hunt Cup winner (2004, not be a 4-mile horse, but you’ll see him swers to just about any question, save 2006) dead-heated for second last year. a few times this year for sure, as long as Salmo (Irv Naylor): Went to the side- one. Can he handle 4 miles (and Miles Now 15, is he up for one more go? it’s on the firm side – he doesn’t like the lines shortly after winning Virginia Gold Ahead) in the Gold Cup? Trainer Regina Welsh will take it slowly soft ground at all.” Cup for Jack Fisher and missed the re- Miles Ahead and Irish Prince aren’t with the old fellow. mainder of the year. Now in Desmond alone on the timber landscape. A deep Hot Springs (Irv Naylor): Runner-up Fogarty’s shed, he’s back in light train- and talented contingent awaits. Other Coal Dust (Armata Stable): Recently to Irish Prince in the New Jersey Hunt ing and could be a late-season factor. 2008 players (with owner) include: foxhunted for four hours with trainer Cup, the 7-year-old son of Wekiva “He’s an old horse now, so you have to Tom Voss aboard, so on course for Springs could be a player. Notched two give him time and do what’s right,” said Allimac (Irv Naylor): Reemerged af- Grand National and Maryland Hunt wins and three seconds from five starts Fogarty. “We’re hoping he will make ter a long stint on the sidelines with a Cup. James Slater a possible jockey. in 2007, so he’s got consistency on his the fall races and have the Pennsylvania fourth in the International Gold Cup side. “I’m going to point him to My La- Hunt Cup as a goal.” last fall. Classy veteran can factor with Earmark (Irv Naylor): The 2007 Penn- dy’s Manor and if that goes well maybe a return to the form that saw him take sylvania Hunt Cup winner progressed run him in the Virginia Gold Cup,” Woodmont (Jubilee Stable): Enjoyed the Mason Houghland in 2006. “The with each start last fall, culminating said trainer Desmond Fogarty, who was a solid 2007 campaign with placings in race at Great Meadow was his first go in an easy score at Unionville. Though aboard for three of his races last year. the International Gold Cup and the Ma- in 18 months, so I think he got shocked pointed to the Maryland Hunt Cup, “He jumps the big fences really well, so son Houghland, which will be his goal a bit by the hard ground,” trainer Des- trainer Billy Meister said the schedule he can run anywhere. He’s still a young this spring for the Tennessee tandem of mond Fogarty said. “We just couldn’t is up in the air. “We gave him a bit of horse, but in a few years I’d like to think Ted and Dabney Thompson. Will prep find a place to run and we had to run a break after the (Pennsylvania) Hunt he would be a Hunt Cup horse.” for the Houghland with a point-to-point him somewhere, so I thought it was a Cup and it really paid off; he had a followed by a run at Camden. “He re- good effort. I’d like to try and make good winter.” Lear Charm (Frank Martin): Dead-heat- ally had a good winter and we just let Middleburg with him and the Mason ed for second in the Maryland Hunt him hang out and rest,” Ted Thomp- Houghland is the early season goal.” Fappa Fire (Pack Up Stable): Scored in Cup and will attempt to better that ef- son said. “He kind of trains right along the My Lady’s Manor last season before fort this season for trainer Chip Miller. in the hunt county, so we’re excited to Askim (Irv Naylor): Timber champion finishing unplaced in the Virginia Gold With only five timber starts, there is still get him going again. It would be great from 2006 is on the comeback trail for Cup and Radnor Hunt Cup, his last start room for improvement from the 9-year- to win the Nashville race, being from timber master Ann Stewart. of the season. “He had a really good win- old. “Right now I’m planning for the there.”
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Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 19 NSA to uphold Hendriks ruling Trainer suspended by Delaware by joe clancy the ownership of C R’s Deputy, the NSA 3-year-old champion of 2007. As The National Steeplechase Associa- part of the Delaware ruling, Hendriks tion will uphold a Delaware Thorough- is “denied the privileges of all grounds bred Racing Commission suspension of under jurisdiction of the DTRC” and trainer Ricky Hendriks, and enforced the same will be applied to all National the movement of two Hendriks horses Steeplechase Association race meets – to the barn of trainer Chuck Lawrence. meaning Hendriks will not be allowed “We honor rulings of other racing ju- on the grounds of an NSA meet until risdictions and the Delaware suspension after May 19. runs through May 19,” said Dwight Hall called the moves, adopted dur- Hall of the NSA stewards advisory ing an advisory committee meeting via committee. “We asked him to transfer conference call March 14, warranted Tod Marks the horses, C R’s Deputy and Change but unprecedented. Dirge (left) ran in a training flat race at Little Everglades last spring, dropping a narrow decision to Course, and they have been moved.” “The intention of our rule is for the then stablemate Cliffrose. The advisory committee asked the horses to be transferred and we put in Sanna, does). Still, the NSA asked that Late Launch were acquired by Ricky Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau place some procedures to enforce our C R’s Deputy and Change Course not Hendriks in the off-season, the trainer to verify the horses’ identities via tattoo rules,” said Hall. “We aren’t a racetrack be moved to Sanna Hendriks’ care this said, but will start for Sanna Hendriks. numbers, obtain proof of the move and so we can’t just look in someone’s barn spring. Ricky Hendriks’ Delaware suspen- secure documentation that Lawrence every day. You can’t deny the owner “Under our rules, with regard to these sion began in November and came after will invoice owners Barracuda Stable and the horse the chance to run, but we two horses, we asked him to transfer he admitted to conspiring “to violate and Dale Thiel, respectively, Hall said. can put some checkpoints in place and the horses to someone other than San- and/or circumvent the claiming rules After informing Hendriks of the pend- we’ve done that.” na, which he agreed to do,” said Hall. of the DTRC” concerning the claim of ing inspection, TRPB agents visited his Hall said Delaware rules prohibit the “Right now, other horses are not part of Dirge at Delaware Park last May. Ineli- barn and Lawrence’s barn at Fair Hill transfer of horses to a spouse in such the equation. If he comes up with other gible to claim at the time since he didn’t Training Center March 17. cases, but that NSA rules allow it – as horses to run, he’s going to have to go have stalls at Delaware and hadn’t start- In addition, Hendriks has been asked long as the spouse operates a separate through the same process.” to prove he has given up his share in training entity (which Hendriks’ wife, First-year steeplechasers Bernie and See hendriks page 21
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20 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008 “He’s got a bowed tendon,” said Sheppard. “You know you’re taking a 2008 NSA Spring Schedule Hendriks – chance when you run in a claiming race, Saturday, March 22...... Aiken Spring Saturday, April 26...... Foxfield Spring Continued from page 20 but I couldn’t see where anyone would Aiken, S.C. www.aikensteeplechase.com Charlottesville, Va. www.foxfieldraces.com ed a horse at the meet, Hendriks said claim a 5-year-old horse with one eye he had trainer Tim Hooper and owner and no real racing experience. I couldn’t Saturday, March 29...... Carolina Cup Saturday, April 26...... Maryland Hunt Cup Brian Dark claim the horse for $25,000 imagine the racetrack people claiming Camden, S.C. www.carolina-cup.org Glyndon, Md. www.marylandsteeplechasing.com from owner Bill Pape and trainer Jon- him and I didn’t think any of the stee- plechase people were eligible to claim.” Saturday, April 5...... Stoneybrook Saturday, May 3...... Virginia Gold Cup athan Sheppard May 29. Racing for Raeford, N.C. www.carolinahorsepark.com The Plains, Va. www.vagoldcup.com Hooper and Dark (but actually owned In addition to his fine and suspen- by Hendriks and Irv Naylor according sion Naylor returned roughly $11,000 Saturday, April 12...... Atlanta Sunday, May 4...... Winterthur to Hendriks), Dirge won a first-level al- (his share of the purse earnings from Kingston, Ga. www.atlantasteeplechase.org Winterthur, Del. www.winterthur.org lowance June 10 at Delaware Park and the first two races) to Pape, who may finished second in another allowance seek legal action to obtain the balance Saturday, April 12...... My Lady’s Manor Saturday, May 10...... Iroquois July 14. of the horse’s earnings, according to Monkton, Md. www.marylandsteeplechasing.com Nashville, Tenn. www.iroquoissteeplechase.org “When I trained for Irv, there was Sheppard. Saturday, April 12...... Strawberry Hill Sunday, May 11...... Willowdale always money to claim horses,” said Hendriks, whose stable is based at New Kent, Va. www.strawberryhillraces.com Kennett Square, Pa. www.willowdale.org Hendriks. “I called him about the horse, Fair Hill and a private farm in Pennsyl- told him I couldn’t claim but that I had a vania, looked forward to moving on. Thursday, April 17...... Keeneland Saturday, May 17...... Radnor Hunt Races friend who could and Irv said ‘do what “For four months, everything was Lexington, Ky. www.keeneland.com Malvern, Pa. www.radnorraces.org you need to do.’ ” quiet,” he said March 17. “Last week, Naylor admitted to being involved in Saturday, April 19...... Block House Sunday, May 18...... High Hope the claim, but said he was not aware of I went to see the NSA with my ruling Tryon, N.C. www.trhcevents.com Lexington, Ky. www.highhopesteeplechase.com violating Delaware’s rules. from Delaware and asked about C R’s “Ricky has claimed several good Deputy and Change Course. The TRPB Saturday, April 19...... Grand National Saturday, May 24...... Fair Hill horses for me over the years and when came today and checked the tattoos, Butler, Md. www.marylandsteeplechasing.com Fair Hill, Md. www.fairhillraces.org he came to me about this horse it was took pictures, everything. The horses Saturday, April 19...... Middleburg Spring See www.steeplechasetimes.com for updates. pretty simple,” Naylor said. “I was in- are with Chuck and I will get started Middleburg, Va. www.middleburgspringraces.com vited to buy half the horse, which I did. again in May.” I didn’t realize I had violated one of Delaware’s rules. I was guilty of being an ineligible owner, but ignorance of the law is no excuse.” Hooper made the claim and Dirge ran under the names of Hooper and Dark in his first two starts afterward. After those two starts, Naylor and Hendriks had a falling out and Hen- driks said he bought out Naylor’s inter- ��������������������� est in the horse with half then being sold FRIDAY to Debbie Kachel. “I don’t train for Irv anymore,” said The Madhatter’s Ball st Hendriks. Friday, March 21 “It was not a pleasant parting,” said Cocktails 7:00 pm • Dinner 8:00 pm Naylor. Aiken Spring Steeplechase Black Tie Gala and seated dinner with dance music In September, Dirge made his debut provided by Too Much Sylvia. for Hendriks and Kachel – winning a Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 Proceeds go to the Cumbee Center. Tickets $125 each Philadelphia Park allowance. A month 9:30 AM: Gates Open later the horse won a Pennsylvania-bred stakes, also at Philadelphia. 10:00 AM: Village of Shops Open Ultimately, the racing commission 11:00 AM: Guarantor Tent Party Starts got involved when notified of the cir- 1:00 PM: First Race ���������������������� cumstances behind the claim. John 1:15 PM: Carriage Parade Wayne, executive director of the com- SATURDAYnd mission, began an investigation and 1:30 PM: Second Race 42 Running pieced together the various steps in- 2:00 PM: Third Race Aiken Spring Steeplechase volved – including a telephone message 2:30 PM: Fourth Race left by Naylor. “When we uncover any kind of con- 3:00 PM: Fifth Race ����������������� spiracy, we are obligated to investigate 3:30 PM: Sixth Race Saturday, March 22nd • Post Time 1:00 pm it,” said Wayne, who also participated Purses totaling over $105,000 in the March 17 TRPB inspection. “The For More Information first piece of the puzzle was talking to 803-648-9641 Proceeds to benefit Helping Hands, Inc. and Aiken Rescue Squad. (Naylor), who was very cooperative. We were methodical and followed a email: [email protected] step-by-step process. We had to make sure we didn’t go out of sequence and by the time I got around to interview- ing all of the players, I knew all of the answers.” Hendriks, Naylor, Hooper and Dark received $2,500 fines and suspensions (six months for the trainers, three months for the owners). Hooper’s case is still pending an appeal. Dirge was re- turned to Pape and Sheppard, but has yet to run. Member FDIC
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Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 21 Young Move Dear SOTA Members: As president of Steeplechase Owners and Trainers Association, it is my job Jockey signs deal to ride first-call to represent the horsemen’s interests. It is my goal to increase steeplechase racing opportunity. Below is a brief update. for Cato’s deep Brigadoon Stable I worked this winter to get the two race meets back without success. After by Brian Nadeau going to Little Everglades March 9, I was reminded why we want them on the steeplechase news circuit. The turf was flawless, the crowd was 17,000 strong and NFL player As the new first-call jockey for Edgar Ronde Barber presented the trophies. The Blanchards are an asset to the NSA Cato’s Brigadoon Stable, Paddy Young family. envisioned logging plenty of travel miles up and down the East Coast. Dusting I remember in 2000 when we got the call from the NSA office to put what- off his passport, however, didn’t figure ever sound, fit horse we had on the tractor trailer to go to Dade City because to be part of the job description. George Sloan, my stepfather George Strawbridge, Mason Lampton and Joe Young, Brigadoon and trainer Doug King had convinced Bob and Sharon Blanchard that steeplechase racing was Fout will take on the world with Gliding the most fun way to spend their time and money. They were having exhibition April 19 in Japan’s Nakayama Grand Jump. The race will be a stern test for point-to-point races, so I put my foxhunter Prenuptial on the tractor trailer horse and jockey, and Young is eager along with some of Jonathan Sheppard’s homebreds, and Bridget McFadden, to get his newfound partnership with Fennella O’Flynn and I ripped around over some hurdles in the field. As you can Brigadoon off to a rousing start. imagine it was a blast and millions of dollars and hours later Little Everglades “I’m totally excited. It’s going to be is one of the best run, top-class race meets in the country with Ronde Barber the experience of a lifetime and I’m re- handing out the trophies. Did I mention Ronde Barber?! ally looking forward to it,” said Young, an Irish native who moved to the United My point of this letter is to say I hope we can all unite and rally together States in 2003. “Gliding is a grand little and give Lou Raffetto a chance to spend his time and energy forging a plan to horse, real athletic. He just keeps trying modernize our sport and bring our hunt meets back. The survey sent to ev- out there and that’s all you can really eryone has yielded some useful information and we look forward to its release ask for in a horse. He jumps so well, so and use in the coming year. Thanks to Peter Fenwick, Gary Baker, SOTA and I think he will give a good account of himself.” everyone else for working so hard on the survey and to Frank Petramalo for Young hustled his way to a career Tod Marks doing a great job on the ad hoc committee. If nothing else happens, I hope we season in 2007, topping all jockeys As part of a new contract, Paddy Young will ride first-call for Brigadoon Stable in 2008. can have more participation in the election proccess. with 97 rides and winning 16 (second Good Luck to Lou Raffetto and everyone. Have a great season. to Xavier Aizpuru). While several jock- three-time champion McDynamo. eys were able to rely on top outfits for In the balloting, Good Night Shirt the majority of their winners, Young did garnered 222 of the 237 first-place – Kathy McKenna it the hard way, garnering his 16 from votes cast. McDynamo received 13, six trainers. The opportunity to ride for with Footlights and Planets Aligned get- Throughout my years of involvement in American steeplechasing, I have Brigadoon and Fout has Young beam- ting one each. Voters are members of seen a lot of changes but few of them have made any real difference. ing. the National Turf Writers Association, Now, as the Vice President of SOTA and a member of the NSA ad hoc com- “Last season was a good stepping- Daily Racing Form writers and editors mittee, I am happy to say that I see real hope for true change and improvement stone for this. It was a little bit of pure and National Thoroughbred Racing luck, but I’m honored to be part of the Association representatives. The Eclipse in our hopefully optimistic future. This has nothing to do with my personal team,” Young said. “Doug has a lot of Awards were announced and presented involvement, but more to do with the direct involvement and interest from the talented horses and the money to buy at a dinner at the Beverly Wilshire Four NSA board. This is the first time I have ever truly felt the board to be welcom- more if someone goes down, so it’s just Seasons Hotel in California. ing of input from the general membership. a great opportunity.” That’s why the survey that was sent out was so overwhelmingly well re- In addition to Gliding, Brigadoon • Shawan Downs executive director sponded to. Results will be made public soon. campaigned 2007 hurdle winner Diego Danielle Brewster stepped down af- Cao and timber winner Erin Go Bragh. ter seven years, citing a need to spend First, the committee will make a presentation to the NSA board at its March Young will continue to work in Penn- more time with her family. She leaves 28 meeting. Since there are three NSA board members on our committee, we sylvania for trainer Sanna Hendriks. the Maryland race meet in the hands of already have the board’s attention. With the naming of a CEO, things are start- Jockey Matt McCarron will main- Michele May and Alix Smith. ing to change. tain his first-call contract with Fout cli- Do we have all the answers? Are we where we need to be? No. But isn’t it nice ent EMO Stable. • Amateur jockey Blake Curry, out of action since injuring his knee prior to know that we’re part of an organization that seems like they may actually have • Australia-based Karasi, three-time to Shawan Downs in September, will re- come to realize and maybe even appreciate input from its membership? winner of the Nakayama Grand Jump turn this spring. Curry tore his anterior For the first time, I feel like we’re taking a true first step. Here’s to a great in Japan, may cap his illustrious career cruciate ligament (ACL) as the result of 2008 for all. in the United States. a mishap while schooling a horse. Trained by Eric Musgrove, the “It was just a fluke thing. We went 13-year-old Irish-bred will try to take over a tiny fence and came down wrong – Laura Thiel Shull down his fourth consecutive Grand and that was it,” Curry said. “I have Jump April 19 and then could head to a new ACL and I had my meniscus Nashville for a grand finale in the Iro- replaced, so it was a pretty severe in- Board of Directors quois May 10. jury. The total healing time, to be fully Even if he doesn’t run, Karasi will healed, is 18 months.” Kathy McKenna – President Laura Thiel Shull – Vice President likely visit the States as a tourist, since, Curry won three times from 11 Gary Baker – Executive Director and Secretary due to outbreaks of Equine Influenza in mounts in his abbreviated 2007 sea- Regional Representatives Japan, the Australian government is not son, which was highlighted by a victory MD/DE: Tom Voss, Jim McDonald. PA/NJ: Kathy McKenna, Sharon Sheppard. allowing horses visiting Japan return aboard Fappa Fire in the My Lady’s VA: Richard Valentine, Gary Baker. GA/SC/NC/FL: Cort Marzullo. for up to six months. Manor and a second with Lear Charm IL/KY/TN/MO: Ted Thompson. Back in 2001, Australian invader in the Maryland Hunt Cup. AT LARGE: Laura Thiel Shull, Rob Banner, Jack Fisher, Julie Gomena, Rand returned from Nakayama to fin- “Getting back to riding makes all the ish third in the Royal Chase at Keenel- Sanna Hendriks, Gill Johnston, Bruce Miller, Anne Moran, Regina Welsh, Todd Wyatt. difference in the world. It’s my juice, my and win the Iroquois. outlet,” he said. “I know it’s going to For More Information: take some time getting my balance and SOTA c/o W. Gary Baker • Sonny Via’s Good Night Shirt offi- timing back, but I’m already getting more P.O. Box 2122, Middleburg, VA 20118 cially became the champion steeplechas- comfortable. I’ve got some things in the (540) 687-3455 er of 2007 on Jan. 21. That’s when he re- works and I expect to be riding at the ceived the Eclipse Award, besting retiring Piedmont point-to-point (March 22).”
22 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Steeplechase ‘Pick Six’ Entry Form ______FANTASY STABLE GAME Stable Name Ever want to manage a stable of steeplechase horses? Here’s your chance! Sign-up for the ninth annual H I G P S, 6Steeplechase Times’ fantasy stable game. WIN PRIZES! Watch your stable succeed. ______Be the envy of your friends. It’s easy... Your Name Contest Instructions ______HOW TO PLAY Your Hometown and State Step 1: Pick a stable name. Be creative, but within the bounds of a family newspaper. Step 2: Pick six horses for your stable. Any six horses you want (from horses we’ve heard of to horses no one’s heard of). Limitations: Your stable must include at least one timber horse, at least one filly/mare, and at least one horse that started 2008 ______as a steeplechase maiden. See the lists inside this Your Telephone Number edition of ST for help or create your own list. Step 3: Forward your stable information (and your name, address, and telephone number) to us. Information must be postmarked or received by 1 p.m. April YOUR HORSES 12. With three spring dates before the deadline, savvy players get a head start. Step 4: Sit back and watch. We’ll keep score through- out the year. The contest results are based on 1.______earnings by your stable in U.S. steeplechase races during the 2008 racing season (NSA races only). One entry per person please, 2.______but feel free to sign up friends, family, co- workers, etc. 6 HOW TO ENTER (Entry deadline 1 p.m. April 12) 3.______Mail: Steeplechase Times, 364 Fair Hill Drive, Suite F, Elkton, MD 21921. Fax: s 0HONE *5-0 4.______E-mail: [email protected] Filly/Mare Online: www.st-publishing.com
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Mail your Entry to: ST Publishing, 364 Fair Hill Drive, Suite F, Elkton, MD 21921 16#-*4)*/( +# 45 Fax your Entry to: 410-392-0170 410-542-3300 ćF5JNFTtćF4BSBUPHB4QFDJBM HOFFBERGER 610-383-0600 ,$&OUFSQSJTFT ćF4QFDJBMBU,FFOFMBOE Email your Entry to: Insurance Group [email protected]
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 23 Circle of Life Berryman, Haynes family keep going after loss of friend, father, husband by Sean CLancy be exact. Berryman spoke at Haynes’ funeral and knew he had to go back to They say all things come full circle. the farm to help with the Haynes’ horse For trainer Mike Berryman and the operation. That’s what godfathers do. Haynes family that’s never been more “Bruce was a loyal friend,” Berry- true. Bruce Haynes and Mike Berryman man said. “Do anything for anybody. met on the horse-show circuit in the late Just loyal.” 1960s before switching to the fast lane Berryman has guided Russell – who of jump racing. Their steeplechase odys- has taken a leave of absence from Vir- sey began in the summer of 1987 when ginia Tech – and Will Haynes this win- Exuberant Speed, under Tom Finn, ter. The boys do the majority of the finished 11th in a maiden at Delaware work while Berryman tries to oversee Park. it. They ran three horses at Little Ever- The duo plied their trade predomi- glades and, along with Anne, will con- nantly on the midwest circuit and pre- tinue to manage the stable for the fore- dominantly with cheap horses. They seeable future. won races, with Bruce doing some of Tod Marks “We’re just trying to do what we have Trainer Bruce Haynes, hard at work at the Iroquois last spring. the riding, before eventually splitting to do. Things are going very well, they their operations in 1993. have the horses fit. For me, it’s nothing The Haynes have winnowed their Going to the races in Florida was good, Best friends, they worked from two new, like deja vu all over again,” Berry- horse inventory almost in half, disband- it was hard to do but to be expected. points of the triangle of Johnson City, man said. “The boys are doing a great ing some breeding stock and other hors- We’re just keeping on kicking. It’s the Bristol and Kingsport in the corner of job, they’re making my job easy.” es who weren’t making it as racehorses. only thing you can do.” Tennessee and Virginia. Timber horses Won Wild Bird and “We’re trying to scale back with some Bruce Haynes enjoyed success with Haynes and Berryman shared horses, Shady Valley return while maidens of the mares and babies, but that was some hard-hitting hurdle horses but it van rides and lives. Haynes and his wife, Classy Brute, Mecklenburg, Tank Zone the plan anyway,” Russell Haynes said. wasn’t until the $2,500 purchase Rowdy Anne, honored Berryman as the godfa- and Hot Rize will anchor the hurdle di- “To be honest we haven’t sold anything Irishman began his wagon-trail road to ther to their first son, Russell. vision. Summersville, owned by Anne that my dad wasn’t planning on selling the top that Haynes reached the pinna- Now, Berryman is trying to complete Haynes and now trained by Karen Gray, anyway. Not a whole lot has changed cle of the sport. Rowdy Irishman earned the circle. Haynes, 46, died of a heart finished second at Little Everglades. Will as far as what we were planning on $644,528 from 1994 to 2001. His suc- attack in January, leaving a wife, three Haynes picked up a victory for trainer doing. It’s tough, but staying busy has cess might have added some chips to sons and a farm full of horses – 31 to Janet Elliot aboard Bounding Cat. been good, that’s the best thing to do. See haynes page 25
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24 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Haynes – -AXIMIZE THE CONDITIONING OF YOUR PERFORMANCE HORSE Continued from page 24 BY SWIMMING AGAINST RESISTIVE WATER CURRENT Haynes’ stash but it never changed the hardest working man in steeplechasing. There were others – good and bad. Tower Of Torture, Key To A Miracle, Summer Island, Rarity Bay, Shady Val- ley, Sprucapade . . . and a gaggle of cheap trying-to-make-good horses long since forgotten. He never paid much for any horse. Haynes made the equivalent of West- bound Turnarounds every weekend; pil- ing horses and family into the truck and ,AZY 2IVER 3WIM #LUB AT 'REAT /AKS &ARM gooseneck trailer and heading for what- ever race meet happened to land on the "LUEMONT 6! calendar. They cooled out in the van. Foxfield: 256 miles. Fair Hill: 465 Tod Marks Mike Berryman WWWEQUINESWIMCLUBCOM miles. Camden: 276 miles. Saratoga: 754 miles. Haynes did it like nobody else in steeplechasing. He and his family in- vested their money while doing the work of a chain gang. For a reminder of the man, take a look at the inside flap of the 2008 NSA spring condition book. There’s Bruce running down the stretch at Nashville, tie atwitter, mouth wide- open, pumping his fist to the bravery of Rowdy. He campaigned the third most horses last year behind Jack Fisher and Jona- than Sheppard. If you wanted polish and a tailor-made suit, Haynes wasn’t for you. If you wanted reality, he was your man. Sometimes his tie was too short and sometimes he needed a shave, but that’s what happens when you get dressed back at the barn and run your own horses. The church was packed, standing- room-only up and down the aisle, along the sides, two rows deep in the back. A few steeplechase people but mostly friends and family from Tennessee. Ber- ryman cajoled his toughest words – a goodbye to his best friend. Then it was back to the barn, trying to somehow complete that circle.
• • • Haynes died Jan. 24 at the family’s farm “Holston Hollow” in Holston Valley, Tenn. He was preceded in death by his sis- ter, Valerie Lynn Haynes, and his grand- parents, Henry Hallum and Mary Paine Dunn Haynes of Bristol and Spotswood Randolph and Alethia Bland Parker of Atlanta. Survivors include his wife, Anne Oldfield Haynes; his sons, Russell Bruce Haynes, William Parker Haynes and David Aaron Haynes; his parents, David Saunders and Alethia Park- er Haynes; his sister, Parker Haynes Minchin and her husband Edward of Southern Pines, N.C.; cousins, nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial contri- butions may be sent to the charity of your choosing, to an animal charity or to Rivers Way Outdoor Adventure Center, 889 Stoney Hollow Road, Bluff City, TN 37618.
• For his career, Bruce Haynes trained the winners of $1,592,452 in steeplechase purses. Unquestioned sta- ble star Rowdy Irishman won the Iro- quois, Breeders’ Cup Grand National and Temple Gwathmey twice each, and twice finished second in the Colonial Cup to Hall of Famer Lonesome Glory.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 25 Calling All Horses The Times tracked down as many trainers as we could to find out what’s happening with their hors- es this season. We broke it down into conditions and categories. In the following pages, catch up on your favorite stars and learn about some newcomers. If we missed someone we’ll make it up to them when they make the headlines. See horse lists on the web at www.st-publishing.com, too.
Open stakes division Best Attack Orison Sally Radcliffe • Bruce Miller EMO Stable • Doug Fout Novice stakes winner eyes Royal Chase Blinkers on for Aiken stakes start Chivite Orsay Calvin Houghland • Bruce Miller Armata Stable • Tom Voss Hoping to better his third in 2007 Iroquois Clean bill of health; look out? Dark Equation Paradise’s Boss Peggy Steinman • Doug Fout Ann Stern • Jack Fisher Spring goal is Marcellus Frost at Nashville Multiple stakes winner out until fall Gliding Party Airs Brigadoon Stable • Doug Fout Ken and Sarah Ramsey • Tom Voss Taking on the world in Japan Still in Kentucky, but aiming for summer Good Night Shirt Preemptive Strike Sonny Via • Jack Fisher Polaris Stable • Sanna Hendriks Champ following same schedule as 2007 Aiming for Imperial Cup Hip Hop Riddle Tod Marks John Griggs • John Griggs High Hope Stable • Arch Kingsley Orsay comes into the stakes division after winning once in 2007. Little Everglades winner aims for Aiken 2007 stakes winner on target for summer Kilbride Rd Sovereign Duty Betsy Mead • Doug Fout Hudson River Farm • Jonathan Sheppard Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back Can build off fine third in Colonial Cup Mixed Up Sur La Tete Bill Pape • Jonathan Sheppard Kinross Farm • Neil Morris Won’t be rushed to defend Keeneland title Back to make amends in Iroquois
The 66th Annual Moneytrain Three Carat Hudson River Farm • Jonathan Sheppard Jonathan Sheppard • Jonathan Sheppard Brandywine Hills Talented and fragile, hoping to return in fall Second to champ in 2007 Colonial Cup Point-to-Point Races Mon Villez Underbidder Calvin Houghland • Bruce Miller Timber Bay Farm • Jonathan Sheppard Sunday, April 6, 2008 Noel Laing winner pointing to Atlanta Ducked no one in 2007 First Race at Noon
Advance Parking Tickets Available! Supporting Sponsor: $250 Finish Line: $100 Preferred: $45 Day of Race (General): $20 For advance purchase, reserved parking or info, please call 610/793-1090
On the beautiful grounds of the Brandywine Valley Association’s Myrick Conservation Center on Route 842 (3 miles east of Unionville, 6 miles west of West Chester)
“The oldest point-to-point in the Delaware Valley” Tod Marks Best Attack (and Chip Miller) aim for Grade I glory in 2008.
26 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008 novice hurdle division
For the spring, the novice division is restricted to horses which did not win over hurdles before March 1, 2007 – the conditions on the Steeplechase Triple Crown races. Be Certain King Hoss Alnoff Stable • Tom Voss The Fields Stable • Tom Voss Woolfe winner impressing them on farm Shawan winner stepping up in 2008 C R’s Deputy Letter Perfect Barracuda Stable • Chuck Lawrence EMO Stables • Doug Fout 3YO champ working toward Camden Morven winner could return by summer Diego Cao Planets Aligned Brigadoon Stable • Doug Fout Fox Ridge Farm • Tom Voss Readying for the National Hunt Cup 2007 champ sitting on go Divine Fortune Rainiero Bill Pape • Jonathan Sheppard Augustin Stable • Sanna Hendriks Major talent could target the Triple Crown Chilean looking at Aiken allowance Dr. Bloomer Red Letter Day Calvin Houghland • Jonathan Sheppard Greg Hawkins • Janet Elliot Plenty capable on best form Maiden win at Charlotte last year Fantorini Swagger Stick Sonny Via • Jack Fisher Gil Johnston • Jack Fisher Broke maiden at Colonial Cup Fall maiden winner a name to remember Harry’s Firebolt Swimming River Tod Marks Russell Looney • Doug Fout Long Lane Farm • Paul Rowland Divine Fortune flies into the novice ranks off a rookie season that included three wins. Tests allowance foes at Aiken Comes off solid 2007 season
Fair Hill, Maryland
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The 98th My Lady’s Manor Located on Jarrettsville Pike Timber Stakes – Purse $30,000 (MD 146) at Pocock Road th Gates open 10:00 a.m. The 84 John Rush Streett Memorial Hunt Relays 11:00 a.m. Amateur Maiden Timber – Purse $15,000 First Race 1:30 p.m. The 7th John D. Schapiro Memorial Rain or Shine Amateur Highweight Timber – Purse $5,000 General Parking $50 and Family Parking $70 available at the gate The 2nd Yoicks Cup or purchase through www.mary- Foxhunter Timber – Trophy landsteeplechasing.com. Parking passes are also available through The Maryland Governor’s Cup Ladew Gardens (410) 557-9570 or www.LadewGardens.com Inter-Hunt Challenge Hunt Team Relay Races
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Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 27 Dynamont Liverpool Gloves maiden hurdle division Augustin Stable • Sanna Hendriks Kinross Farm • Neil Morris Also Known As Wink Class Care Made hurdle debut at Montpelier Second to Surprizer Phew at Warrenton Linda Klein • Linda Klein Mede Cahaba • Lilith Boucher Show up in Aiken maiden claimer 4YO gets started at Aiken Dynaski Magic Maker Armata Stable • Tom Voss EMO Stable • Doug Fout Another Look Class Shadow Rookie son of Dynaformer Won flat maiden at Colonial in 2007 Randleston Farm • Jimmy Day Mede Cahaba Stable • Lilith Boucher Took to foxhunting over winter Second to Cuse at Little Everglades Five Pines Master William Augustin Stable • Sanna Hendriks Ken and Sarah Ramsey • Tom Voss Area Limits Classy Brute Second in Morven Park maiden Got trial run at Spa Open House last July Over Creek Farm • Julie Gomena Anne Haynes • Mike Berryman Showed some ability in two fall starts Won at Nashville Point-to-Point Fogcutter Mecklenburg Fox Ridge Farm • Tom Voss Anne Haynes • Mike Berryman Baby Bert Closertoyourheart Planets Aligned, Take II Showed promise when at Little Everglades Robin Hanson • Michael Traurig Richard Stokes • Todd Wyatt Son of Albert The Great points for Aiken Ships south for Aiken G’day G’day Monsieur Henri Magalen Bryant • Doug Fout Little Everglades Ranch • Janet Elliot Bee Charmer Coupe De Ville Chased Gliding, Orison at Rappahannock Been schooling for jump debut Whitewood Stable • Richard Valentine Eldon Farm • Doug Fout Stakes-placed Michael Matz charge Flashed some promise as 3YO Gigger Mornin’ Eddie Perry Bolton • Tom Voss Kinross Farm • Neil Morris Bernie Cuse Been knocking at the door awhile Fifth to Bee Charmer at Warrenton Barracuda Stable • Sanna Hendriks Karen Gray • Karen Gray 4YO from flat stable of John Servis Little Everglades winner still eligible Gossipmonger Nat Grew ITB Racing Stable • Rebecca Baker Windmill Hollow Stable • Sanna Hendriks Better Be Ready Delta Park Got season underway at Little Everglades Gladstone runner-up Clorevia Farm • Eddie Graham Arcadia Stable • Jack Fisher Half-brother to Better Talk Now Newcomer won on flat at Colonial Downs Green Pro Never Fear Edition Farm • Janet Elliot Kinross Farm • Neil Morris Bounding Cat Dreadnaught Been working on his game Son of Storm Broker Janet Elliot • Janet Elliot Trillium Stable • Tom Voss Old timer got it done at Little Everglades Returns to hurdles for first time since 2004 Happy Seamus News Flash Janet Elliot • Janet Elliot Bob Kinsley • Tom Voss Brands Hatch Dr. Kinsolving Second on flat at Little Everglades 4YO won a maiden flat at Colonial Claytonville Stables • Teddy Mulligan Kinross Farm • Neil Morris Son of A.P. Indy won at Casanova Showed promise in pair of fall starts Hey Doctor Path To Perfection Kinross Farm • Neil Morris Clorevia Farm • Eddie Graham Bullet Dancer Dromineer Improved last fall NY-bred winner at Saratoga 2006 Bruce Smart • Jimmy Day Homer Osborne • Mike Berryman 5YO ready for debut OK after Little Everglades spill Hold Your Fire Plum Brush Mimi Voss • Tom Voss Athene Noctura Stable • Allison Fulmer Homebred tries hurdles in 2008 Looking to break through in 2008 Was your winter as exciting as mine? Congratulations McLane & the team Honour Emblem Pop The Pirate Mike Berryman • Mike Berryman Brigadoon Stable • Doug Fout Third in last three; new barn Should resurface this summer Hot Rize Questioning Anne Haynes • Mike Berryman Over Creek Farm • Julie Gomena Made debut in Camden 3YO race Former flat runner has impressed trainer
Just My Game Rainbows For Luck Rick Chantry • Mike Berryman Greg Bentley • Paul Rowland Once part of Bob Baffert barn Ready to go for new trainer Justagallop Right Hand Red McLane Hendriks, Nancy Gerry & Janet Elliot • Janet Elliot Ivy Hill Farm • Alicia Murphy State Champion Old hand overcoming issues High hopes for Colonial flat winner www.rjhracing.com Late Launch Running Tide Bob Manfuso • Sanna Hendriks J. Dorsey Brown III • Billy Meister Instant results after each race Sold for $6,500 at Timonium December Held in high regard by barn from Hendriks Racing
28 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Run The Light Kinross Farm • Neil Morris The next stable star? Sabotage Anne Jackson • Kathy McKenna “Handy individual” by Darn That Alarm Your Equine Health Care Specialist — Seeking No More We Serve All Horseman with Fast Courteous Service! Arcadia Stable • Jack Fisher Dynaformer newcomer eyes quick start Call 800-934-9398 for a FREE Catalog Society Milliner Vaccines Randleston Farm • Paul Harriss Foals Irish-bred 6YO by Sadler’s Wells Innovator 5 (7-Way) Single dose $17.95, 12+ @ $17.49 Seramune - 300ml NEW! 10 dose $174.95, 4+ @ $167.95 Spy In The Sky Given at birth can double the ProGut Randleston Farm • Jimmy Day IgG level and help protect A quick fix 4YO should improve as sophomore Prestige V+VEE against Rhodococcus. for diarrhea Single dose $18.95 $79.95, 3+ @ $74.95 60ml $13.95 Strathspey Kino 10 dose $179.95 FOB 3+ (6 dose tube) Todd Wyatt • Todd Wyatt Fort Dodge West Nile 4YO by Dancing Spree Single dose $15.95, 12+ @ $15.49 10 dose $144.95, 4+ @ $139.95 Surprizer Phew Joints Gil Johnston • Richard Valentine Fort Dodge West Nile Innov + EWT Won easily at Warrenton Point-to-Point Single dose $19.95, 12+ @ $19.49 Cosequin 10 dose $179.95, 4+ @ $174.95 700gm $105.95 1400gm $169.95 FOB Sussex County Merial West Nile Recombitek Magalen Bryant • Doug Fout Single dose $13.95 Recovery EQ Didn’t miss board in three outings last fall Ten pack singles $137.95 Cosequin 2.2 lbs $75.95 5 dose $68.95 Optimized — NEW! 11 lbs $289.95 FOB 800gm $98.95 Sword Of Dubai 1400gm w/MSM $139.95 FOB Hamilton Farm • Kathy McKenna Delaware Park allowance winner Lubrisyn Best Buy 16 oz $69.95 Rx Products 32 oz $129.00, 3+ @ $124.95 FOB 3+ Tax Ruling FOB Irv Naylor • Desmond Fogarty 64 oz $194.95 Fifth in 2007 debut, liked by the barn Gallon $352.95 FOB Adequan 5ml $45.95, 7+ @ $42.95 Tikraar Whitewood Stable • Richard Valentine Flavored Bute Powder Ulcer Prevention Son of Dixie Union lived in Calif., Ireland Apple or Vanilla & Ulcer Treatment 1gm/100 doses $26.95 Two Terms Legend 40mg, 4ml UlcerGard GastroGard Dark Hollow Farm • Tom Voss $69.95, 4+ @ $66.95 4 dose tube Single dose tube Three-time flat winner tries hurdles $36.95, $36.95, 12+ @ $32.95 28+ @ $32.00 Bute Paste 12gm tube Waracha $11.95, 6+ @ $11.49 - FOB Mimi Voss • Tom Voss GastroShield Oral Powder Dam a half-sister to John’s Call 4 lbs $29.95 (32 day supply) 20 lbs $119.95 (160 day supply) Whistling Deputy Neigh-Lox Pellets Palatable Ann Stern • Jack Fisher 25 lbs $129.95 FOB Tested in training flat races last year Witsand Bay Cherry Knoll Farm • Janet Elliot Heartland Veterinary Supply Two training flat wins in 2007 1-800-934-9398 www.heartlandvetsupply.com Zozimus Free Shipping on Orders Over $100 Dale Thiel • Sanna Hendriks (unless marked FOB) Looking to break through
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 29 Timber division Across The Sky Hello Jerry Jimmie Lockhart • Paul Rowland Arcadia Stable • Jack Fisher Pointed to Camden allowance Tuned up at team race Allimac Hidden Key Irv Naylor • Desmond Fogarty Al Griffin • Doug Fout Classy vet could reappear at Middleburg Run well at point-to-points this year Askim High Watermark Irv Naylor • Ann Stewart Jacqueline Ohrstrom • Richard Valentine 2006 champ on comeback trail Won at Warrenton Barzulu Hot Springs Brigadoon Stable • Doug Fout Irv Naylor • Desmond Fogarty Aiming for My Lady’s Manor Pointing to My Lady’s Manor Battle Op Hotspur Northwoods Stable • Regina Welsh Gregg Ryan • Julie Gomena Eyes steeplethon start The old foxhunting circuit Sarah Libbey Greenhalgh Private Attack (Billy Santoro) flies a timber fence in the Foxhall Farm team race. Beneficial Man Incomplete Private Attack Toughkenamon Irv Naylor • Kathy McKenna Bob Kinsley • Ann Stewart Sportsmans Hall • Alicia Murphy Armata Stable • Kathy McKenna Lightly raced with room for improvement Looked good last spring Polished jumper could try Md. Hunt Cup Veteran plies his trade over timber in 2008 Bold Quest Irish Laddie Professor Maxwell Vinnie Boy Northwoods Stable • Regina Welsh Irv Naylor • Desmond Fogarty Lucy Stable • Richard Valentine Adair Bonsal • Joe Davies Longterm project, eyes on Maryland Could be ready for Camden Another amateur series threat 11YO won hunter chase at Cheltenham Bubble Economy Irish Prince Quem Se Atreve Why Not Baby Arcadia Stable • Jack Fisher Augustin Stable • Sanna Hendriks Sarah Lyn Stable • Jack Fisher Lucy Goelet • Billy Meister Pointing to My Lady’s Manor/Va. Gold Cup Ready to defend crown; Gold Cup? 2006 hurdle stakes winner gets new career Threatened to break through last fall Bug River Jazzitupgeorge Ravens Rock Woodmont Northwoods Stable • Regina Welsh Merriefield Farm • Tom Voss Holbrook Hollow Farm • Paul Rowland Jubilee Stable • Dabney Thompson Racing career may continue Rookie training with Coal Dust May even try hurdles early in season Heading for Camden-Nashville double Bulawayo Kilbreena Salmo Won Wild Bird Greg Bentley • Paul Rowland Dyson Dryden • Joe Davies Irv Naylor • Desmond Fogarty Anne Haynes • Mike Berryman Returns for new trainer Winner in England pointing to Fair Hill Va. Gold Cup winner could return in the fall Mare has plenty of jump Coal Dust King Lear Scuba Steve Armata Stable • Tom Voss Eleanor Russell/John Huganir • Joe Davies Perry Bolton • Kathy McKenna Aims to get Maryland Hunt Cup right Heading to My Lady’s Manor Prepping at the point-to-points Earmark Lear Charm Seeyouattheevent Irv Naylor • Billy Meister Frank Martin • Chip Miller Nick Arundel • Jack Fisher Pa. Hunt Cup winner readying for Md. Grand National, Md. Hunt Cup spring goals IGC winner out for spring Erin Go Bragh Michele Marieschi Shady Valley Brigadoon Stable • Doug Fout Anna Stable • Richard Valentine Anne Haynes • Mike Berryman Va. Gold Cup via My Lady’s Manor Tough on amateur circuit Won at Hillsboro Point-to-Point Fappa Fire Miles Ahead Slattery Pack Up Stable • Alicia Murphy Kinross Farm • Neil Morris Strawbidge/Young • Sanna Hendriks On target to defend title in Manor Puts perfect mark on line in Va. Gold Cup Moves over to timber Fields Of Omagh Move West Straight Gin Randy Rouse • Randy Rouse Augustin Stable • Sanna Hendriks Whitewood Farm/Kim Zito • Richard Valentine Likes Middleburg course Winterthur winner looking for spot Looking for second win
Haddix Music To My Ears Straight Path Douglas Lees Perry Bolton • Kathy McKenna Whitewood Stable • Richard Valentine Stewart Strawbridge • Kathy McKenna Professor Maxwell will be a player in the ama- Second to Barzulu in point-to-point New connections for Irish-bred 10YO High Hope timber winner returns teur timber division.
30 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Barrington John Law assorted hurdlers Armata Stables • Tom Voss Mrs. Jack Bass • Jonathan Sheppard Looking to build on productive 2007 Flatterer winner pointing for fall Belknap County Kirimbai Gregg Ryan • Julie Gomena Laura Shull • Richard Valentine Montpelier maiden winner had good winter Tackles allowance foes at Aiken Big Is Best Lead Us Not Cary Jackson • Paul Rowland Bill Pape • Jonathan Sheppard Tests Camden brush early Hit board three times in 2007 Cat’s Revenge Meneef Richard Klein • Janet Elliot Calvin Houghland • Kathy McKenna Broke maiden at Montpelier 2006 Scored at Little Everglades Duke Of Earl Motel Affair Kingfisher Farm • Jack Fisher Blackwood Stables • Tom Voss May once again outrun expectations Closed 2007 with pair of wins Tod Marks Big Is Best (right) hopes for a repeat over brush at Camden. Gather No Moss Pleasant Pick Buck Kisor • Mike Berryman High Hope Stable • Arch Kingsley Sound Blaster Summersville Capable veteran in right spot Flat win at Little Everglades to open season Bear Creek Stable • Jack Fisher Anne Haynes • Karen Gray Irish import searching for right spot Second to Meneef at Little Everglades Gryffindor Seafaring Man Dapple Stable • Tom Voss Hudson River Farm • Jonathan Sheppard Silver Wheat Thegooddieyoung Woke up at Aiken last fall Georgia Cup champ eyes late return Northfield Farm • Teddy Mulligan Kinross Farm • Neil Morris Young trainer could make waves in 2008 Won Foxfield Spring allowance Humdinger Sheriff Dillon Kinross Farm • Neil Morris Calvin Houghland • Kathy McKenna Looks to build on promising fall runs Fair Hill winner ready for next step Excellence filly/mare division in Equine Insurance Adele Lucille Midside Maggie Buck Kisor • Mike Berryman William Marlow Jr. • Jazz Napravnik Maiden daughter of Siphon Second at Shawan last fall Analyze Leaves Of Autumn Flying Horse Farm • Jazz Napravnik Bruce Smart • Jimmy Day Won open hurdle at Warrenton Pt-to-Pt Maiden back to build on lone run in 2007 Dynaskill Remy Christine Sally Jeffords Radcliffe • Bruce Miller Lilith Boucher • Lilith Boucher Kin to Hall of Famer Lonesome Glory 4-year-old tests maidens at Aiken Feeling So Pretty Storming Angel Lee McKinney • Lee McKinney Linda Klein • Linda Klein Seemingly ageless ex-champ returns Gets to work on flat at Aiken Frosted Face Straight To Court Little Bay Racing Stable • Kevin Pallister Over Creek Farm • Julie Gomena Made the overnight for Aiken Third to Lair in only hurdle start at Shawan
Guelph Suntara Classic Service � Elite Protection The Fields Stable • Tom Voss Jodi Rowland • Paul Rowland Experienced Equestrians Classy gal looks to find old form Doing well, distaff stakes could be ahead Proven Insurance Carriers Imagina Sweet Shani Augustin Stable • Sanna Hendriks Calvin Houghland • Jonathan Sheppard Equine Mortality / Trainer will opt for novice company early Second to a legend in Grand National Property / Liability
TELEPHONE: 615.383.9061 � 800.890.9061 � FACSIMILE: 615.383.0591 Lair World Away EMAIL: [email protected] � INTERNET: www.wade-egbert.com Mimi Voss • Tom Voss Brigadoon Stable • Doug Fout 40 Burton Hills Boulevard, Suite 170, Nashville, Tennessee 37215 Burst on the scene last fall Beat Gliding, Orison at Rappahannock
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 31 Hall of Fame trainer Sidney Watters, 90 Trainer Sidney Watters Jr. – an ac- complished jockey and a classy gentle- obituaries man who trained champions on both trainer Tom Voss in 2005. “He’s one sides of Thoroughbred racing, died of those old-time people who did the Feb. 14 of pneumonia. He was 90. right thing by the horse every time. He A member of the National Racing did things the old-fashioned way and Hall of Fame since 2005, the Monk- was a very modest kind of guy. He’d ton, Md., resident led the National win a big race and it was always ‘I Steeplechase Association standings six didn’t do it, the horse did it.’ He never times from 1948 through 1971 and wanted to take any credit.” trained jump champions Amber Diver Watters began his career as an ama- and Shadow Brook. His horses earned teur jockey, riding first on Maryland’s more than $1.6 million over jumps, timber circuit but branching out to and more than $16 million overall. His brush and hurdle races as well. He flat horses included champions Hoist rode in the Maryland Hunt Cup six Douglas Lees The Flag and Slew o’ Gold. times, and finished second in 1937. Trainer Sidney Watters (left), jockey Leo O’Brien and presenter Paul Mellon met in the winner’s circle Watters’ Hall induction came many (The Baltimore Sun noted that foot- at Middleburg. years after his career ended, but his age of Watters riding in the Hunt Cup achievements more than stood the and what kind of career he had.” Harford and was involved with stee- was used in Maryland, a horsey-set A Hall of Famer since 1971, Smith- plechasing, owning jumpers with Ar- test of time. His six championships film from 1940 starring Walter Bren- trail only Jonathan Sheppard (23) and wick won the Maryland Hunt Cup six cadia Stable and Phoenix Stable. nan.) times and is widely considered one of With Arcadia, he owned part of Buck Mikey Smithwick (10). Fed horses by Watters won the Carolina Cup, the powerful Clark family, he churned steeplechasing’s greatest horsemen. Jakes, winner of the Maryland Hunt then a timber race, in 1939, 1940, and Watters was a gunner on a B-24 Cup in 1995 and 1997, and Pinkie out quality Thoroughbreds – flat and 1941. Also in 1939, he rode Ferndale steeplechase – from bases at Belmont bomber during World War II, and Swear, who won the Iroquois in 2000, to victory in the International Gold launched his training career for the as well as the 1999 Zeke Ferguson and and Middleburg, Va. Cup and National Hunt Cup and The Baltimore native won 1,200 Mellon family at Rolling Rock, Pa. 2002 Atlanta Cup. With Phoenix, he backed up that success with a Virginia He won the first of his six steeple- owned horses such as Wood Whistle, races (flat and jumps), trained four di- Gold Cup win aboard Or Else. visional champions and regularly com- chase training championships in 1948 Cadence Count and Riff. “Mikey Smithwick said once that and backed that up with another in In addition to his wife, he is survived peted on the top Thoroughbred cir- he would get a lot of Sidney’s spare cuits during a career that lasted more 1951. by three sons (Frances Nash III, Thom- rides,” said Voss. “That’s how Mikey In 1954, he began his long associa- as and John), two daughters (Hallie than 50 years. said he got started. That’s a great indi- “He really liked his horses,” said tion with Stephen and Jane Clark and Austen Iglehart and Elaine Lord Igle- cator of what kind of guy Sidney was developed such horses as champion hart) and three grandchildren. steeplechasers Amber Diver and Shad- ow Brook, 2-year-old flat champion Hoist The Flag (1970) and multiple- stakes-winner Love Sign. Alfred H. Smith Jr., 74 Other training titles came in 1956, Businessman, horseman and hunts- Beresford Gallery 1961 (when he won 36 races), 1963 man Alfred H. Smith Jr. died Dec. 19. and 1971. He was 74. Sporting Art & Accessories of the Country Life Amber Diver won the 1963 champi- Born in Washington, Smith gradu- onship with victories in the Tom Roby, ated from Stanton Military Academy Georgetown, Indian River, Brook and in 1951 then attended the University Temple Gwathmey. In 1971, Watters of Maryland. Following a stint in the steered Shadow Brook to a steeple- Navy as a Seabee, he began a truck- chase championship thanks to wins ing operation connected to the family in the Lovely Night, Grand National, sand, gravel and concrete business, Brook and Temple Gwathmey. which he later joined. In addition, he also served as a director, and eventu- Portions of this article appeared in Steeple- ally chairman and CEO, of Citizens chase Times and The Saratoga Special in 2005. Bank of Maryland. Steeplechasing was another family occupation. Smith campaigned a string Ike Iglehart, 82 of homebred jumpers for close to four decades. His father, Alfred H. Smith Francis Nash “Ike” Iglehart Jr., Sr., owned and bred 1966 co-cham- World War II veteran, attorney and pion Tuscalee (who won an American horseman, died Dec. 28 at his home in Monkton, Md., of complications from record 37 jump races). His sister Mari- Parkinson’s disease. He was 82. lyn Ketts owned and bred Cherokee- Shortly after graduating from St. inthehills, winner of the 2004 AFLAC U.S. Championship. Steeplechase by Juli Kirk – 36x28 Oil on Panel – $4200 Paul’s School in New Hampshire, Ig- lehart was drafted into the Army and While his stable never boasted a saw action in the European Theater. standout to match those of his father Portraits of Man or Beast Wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, he or sister, it had its moments. Early stal- was awarded a Purple Heart and the wart Shod Over beat Tuscalee in the Several Artists to Choose From Bronze Star. 1971 Manly Steeplechase at Fair Hill; Iglehart married Harriet Stokes in Carlo Friend won the Middleburg 1947, graduated from Princeton Uni- Hunt Cup in 1987. Historic Unionville, PA versity in 1949 and earned a law de- Smith served as president of the gree from the University of Maryland Marlborough Hunt Club from 1965-67 (near Kennett Square) in 1952, where he was editor of the and Master from 1969-83, and served Maryland Law Review. as a steward on the NSA circuit. 610-347-1247 Dedicated to civil rights and open He is survived by his wife, Suzanne, spaces, Iglehart fought all his life to daughter Marianne McDaniel, stepson Beresfordgallery.com protect both. Michael Rick, stepdaughter Margo An avid horseman, Iglehart served Beall, sister Marilyn Ketts, five grand- as Master of Hounds for Elkridge- children and two great-grandchildren.
32 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Eventing News veterinary team on site, and the rapid response in both Up Spirit carries Montgomery cases, nothing could be done to save these horses and there are no known methods to have prevented these to World Cup win at Red Hills rare occurrences.” The 2008 Adequan USEA Gold Cup series kicked off March 14-16 at the Red Hills Horse Trials in Tal- A complete recap from Red Hills will appear in the next lahassee, Fla. edition of the Times. Gold Cup standings can be found on Clark Montgomery and Up Spirit won the CIC***- the USEA web site at www.useventing.com. W, which served as the “Advanced” Gold Cup divi- sion. Third after dressage, Montgomery gained the lead following the cross-country round and sealed Future event horses get to work the deal in the show-jumping ring, winning on a final Horses of tomorrow had a go March 11-12 at score of 65.5. Karen O’Connor and Allstar (71.7) fin- Sporting Days in Aiken, S.C., which featured two ished second, with Allison Springer and Arthur (75.4) Young Event Horse (YEH) competitions and five Fu- third. ture Event Horse (FEH) competitions. Mike Winter and Wonderful Will earned the blue Who’s A Star, a Irish hunter/Thoroughbred cross ribbon in the CIC*** with 86.4 points, beating out owned by Neal Camens, took the YEH 5-year-old di- Amy Tryon and Leyland (88.1) and Leslie Law and vision, under rider Courtney Cooper. Private Heart (89.6). Wolf Tone, a Thoroughbred owned by Irv Naylor, Phillip Dutton and Bailey Wick took the CIC**, the won the YEH 4-year-old class for Jane McDonald. “Intermediate” Gold Cup division, on a score of 49.6. Naylor is a major player on the NSA timber scene, so Jennie Brannigan and Cooper (51.6) came second, perhaps steeplechasing is in Wolf Tone’s future as well. while Dutton teamed with Mighty Mangaroo (61.3) Winners (with handler) in the FEH divisions: for third. 3-year-old colt/gelding: Accolade (Kimberly Keeton). Bonnie Mosser and Majestic Bear captured the 3-year-old filly: Optical Illusion (Juli Sillman). advanced division, while Kirsten Selvig and Ruse de 2-year-old colt: Dublin (Tamara Brown). Guerre took the intermediate. 2-year-old filly: Noble Spirit (Mary Quarles). The festive mood of the weekend was dampened Yearling filly: Onyx (Tamara Brown). considerably by the serious injury suffered by rider Darren Chiacchia (see story, page 35) and the death of two event horses from apparent heart attacks. Direct Merger, owned Janet Olsen and ridden by Veteran rider Todd hits comeback trail Jonathan Holling, collapsed and died of the cross- Mark Todd, voted Rider of the 20th Century by the country course while competing in the CIC***-W. FEI, continued his dramatic return to the sport with Holling was uninjured in the fall. A 12-year-old Thor- a win at the Manukau City Puhinui CIC*** March oughbred, Direct Merger and Holling paired for an 13-16 in Aukland, New Zealand, the first hurdle in his Emily Daily/USEA, Inc. eight-place finish at Rolex Kentucky last year. quest for another shot at the Olympics. Up Spirit and Clark Montgomery clear a jump at Red Hills. Leprechaun’s Rowdy Boy, owned and ridden by Riding NZB Gandalf, a 10-year-old New Zea- Missy Miller, fell while negotiating a combination in land Sport Horse, Todd finished with a score of 58.9, (1980, 1994, 1996) and five at Burghley (1987, 1990, the advanced division. Miller was apparently unin- six points better than runners-up John Twomey and 1991, 1997, 1999). He retired in 2000 after picking jured. Flaunt It (64.9). Jonathan Paget and Clifton Promise up an individual bronze at Sydney. Preliminary results of post-mortem examinations (72.1) took third. Still needing to qualify for this year’s games, Todd performed at the University of Florida College of Vet- The 52-year-old Kiwi came out of retirement in plans to head to Europe in April, aiming toward the erinary Medicine revealed that both horses suffered January with the intention of qualifying for the 2008 Saumur CCI*** in France May 15-18. pulmonary hemorrhage. games in Hong Kong. Todd’s numerous laurels include The report stated that: “Despite the excellent orga- individual gold medals from Los Angeles in 1984 and nization of the Red Hills Horse Trials, the competent Seoul 1988, not to mention three wins at Badminton – Compiled from USEA reports
Legendary race horses from Billy Barton to Seabiscuit trot into the Maryland Historical Society this spring when Brown Advisory presents, The Voss Family Artists of American Sporting Life April -July ,
reated by the National Vanderbilts, and Mellons CMuseum of Racing and commissioned him to paint Hall of Fame, the exhibition their famous thoroughbreds. celebrates Maryland’s Voss Oil paintings, watercolors, family. Franklin B. Voss (1880- pastels, prints, and sculptures 1953) was the leading American by Franklin and other members equestrian artist of his day. of the family capture the Premier racing families mystique of horses and the among them the Whitneys, thrills of equine sports.
e Maryland Historical Society W. Monument Street, Baltimore, MD Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, a.m. - p.m. Admission: -. Free First ursday of each month. Seabiscuit, Red Pollard up Call -- or visit www.mdhs.org Franklin B. Voss, , Courtesy of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Saratoga Springs
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 33 Make the call, Eventing Editor’s Note: United States Eventing Association President Kev- sage for that “silent generation”: now is the time to in Baumgardner posted this on the USEA Internet site this week after Guest column speak up. I challenge all Eventing professionals to take a serious injury to top event rider Darren Chiacchia and the deaths a stand on this critical issue and get involved. It’s now of two horses at the Red Hills Horse Trials. The points raised should or never. I promise that your voices will be heard. And resonate within eventing and other horse sports. I also have a message for those who would block con- structive change in the sport: Expect a fight. Neither I Eventers everywhere are deeply saddened by the nor the USEA is going to stand idly by while our sport accidents that occurred this past weekend at the Red continues down this path. Hills Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Fla. First and fore- Over the past several months, Darren Chiacchia has most, our thoughts, prayers, and heartfelt wishes for taken a leadership role in terms of looking at how we a speedy recovery go out to our dear friend and USEA can modify our national level courses, particularly at board member Darren Chiacchia. Darren is an ex- preliminary and training, to better suit the majority of traordinary horseman who has worked tirelessly on horses and riders competing at these levels. Through behalf of the sport of Eventing. We also send our con- his position as chairman of the Professional Horse- dolences to Jonathan Holling and Missy Miller and men’s Council, Darren worked with multiple USEA those connected with Direct Merger and Leprechauns BY kevin baumgardner committees and spearheaded the development of a Rowdy Boy. These beloved horses were the best of the “white paper” on potential changes to cross-country best – they will be missed. Furthermore, the USEA rec- the upper levels. Rather, because of the need for each courses that was presented to the Board of Governors ognizes the excellent work of the Red Hills Organizing level to serve as preparation for the next, the sport in Colorado Springs. Committee under very trying circumstances. has been altered all the way to the novice and train- Included among the concepts discussed in the white The sad news from Red Hills comes at a time when ing levels. This has left a large proportion of our core paper were fewer technical questions, more forgiving the USEA is taking a hard look at the sport of Event- USEA membership – the 90-plus percent of Eventers jump faces, fewer combinations, more realistic op- ing. During the December 2007 Convention in Colo- who will never compete above preliminary – asking timal speeds and the like. I appointed Darren as the rado Springs, the USEA reaffirmed its commitment to whether there is a place left for them in the sport. leader of a USEA task force charged with converting horse and rider safety as the paramount consideration Our members want courses that provide fun and the ideas in the white paper into concrete rule-change in the governance of our sport. The centerpiece of the challenge, and that leave horse and rider feeling elated proposals, to be submitted to the USEA Board of Gov- Convention, the all-day G10 Summit, was devoted ex- and wanting more. Unfortunately, this is all too fre- ernors and then forwarded on for action by the USEF clusively to a full and open discussion of the safety is- quently not the experience that is reported by many Eventing Technical Committee (chaired by my fellow sue among all of the stakeholders in the sport – riders, of our members. Cross-country should be a positive, USEA Governor Malcolm Hook). trainers, coaches, breeders, owners, officials, organiz- exhilarating and educational experience for an appro- During Darren’s convalescence, I have asked Gina ers, parents. A number of positive changes came out priately prepared horse and rider. That is particularly Miles, his close collaborator in developing the white of our discussions in Colorado Springs, including the true at the levels populated by adult amateurs and paper, to move forward with the task force’s work implementation of beefed-up qualification standards youngsters. on an expedited basis. A number of other prominent at preliminary level and higher that will go into effect And what about our horses? Does the gallop-col- figures in the sport, among them Kim Severson, have Dec. 1. lect-gallop-collect nature of many of our courses, com- also volunteered to become actively involved in this Having said that, I remain deeply concerned with bined with the rigid adherence to established optimal effort. I, too, will work closely with this task force. I the direction the sport has taken over the past sev- speeds despite the twistiness of many modern courses, believe it is equally important that all segments of our eral years. It would be unfair and counterproductive best serve the talents and abilities of our mounts? We membership forcefully express their views on the ne- to focus on any one incident, cross-country course, owe the highest duty of care and compassion to these cessity of the types of changes being addressed by this or horse trials. We should never jump to conclusions wonderful animals – in my view, the bravest and most task force. Please pass your thoughts on to me – I will regarding single incidents, let alone lose sight of the noble horses in the world. forward them to Gina, Kim and the other members of fact that there is, and will always be, an element of What can we do? The answer is plenty. To begin the task force. risk in any sport involving horses. And I will never with, we need the active participation of our mem- On a separate track, the USEA will immediately point fingers or be a party to personal attacks on any bership. When you are concerned with the direction investigate avenues to work with veterinarians and individual involved in the sport, no matter how much of the sport you love, it is not good enough to sit on equine research professionals to find ways to reduce I might disagree with his or her views. But the over- the fence and passively watch events unfold. Get in- the stressors on our horses and explore the mecha- all trends, particularly over the last three years, are volved! And I don’t mean just the “grass roots” USEA nisms of equine cardiovascular failure. If it makes unmistakable – and in my view totally unacceptable. membership (which judging by the large number of sense to do so, I will ask the USEA Board of Gover- I know that my concern that the sport has gotten off emphatic e-mails I have received in the last few days nors to commit funding to this effort. We reaffirm the track is shared by many of our members, amateurs is already energized). We also need the active involve- USEA’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of our and professionals alike. ment of a broad spectrum of our Eventing profession- equine partners as well as the safety of our riders. We seem to be in an ever-spiraling loop in which als, the riders, trainers and officials out there who do As many of you are aware, the USEA Board will be the aspect of cross-country that attracted most of us to not belong to the small coterie who have dominated conducting a strategic planning session in Leesburg, the sport in the first place, the joy and thrill of gallop- the direction of the sport over the past twenty years. I Va. this coming Friday and Saturday. This will be a ing rhythmically over jumps across country, has been believe there is a “silent generation” of Eventing pro- topic for the meeting and I will solicit additional input replaced with questions of extreme technicality and fessionals, most in their thirties or early forties, who on ways to move forward quickly and positively with a proliferation of combinations taken at show-jump are concerned with the current condition of the sport. these initiatives. speed. It appears that the driver behind this emphasis In large part, these professionals have not actively par- Again, this is no time for fence-sitting. If you be- on increased technical difficulty is the need to chal- ticipated in the governance of the sport or spoken up lieve it is time to stand up for your sport, please make lenge and sort out the elite combinations competing publicly, perhaps because they feel that their voices your voice heard and volunteer to be part of the solu- at the highest levels of the sport. The net effect of this won’t be heard or, worse, because they feel intimidat- tion. Please contact me at kbaumgardner@corrcronin. shift in emphasis, however, has not been confined to ed by the “old guard” at the top. Well, I have a mes- com or at (206) 621-1480. Jumping for Dollars Want to earn extra money?Have sales experience? Just think you want to try? 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34 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Chiacchia injured in fall at Red Hills Olympic event rider Darren Chi- Hill in 2003. Chiacchia placed fourth acchia suffered serious injuries when on Better I Do It in the 2007 Pan Am falling from his mount Baron Verdi at Games in Brazil. the fifth fence in the preliminary divi- Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., Chi- sion at Red Hills Horse Trials in Talla- acchia operates Independence Farm in hassee, Fla. March 15. Springville, N.Y. and Ocala, Fla. Chiacchia, 43, remained in critical He has volunteered as a board mem- condition in the intensive care unit at ber of the USEA and has chaired a num- Tallahassee Memorial Hospital with a ber of important committees including severe head injury. the Events Rating Task Force. He’s been He also suffered multiple fractures to a member of the Board of Governors of his ribs, bruising to his lungs and a par- the Equestrian Aid Foundation for sev- tially collapsed lung. On March 18, he eral years and serves on the Ambassa- briefly breathed on his own but was put dor Committee. back on the ventilator when he devel- The Equestrian Aid Foundation has oped a fever and pneumonia. Concerns set up an emergency designated fund in about spinal injuries have been allevi- Chiacchia’s name. To contribute please ated, according to reports. go to equestrianaidfoundation.org or A member of the 2004 American contact the Equestrian Aid Foundation, Olympic team, Chiacchia was gearing c/o Janise Gray, 228 Phillips Terrace, up for a run at the 2008 Olympics. He Union, NJ 07083. Karen Briggs achieved his biggest accomplishments • Other health and condition up- Top rider Darren Chiacchia (here riding Windfall at Wits End) was critically injured in a fall at the on Windfall who won the Pan American dates are being regularly posted on Chi- Red Hills Horse Trials. Games individual gold medal at Fair acchia’s Internet site eventrider.com.
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Important: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.comYou Must • [email protected] Sign & Date Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 35 Community Publications PO Box 549 Hockessin DE, 19707 New South New Englanders Dobbin, Ashton taking to winter sunshine, winning by katy carter Pine top Horse Trials Winters in New England are cold. Massachusetts residents Corinne Ash- February 29 – March 3 ton and Dobbin are not. The pair got “Dobbin is feeling good,” Ashton hot at the Pine Top Advanced Horse said. “My legs never touched his sides Trials in Thomson, Ga., without work- all the way around. It was a fun time, ing up a sweat. They finished on their now we’re moving onward.” dressage score of 27.3, more than 15 Ashton took advantage of the oppor- points ahead of runners-up Boyd Mar- tunity to spend most of the winter in Ai- tin and Neville Bardos (42.4), with Al- ken, S.C. In the past, she was only able lison Springer and Arthur third (44.1). to travel south for a few weeks. “I’m really enjoying this right now,” “I wish I’d have made it happen said Ashton. “There was not one anx- sooner. We are here with a small group ious moment the whole weekend. Dob- and my daughter is here as well,” Ash- Shannon Brinkman bin quite happily skipped around.” ton said. “It’s divine. How will they Dobbin (Corinne Ashton) added a victory at Pine Top to his list of achievements. Ashton and her chestnut Thorough- drag me back home now?” day. “He was jumping about six inches ited Dutton and Dean with preparing bred gelding have been a consistent It may take some doing. above the rails,” said Chambers. “He him for the next level. Chambers began team at advanced for several seasons, “Now I see why everyone does it, certainly proved that the jumps were training with them after his move to in- but have revved up the performances even those who don’t compete,” Ash- not too big for him.” termediate in 2006 led to several incon- over the past 18 months. The pair ton said of her sabbatical from the New Chambers cited his time with Far- sistent finishes. now has five advanced wins, as well as England winter. “The weather’s better gis as a fantastic experience, one that “We were either winning, placing top-10 placings at the two- and three- and more conducive to the horses. Dob- complemented his regular training well or getting eliminated,” he said. star levels. bin has enjoyed picking on the grass with coaches Phillip Dutton and Mara “Within the year or so I’ve been work- Ashton and Dobbin took the lead and sunbathing.” Dean. ing with Phillip and Mara, we’ve estab- with their strong run in Advanced Test “Joe took a strong interest in Rolly lished a solid record at intermediate, C, where, much to Ashton’s delight, • Nate Chambers and Rolling Stone and I, and we had at least 15 lessons were silver medalists at Young Riders, they earned two scores of 10. II rocked in their advanced debut, while we were in Wellington,” Cham- and won the AECs. This winter, we’ve “We did get a two for not performing emerging victorious in Advanced Test bers explained. “Joe focused more on the canter half pass,” she said. “It ended had two double cleans at intermediate A, Division 1. the correctness of my riding, instead of and now a win at advanced. They’ve up being a leg yield. We also had lots of “Rolly couldn’t have been any bet- focusing on the horse. I have definitely nines.” put so much effort into my training. I ter,” said Chambers, who admitted to felt a big difference in my riding and the just can’t thank them enough.” Becky Holder and Courageous Com- being a bit nervous the night before way my horse responds to me. We’d get et sat second after dressage and show the competition. “I couldn’t get to bed. to a jump perfectly and Rolly would jumping, while Springer and Arthur • Hollywood usually provides a hap- Once I got to the show and rode I was jump beautifully, but then Joe would py ending. Taking a cue from his name- turned in a double-clean show-jumping fine.” hammer me on my position. He went performance to hold on to third going sake, Hollywood the Thoroughbred Hailing from Middleburg, Va., into a lot of detail about where I was came through with a feel-good finish at into cross-country, which took place Chambers and his Hessian gelding put in supposed to be and how position affects Pine Top, as Kelly Sult took the second Sunday to accommodate the record a nice test to score 35.5 penalty points, everything.” division of advanced Test A – and her- number of entries at Pine Top. Time good enough to tie for fifth with Amy Position affects finish position as self – by surprise. Sult and Hollywood penalties on cross country proved a big Tryon and Coal Creek. The 20-year-old well. Chambers and Rolling Stone have influence on the final standings, anda was in good company behind veteran been double clean in show jumping in (partners for seven years) rallied from stop dropped Holder and Courageous international riders Kelli Temple, Dar- all three horse trials they’ve contested a mid-pack dressage score to sit eighth Comet to eighth. Ashton and Dobbin ren Chiacchia, Kim Severson and Leslie since returning to their winter base in following a clean show-jumping round. were the only horse-rider combination to Law. Aiken. Picking up just 1.6 penalty points in finish within the time, and subsequently “It was a good test,” he said. “We are “I wasn’t crazy about having Satur- cross country, she had reason to be the only pair to finish on the dressage still working through the flying changes day off, but my horse didn’t mind,” he pleased with the effort. After discover- score. Martin and Neville Bardos added and were a little late getting them.” said. “Once we were out on the course ing that every horse ahead of them had 6.4 time penalties to a clear jumping ef- Two weeks in Florida under the tu- Sunday, Rolly was a saint. The jumps earned significantly more, she had rea- fort for the red ribbon, while Springer telage of double show-jumping gold didn’t faze him at all, so I took a deep son to be pleased. A 21-year-old from and Arthur added 12.8 time penalties medalist Joe Fargis certainly proved a breath and took it all in.” Erie, Pa., Sult joined Jonathan Holling for the yellow ribbon. Jonathan Holling worthy endeavor as the pair leapt to a Clearly thrilled with his top finish his in Florida this winter, and it’s clear that finished fourth on Lion King II. double-clean stadium round later that first time at advanced, Chambers cred- she’s a perceptive student.
Quality Horses for Sale USEA Level IV Certified Instructor Novice—Intermediate Cross-Country Courses JAN BYYNY Purcellville, Va. (540) 338-0797 www.surefireeventing.com
Hoofclix
36 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008 How to get to Hong Kong by katy carter U.S. Olympic selection procedure explained Olympic selection procedure has always been a Selection Division, Bad- there is a list of performance-based characteristics se- source of great discussion in equestrian circles. What minton, Saumur, Jersey 2008 USEF lectors seek. These emphasized attributes are “dres- exactly are the steps taken by the candidates, selectors Fresh, Bramham, Bro- Eventing Selectors sage scores, fitness, clean jumping, boldness, rideabil- and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to mont (which hosts a ity and speed,” according to USEF documents. Other determine which horses and riders will represent the CCI*** this year) and Peter Green, Chairman characteristics include international experience and country in Hong Kong? Luhmuhlen. Selectors Bea diGrazia success rate and the prospect of winning an individual First, aspiring U.S. riders must meet a few mini- are at liberty to place Anne Getchell medal or contributing to a team medal. mum requirements. They must be citizens of the emphasis on perfor- Ann Taylor Other factors, such as horses’ ability to travel and Mark Weissbecker United States, possess a valid passport,and been born mance at four-star com- deal with environmental conditions in Hong Kong, get before or during 1990. Riders must be current USEF petitions. Alternate Selectors considered as well. High Performance members in good standing and fill How does the Winter Wash Bishop “The selectors are guided by the veterinary panel out an official application to be considered. Horses are Training List come into Gretchen Butts in regard to these issues and also advised by the Chef required to be recorded with USEF and also in good play? Is it a prerequi- Cindy Collier d’Equipe,” Morris said. “However, selectors’ recom- standing. Second, each horse/rider combination must stie for a trip to Hong Dorothy Crowell mendations are then approved by the High Perfor- earn a Certificate of Capability from the FEI by June Kong? Phyllis Dawson mance Committee, the High Performance Working 30. This certificate is obtained by completing a CCI “The Winter Train- Jim Graham Group, and the Executive Committee.” four-star with a qualifying score, or by combining Ralph Hill ing List is simply a list A complete list of committee members (and these qualifying scores at a CCI three-star and CIC three- Jack LeGoff of horses and riders who procedures) can be found at www. usef.org. star. Karen O’Connor will benefit from work- Christine Scarlett “Fifteen horses and riders will be nominated to the A qualifying score is a completion (in one of the ing with (U.S. coach aforementioned scenarios) with not less than 50 per- Short List on June 30,” Morris said. “There will be a Mark Phillips),” said mandatory outing in early July, either in the U.S. or cent in dressage; 20 jumping penalties on cross coun- Joanie Morris, USEF communications manager for try and not more than 90 seconds over the optimum England. Then they name five entries and the alter- High Performance. “There are horses and riders not nates. The number of alternates isn’t defined.” time; and no more than 16 jumping penalties in show on the Winter Training List that are eligible to be con- The team will be finalized by July 15, when the jumping. At CCI four-star events, riders and horses sidered for the team. Anyone who meets the qualifica- names must be submitted to the U.S. Olympic Com- have a little more leeway with the time – they must not tions may apply.” mittee. go more than 120 seconds over the optimum. And yes, there’s still time to send yours. Just make There is no “win-and-you’re-in” selection trial for sure it’s at the USEF office by March 31, and comes Before shipping to Hong Kong, all horses are re- the eventing team. Rather, there are a number of selec- equipped with the $300 late fee. quired to enter quarantine (tentatively scheduled to tion trials over a two-year period used to develop the After that, it all comes down to the selectors. The begin in Europe July 23). All athletes are required to short list for Hong Kong. The dozen events in 2007 in- Olympic team will be made up of a maximum five adhere to current anti-doping rules and willingly sub- cluded Rolex, Badminton, Saumur, Jersey Fresh, Fair horse/rider combinations. mit to drug testing. All horses selected for the team Hill, Luhmuhlen and the Pan American Games. The “Performance and soundness of horses and riders will undergo drug testing, which can happen at any 2008 events listed as Selection Trials are Rolex, Rolex is of course a main factor,” said Morris, who noted time during the selection process.
Toms War 1982-December 2007 He always tried
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Steeplechase & Eventing Times • 37 The ast Fence Editorial • Opinion • Comments • Columns
Times Editorial Solve the issues, get back on track for sport’s sake The horses showed up. The races occurred. The fans attended. The sponsors entertained themselves. Sunday, March 9, Little Everglades went on without National Steeplechase Associa- tion sanction and precious little changed. Or so it seemed. We can’t help but be saddened by the move, even if we understand it. Organizers of Little Ev- erglades and the Queen’s Cup (set for April 26) are frustrated with the NSA and its direction. They want better services. They want value. They want more. But everybody wants the sport to be bigger and more important. We totally understand the frustration of the meets and others in the sport, but we can’t agree with NSA meets dropping off the sanctioned schedule. Steeplechase racing barely registers on the lifestyle meters of most Americans. Thirty-odd race meets do not make much of an impact when compared to mainstream sports, movies, con- certs, shopping malls, footraces, church, youth leagues, trips to the YMCA, hikes, picnics and all the other things people do. That means jump racing can little afford to divide itself – no matter what the issues are. Little Everglades and the Queen’s Cup should be proud of what they pulled off. They attracted attention from the sport’s leaders and created something close to sanction with proper stew- ards, video, officials, horses, owners, trainers, jockeys, race course and more. They also made Tod Marks NSA leadership look inward and make an invest- Brigadoon Stable’s Gliding will represent the United States in the world’s richest steeplechase – the Nakayama ment in the sport’s future. Lou Raffetto would Aiming High. Grand Jump – next month in Japan. not be carrying an NSA business card if the two meets hadn’t opted to give up their sanction. But it’s still a shame. Sanction means legitimacy, rules, integrity, a comfort zone for everyone involved. Without sanction, steeplechasing becomes marginalized. Don’t think, and Or more marginalized. In Saratoga each year, steeplechasing gets criti- cized for a lack of data (video replay mainly but oth- er concerns too) for handicappers but what if those same critics heard of two race meets worth $100,000 each with no available data? Equibase does not rec- win confidence game ognize non-NSA races and therefore does not dis- “Your horse will know if you’re afraid,” my father patch chartcallers to meets like Little Everglades or said. “He’ll either think there’s a reason to be scared Queen’s Cup. There is no data, no chart, only a list- or he’ll take advantage of your fear.” ing on a point-to-point Internet database. I understood the concept of contagion. I didn’t un- Riding with Annie What happens if an owner refuses to pay a derstand why anybody would be scared on a horse’s By Annie Hawkins jockey fee at either of the two meets? It’s hap- back. It was the most exciting place in the world. Sure, pened and, eventually, jockeys can ask the NSA I fell off. I stood up. I climbed back on. No big deal. Her pronouncement irritated me, the way a grain for help in such cases. The NSA has in the past My riding teachers sometimes whispered about old of sand might irritate an oyster. How did she know? refused entries from such owners until payment riders who had lost their nerve. It wasn’t a minor in- Was she psychic? Did she read the Magic 8-Ball every was made. convenience, like losing your car keys. It was an incur- morning before she came to the barn? The races at Little Everglades were clean able affliction. I didn’t ask. It’s not advisable to challenge the and without incident, but little would prevent a Lose your job, your money, your reputation, even person who signs your paycheck. So I simply said, jockey from riding more aggressively there than your mind. But don’t lose your nerve or else you’ll be “Hmmm,” which is what I often say when confronted at races on a bigger circuit. A suspension from a stuck on your own two feet, standing by the rail and with reportage that may be erroneous. schedule of two race meets does not match that flapping your gums about the old days when the fences Paddy Neilson had a different take on nerve. of a ban from a circuit of 30. The same goes for were bigger, the horses were faster and the riders were “Confidence ebbs and flows in everyone,” said the trainers. Little Everglades and Queen’s Cup have better. It was a fate worse than death. veteran timber rider, who made 21 trips postward in drug rules, but do not have the potential penalty Fast forward 40 years. I rode for an older horse- the Maryland Hunt Cup. of a full circuit of racing. woman in Southern Pines who confessed that she had His perspective sounded more realistic than the dire What of those fans and sponsors? On the sur- lost a piece of her nerve with every passing decade. prediction of an amateur soothsayer. See editorial page 39 “You’ll see,” she declared. “It’ll happen to you, too.” See hawkins page 39
38 • Steeplechase & Eventing Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Wednesday, March 19, 2008
And think the unthinkable for a moment. A horse does them perfectly. But the NSA is the sanctioning gets injured and must be euthanized. A jockey falls body – even if it needs to improve what it does. Editorial – and ends up seriously injured. A loose horse gallops And face it, the NSA softballed the two meets for Continued from page 38 through the crowd. Steeplechasing operates in public 2008, in hopes they will rejoin the circuit. If they stay – and is therefore open to scrutiny. Sanctioning adds out in 2009 and beyond, the split may become more face, they would barely notice whether the NSA was credibility and provides at least a first level of answers contentious. Does the NSA encourage horsemen not involved or not. Think bigger, draw out the model and regarding licensing and procedures. to attend? Does it do the same to officials? Does the connect the dots. Would a sponsor prefer to be con- One of those factors does not make sanctioning NSA urge drug-testing facilities and veterinarians not nected to an event that’s part of a national circuit or necessary for survival. Combined, they make a good to serve the two meets? Who ultimately controls use an independent entity? case. And listing them does not imply that the NSA of the National Fence? And on and on and on. No- body wants those arguments to begin and both sides should be commended for the restraint showed this The words echoed in my ears like a wicked step- off-season. mother’s spell. I felt irritated all over again. Hawkins – Spells aren’t tattoos. I remembered a line from the Now, stay restrained and solve the issues. Check Continued from page 38 movie Bull Durham. Kevin Costner plays Crash Da- the personality differences at the door, listen to each vis, the Durham Bulls catcher who has been brought in other and move beyond this dispute. Fast-forward another 10 years. Yes, a decade. I was to coach Nuke LaLoosh, the rookie pitcher played by excited when I drove to the barn. The same excitement Tim Robbins. Nuke is a few beers short of a six pack • • • I felt as a girl when my dad drove me to my weekly but he has a gift for pitching and a scary fastball he When it was formed in 1994, Steeplechase Times riding lesson. It was a mild February afternoon and hasn’t learned to control. drew a coverage line. Non-sanctioned races did not I was going to put the tack on my horses for the first The Bulls are on the practice field. Crash is behind covered. Not because we didn’t like them. We just time since November. the plate and Nuke’s on the mound, unnerved. He’s couldn’t cover them all. Dozens of point-to-points take I jumped on Eddie first and rode out to the big field been throwing wild. He’s about to wind up for an- place in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee next to the barn. I was happy to be back in the saddle. other pitch and Crash says, “Don’t think, Meat.” and beyond. The newspaper just didn’t have the space I was happy to be back in Unionville, too, instead of Thinking wasn’t going to save me from buying or manpower to cover them all – and still doesn’t. This slogging through snowdrifts at home in Vermont. The another piece of Chester County real estate. I already spring, we have covered point-to-points on our Inter- sun was shining and I couldn’t take my eyes off the own plenty and I’m glad I don’t have to pay taxes on net site (see www.st-publishing.com). tawny-gold hills. I was riding like a tourist. it. I booted Eddie in the belly and growled the meanest In the newspaper, we cover the NSA. That’s why Eddie spooked at every dead leaf that fluttered in growl I could muster. there’s no Little Everglades recap article in this edition the woods an eighth of a mile away. He looked askance “Don’t think, Meat.” and that’s why there won’t be a Queen’s Cup article ei- at the gardener’s small brushfire on the other side of I was speaking to myself but the horse didn’t know. ther (unless the meet returns to the circuit). We didn’t the fence and gawked at the filly who was enjoying Lucky for me he is easily intimidated. He took a deep want to make that call. Nor did we do it hastily. These an easy canter in the next paddock. He seemed to be breath, dropped his head and walked forward with a two meets are more than point-to-points, but the races experiencing a steering malfunction. The spooks, the loop in the reins. I took a deep breath, too, and went don’t count. And that’s what counts. gawking and the dodgy steering didn’t worry me. The back to gazing at the hills. As an example, apprentice jockey Will Haynes big hump in his back did. Ebb and flow. No big deal. Don’t think, Meat. Ride should have reached a life milestone by winning the My confidence quotient dipped as fast as my heart forward. The back of a horse is still an exciting place first race of his career – aboard Bounding Cat at Lit- rate rose. I should’ve given him drugs. I should’ve put to be. tle Everglades. As part of the NSA, the achievement him on a longe line. I should’ve asked a brave young Once a steeplechase regular, Annie Hawkins lives would have been celebrated, the statistic noted. In- lad to get on him. And “should’ve” wasn’t going to in Grafton, Vt., with a cast of animals including two stead, Haynes is still a 10-pound apprentice with zero keep me in the saddle. Thoroughbreds. In addition, she is an award-winning official wins and a note on a website insted of a story “It’ll happen to you, too.” writer and noted storyteller. in a newspaper.
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