All posts by Darrell Wood

The following article appeared in the Culpeper Star-Exponent February 16. A tried-and-true equestrian tradition leading up to the Virginia Gold Cup, the Annual Rappahannock Hunt Point-to-Point Race will be held Saturday, March 2, in Boston, Virginia. Gates open at 10 a.m. for the horse races, open to the public, taking place on the grass at … Continue reading Virginia Steeplechase’s Race to the Gold Cup Kicks Off March 2 →

Maryland Native Reaches Milestone on 3YOF Determined Driver D Hatman Thoroughbreds’ Determined Driver reeled in favored I’m a Cutie Pie in deep stretch and pulled clear to give jockey Forest Boyce her 1,000th career victory Friday at Laurel Park. Determined Driver ($6.20), a Maryland-bred daughter of Dialed In making her third career start and first … Continue reading Popular Colonial Downs Jockey Forest Boyce Collects 1,000th Career Victory Feb. 9 at Laurel →

Virginia horse racing fans got to celebrate a milestone event Wednesday February 7 as a ceremonial groundbreaking for the magnificent bronze Secretariat “Racing into History’ monument took place in Ashland on the outer edge of the Randolph Macon College campus. The ceremony took place under gorgeous sunny skies, and a large, appreciative crowd was on … Continue reading Secretariat Monument Groundbreaking Takes Place in Ashland on Feb. 7 →

Racing applications for the upcoming spring harness racing season at Virginia’s Shenandoah Downs are now available online and are due to the racing office by March 2.  A 7-week meet will run from April 6 – May 19 with racing scheduled every Saturday and Sunday at 1:05 PM. First post on May 4 (Kentucky Derby … Continue reading Shenandoah Downs Racing Applications for 2024 Spring Meet Are Now Available    →

Portion of proceeds will benefit Charlottesville non-profit Camp Holiday Trails (Charlottesville, VA – February 5, 2024) – Albemarle County’s signature Steeplechase racing event will celebrate its 45th running with the return of the Foxfield Races on Saturday, April 27. Tickets are on sale now at foxfieldraces.com. Foxfield will once again partner with Camp Holiday Trails, a Charlottesville non-profit that … Continue reading Tickets On Sale Now for 45th Running of Historic Foxfield Races on Saturday, April 27 →

The following appeared in the Northen Virginia Daily January 24th and was written by Ashley Miller. Standing in his barn, surrounded by horses, Steve Wetzel never thought he’d trade in his cattle farm for a life of horse training. “There’s a joy to it,” Wetzel said looking at his farm. “To work with them all … Continue reading After Winning Contest at Shenandoah Downs, Farmer Trades Cattle for Harness Horses →

(WOODSTOCK, VA — 1/25/2024) —- The Virginia Harness Horse Association announced that $700,000 in Certified bonus monies for foals of 2020 and 2021 will be distributed from races held in 2023 — a total of $300,000 for the 2020 crop, from 33 individual awards, and $400,000 for the 2021 crop, from 51 individual awards.  Among … Continue reading $700,000 In VA Certified Residency Program Awards Distributed From 2023 Standardbred Races   →

Virginia Gold Cup Adds a Grade 1 Stakes to its May 4 Date Virginia’s horse racing event calendar for 2024 is set and in addition to dates at Colonial Downs (thoroughbred) and Shenandoah Downs (harness), seven spring Point-to-Point (PTP) meets along with seven National Steeplechase Association (NSA) sanctioned meets –- three in spring and four … Continue reading Virginia 2024 Racing Schedule Includes Seven NSA Sanctioned Jump Meets & Point-to-Points   →

The Secretariat For Virginia Committee (SECVA) of the Ashland Museum has announced the dates for the groundbreaking and dedication ceremonies for the “Secretariat Racing Into History” monument.   The groundbreaking ceremony for the Reynolds Family Plaza at Randolph-Macon College, where the magnificent bronze will be permanently installed, will take place on Wednesday February 7 at the … Continue reading Secretariat “Racing Into History” Monument Groundbreaking & Dedication Dates Set →