All posts by Darrell Wood

Mark your calendars for the annual VTA Stallion Season Auction on February 14. Open bidding is available that day from 10 AM – 8 PM and can be made by phone at 434-977-3716— no bids will be accepted by e-mail. Final bidding will be conducted the next day, on Thursday February 15, among the top … Continue reading Virginia Thoroughbred Association Stallion Auction Set for Wednesday February 14 →

Virginia’s breeders benefitted from a continued business boom in 2023 courtesy of Historical Horse Racing (HHR) revenues at seven Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums located around the state and the continued renaissance of the Colonial Downs thoroughbred meet in New Kent which is expected to grow to 40 days in 2025. Virginia breeder’s bonus monies distributed in … Continue reading Virginia Breeders Share in $1,850,000 in Bonus Award Monies in 2023  →

Dickinson will be instrumental in the daily management of the course in New Kent, Virginia, while working closely with Track Superintendents on development and maintenance at other CDI-owned racetracks. Churchill Downs Incorporated (“CDI” or the “Company”) announced Tuesday that Leif Dickinson has been named Director of Track Operations at Colonial Downs Racetrack. In this role, … Continue reading Leif Dickinson Named Director Of Track Operations At Colonial Downs →

The following appeared in The Racing Biz January 5th and was written by Frank Vespe. A pair of reports commissioned by the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority released Jan. 5 outline a very different future for Maryland racing. How precisely to get to that future? That’s a bit less clear. That future portends a consolidation … Continue reading Maryland Racetrack Operating Authority Report Released →

The Virginia steeplechase community lost a pillar on December 18 as Will O’Keefe, an iconic race caller and chairman of the Virginia Fall Races, passed away at the age of 76. Condolences go out to Will’s family and friends. The following story appeared in Bloodhorse.com. The Virginia Fall Race Committee announced Dec. 20 the death … Continue reading Longtime Virginia Steeplechase Race Caller Will O’Keefe Passes Away →

Congratulations to Ballybristol Farm’s Andi’Amu who is retiring after 49 career starts and earnings of $544,400! The 13-year-old gelding, trained by Neil Morris, reached the winners circle 15 times — including a trio of Virginia Gold Cup victories, a Steeplethon win at Great Meadow, and a triumph in the National Sporting Museum & Library Stakes … Continue reading Andi’amu Retires to Kentucky Horse Park Hall of Champions →

Gregory Pecs, one of the most successful sires in Virginia’s 26-year history of pari-mutuel harness racing, passed away earlier this month at the age of ​​21. A son of champion trotter Muscles Yankee, Gregory Pecs produced three Virginia Breeder’s champions and a total of 17 top-three finishers in the annual two and three-year-old title matches which … Continue reading Gregory Pecs, Successful Virginia Standardbred Sire, Passes Away at the Age of 21 →

Shenandoah Downs completed its 2023 pari-mutuel harness racing season in Woodstock, Virginia on October 29. Believe it or not, this was the eighth consecutive season that pacers and trotters competed over the half mile oval since the Virginia Equine Alliance invested close to $1 million in track renovations there in 2016, to turn what was … Continue reading Shenandoah Down 2023 — By The Numbers →

–Virginia Racing Commission December 6, 2023 meeting update written by Nick Hahn (as it appeared in The Racing Biz)- The summer meet at Colonial Downs in 2024 will look very similar to the one run earlier this year. But what comes next could be pretty interesting. The Virginia Racing Commission approved December 6 a request … Continue reading For Colonial Downs, More of the Same Sounds Good →