Year in pictures: Summer 2015 * The Racing Biz

Over the next few days, leading up to the New Year, we’ll revisit some favorite pictures from the 2015 mid-Atlantic racing year, taking a season-by-season approach, in our Year in Pictures 2015 series.

In the summer, the region’s tracks held some of their biggest events, among them the Haskell, Cotillion, and Delaware Handicap.

Among the summer stories:

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The Delaware Handicap took place with Sheer Drama, who went on to be a force in the distaff division, outfighting her rivals to get the money. But there was controversy, too, as The Racing Biz broke the news that Princess of Sylmar — the 2014 Del ‘Cap runner-up — had tested positive for a betamethasone overage following that race but was ultimately not disqualified.
Triple Crown champ American Pharoah returned to the region, taking a facile victory in the G1 Haskell at Monmouth Park and giving Garden State racing a shot in the arm.
For the second straight year, Virginia’s racing industry decamped to Maryland, holding a day of racing for Virginia-breds, plus three graded stakes, at Laurel Park. For the first time ever, a Virginia-bred — One Go All Go — won the (former) Virginia Derby. Meanwhile, the mud wrestling involving Colonial Downs continued, even as Virginia’s horsemen moved forward with their country racing model.
Maryland’s breeders held their first-ever Maryland Pride day, a day of races restricted to horses bred in the Free State — and it exceeded expectations.
I’m a Chatterbox — twice a hard luck loser in Grade 1 events — finally broke through with a solid victory in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx Racing.

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SUMMER IN PICTURES

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Kharafa won the $75,000 Elkwood Satkes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey on Saturday July 4, 2015. Photo By Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

Tightend Touchdown prevailed by a head in the G3 Parx Dash Saturday. Photo By Barbara Weidl /EQUI-PHOTO

Sheer Drama (outside) outfought Frivolous to win the Delaware Handicap. Photo by The Racing Biz.

Syntax won the G3 Kent Stakes.

Lady Shipman dazzled in winning the Klassy Briefcase by six. Photo By Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

Table Jumper was all by her lonesome in winning the sixth at Laurel. Photo by The Racing Biz.

Stormy Regatta rallied late to nose out Rachel Wall in the first division of the Little Silver. Photo by Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

Saddling at Saratoga. Photo courtesy of Arch Kingsley.

Sheldon Russell. Photo by The Racing Biz.

American Pharoah wins the Haskell. Photo By Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO.

American Pharoah at Monmouth Park.

Abel Castellano and his boys celebrate his win in the G3 Matchmaker. Photo by Dan Tordjman.

Chrome Mine is one of two fillies that give trainer David Walters a strong hand in the distaff division at Charles Town. Photo by Coady Photography.

King Leatherbury signs autographs before the induction ceremony.

Newly minted Hall of Famers, including (from left), A. G. Vanderbilt, III, accepting for his father; Clark Shaffer,accepting for his great-grandfather H. G. Bedwell, who trained Billy Kelly; Chris Antley’s mother Shelly; King Leatherbury; and Harry Deitchman and Ken Taylor, accepting for Xtra Heat.

Expected Ruler and Wilmer Garcia shocked the bettors by taking Monmouth Park’s Tyro Stakes, paying $96 to win. Photo By Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

Trainer Liam D. Benson agonized while sweating out an inquiry before stewards left his horse, Expected Ruler, in first in the Tyro. Photo By Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

Work underway on the paddock at Parx Racing.

Monster Sleeping proved best in the Jameela. Photo by Laurie Asseo.

Phlash Phelps held off Eyeplayeveryday to win the Find Stakes. Photo by Laurie Asseo.

Ben’s Cat. Photo by The Racing Biz.

Ben’s Cat makes his move. Photo by The Racing Biz.

Trainer Marcus Vitali (L) and Jockey Nik Juarez celebrate after Juarez guided the Vitali trained Valid to victory in the $150,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes. It was the first stakes win for Juarez. Photo By Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

Longtime Maryland horseman oward Bender passed away in September.

Roy and Gretchen Jackson (far right, second from right), joined jockey Daniel Centeno in the winner’s circle after Exaggerated won the Oakley. Photo by Laurie Asseo.