We conclude today our series revisiting some favorite pictures from the 2015 mid-Atlantic racing year, taking a season-by-season approach, in our Year in Pictures 2015 series.
Fall brought the Maryland Million and De Francis Dash, West Virginia Breeders Classics and the Charles Town Oaks, and Pennsylvania’s biggest racing days at Parx.
Among the fall stories:
[su_list icon=”icon: check”]- Major state-bred racing days brought big crowds and robust betting to their tracks, with trainer Jeff Runco winning four on West Virginia Breeders Classics night at Charles Town and a week later Phlash Phelps logging an impressive win in the Maryland Million Turf. Â Later, the state faced challenges when the result of a Maryland Million race ended up being decided by the state Racing Commission after the winner had a positive for a prohibited substance.
- Fasig-Tipton’s fall yearling sale took place in October, and though some impressive sires brought big prices, overall the market was soft.
- Parx Racing’s “fall festival,” which brought Saratoga-sized purses to Bensalem, came to a quiet ending when a case of equine herpesvirus put the track under quarantine, and management dropped purses back to closer-to-normal levels.
- Laurel Park held a town hall meeting that was part pep rally to update racing folks on the track’s progress and plans.
- In Virginia, the plot thickened again, as Colonial Downs announced it would not race the one day it had earlier planned and sued the state Racing Commission.
- Charles Town and longtime track announcer Jeff Cernik unexpectedly parted ways in October, with Paul Espinosa later announced as the replacement.
- Fan favorite Ben’s Cat will return in 2016, trainer/breeder/owner King Leatherbury said.
FALL IN PICTURES
Hip 298, a filly by Uncle Mo, brought a high bid of $150,000. Photo by The Racing Biz.
At the Fasig-Tipton Yearling Sale. Photo by The Racing Biz.
Frosted #3 with Joel Rosario riding won the $1,000,000 Grade II Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania on Saturday September 19, 2015. Second place finisher was Iron Fist #4 and Mike Smith Photo By Barbara Weidl/EQUI-PHOTO
A yearling checks out the sale scene. Photo by The Racing Biz.
Stoweshoe took the Henry Mercer Memorial at Charles Town. Photo by Coady Photography.
Charitable Annuity flew home to take the Classic. Photo by Coady Photography.
Victor Carrasco’s first win since returning from injury came in the Maryland Million Turf aboard Phlash Phelps. Photo by The Racing Biz.
Ben’s Cat (left) and Jack’s in the Deck slugged it out in the Maryland Million Sprint, Jack’s in the Deck prevailing by a nose. Photo by The Racing Biz.
This many. Photo by The Racing Biz.
Bugler strategy. Photo by The Racing Biz.
Monster Sleeping took the Maryland Million Ladies for the second time in three years. Photo by the Maryland Jockey Club.
Victor Carrasco had a big day with five winners. Photo by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.
No daylight between Distaff winner Stopchargingmaria and late-closing Stellar Wind. Photo by © Breeders’ Cup/Matt Herp2015
Exaggerated. Photo by The Racing Biz.
American Pharoah was a blur in taking the Classic wire-to-wire. Photo by © Breeders’ Cup/Todd Buchanan 2015
Bullets Fever edged Aye a Song to take the Tri-State Futurity Saturday at Charles Town. Photo by Coady Photography.
King Leatherbury (left) and Crab Feast emcee Scott Wykoff share a laugh. Photo by Jim McCue.
Scott Wykoff (left) talks with Kenny Taylor, co-owner of Xtra Heat. Photo by Jim McCue.
Awesome Speed prevailed in a hard-fought running of the James F. Lewis, for two-year-olds. Photo by The Racing Biz.
Tim Ritvo (center) at Maryland’s town hall meeting in 2015. Photo by The Racing Biz.
Paddock weathervane. Photo by The Racing Biz.
Heads apart. Photo by The Racing Biz.
Cathryn Sophia dazzled in winning the Gin Talking at Laurel Park. Photo by The Racing Biz.
Lady Sabelia was a clear winner in today’s Willa on the Move Stakes. Photo by Laurie Asseo.
Bird of Trey was much the best in winning the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes at Parx Racing.
Behrnik’s Bank was awfully lonely in the Blue Mountain Juvenile Fillies, winning by 13. Photo by B & D Photography.
Skeleton Crew (right) finished fifth in his final start. Photo by The Racing Biz.
Paul Espinosa. Photo by Coady Photography.
Ravenheart held off Flash McCaul in the Maryland Juvenile Futurity. Photo by The Racing Biz.
Noteworthy Peach was much the best in the Jennings Handicap. Photo by The Racing Biz.
Athena gets through to win the Thirty Eight Go Go. Photo by The Racing Biz.
Young Flash McCaul fan. Photo by The Racing Biz.
