03
Jun
Jun
Pimlico’s final day to feature five stakes
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The Biz / 9 years
- 0
- 2 min read
Closing day at Pimlico June 26 will feature three Virginia-bred and two Maryland-bred stakes.
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02
Jun
Jun
Bill Backer’s lasting legacy
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Nick Hahn / 9 years
- 0
- 6 min read
Ad exec-horse breeder-conservationist Bill Backer, who died May 13, was a “renaissance man” whose legacy, friends said, will be felt for generations.
20
May
May
25 years ago, Hansel kicked off Virginia renaissance
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Nick Hahn / 9 years
- 0
- 6 min read
“You give me 90 days, we could win a race at Charles Town,” says Frank Shipp, who managed ’91 Preakness winner Hansel’s career.
17
May
May
Owner-breeder William Backer passes
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Frank Vespe / 9 years
- 1
- 3 min read
William Backer, the superstar advertising executive who was a longtime fixture in Virginia Thoroughbred breeding, has died at age 89.
02
Apr
Apr
Va-bred Valid takes G3 Skip Away
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The Biz / 9 years
- 0
- 3 min read
Valid, the hard-hitting Virginia-bred trained by Marcus Vitali, controlled throughout to win today’s G3 Skip Away Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
22
Mar
Mar
Virginia Equine Alliance announces future plans
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The Biz / 9 years
- 2
- 4 min read
The Virginia Equine Alliance announced plans for 2016 and 2017, with a two-week Thoroughbred meet slated for Morven Park in 2017.
02
Mar
Mar
VRC chief Bernie Hettel to step down
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The Biz / 9 years
- 0
- 2 min read
Virginia Racing Commission executive secretary Bernie Hettel will step down, probably by the end of March, the Commission announced.
09
Feb
Feb
VTA stallion auction offers huge variety
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Nick Hahn / 10 years
- 0
- 3 min read
The Virginia Thoroughbred Association (VTA) has nearly 120 stallion seasons on offer for its annual two-day auction, which begins Wednesday.
12
Jan
Jan
ODTHA: Jacobs not to blame for Virginia impasse
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Tim Valente / 10 years
- 8
- 7 min read
In this open letter, the Old Dominion horsemen’s group (ODTHA) calls on Virginia to allow two different horsemen groups to follow two different paths.
09
Jan
Jan
Colonial Downs to sell off OTB properties
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The Biz / 10 years
- 3
- 2 min read
Colonial Downs announced it would sell off the properties of its former OTBs, marking what the company called “the end of an era for Virginia horse racing.”