The filly Swiss Skydiver beat Authentic in the Preakness while Graham Motion had four seconds in stakes on the undercard

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October 4, 2020

By Staff Writers

BALTIMORE, Md.--Robby Albarado, basically washed up after multiple serious injuries and the third choice to ride Swiss Skydiver, made the critical move, diving the filly inside on the turn into the stretch, that shot the filly past the favored Authentic and into the lead in the Preakness.

Swiss Skydiver beats Authentic in the PreaknessPeter Callahan’s filly Swiss Skydiver beat Authentic with second-fastest time in Preakness history, becoming the sixth filly to win the 1 3/16-mile classic for 3-year-olds.

She finished in 1:53.28, second only to 1973 Triple Crown champion Secretariat’s 1:53 clocking.

In other races at Pimlico, Graham Motion had four seconds in stakes on the undercard as well as a fourth, good results but also very frustrating.

Liz Merryman had a homebred run third in one of those stakes.

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Letter to Eventing Nation & USEA

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September 19, 2020

By SARA CAVANAGH

The excellent letter below to Eventing Nation and USEA was submitted to The Horse for publication.

Many of the phone calls and texts received by the Editor of The Horse suggested that eventers contact their sponsors to remove advertising from Eventing Nation and sponsors from USEA in an effort to have them change itheir position on the name of Plantation Field.

To: Leslie Wylie – Editor-in-Chief @ Eventing Nation

Ron Burke – CEO – USEA

Max Corcoran – President – USEA

Lady & Gentlemen ,

What a sad state of affairs, when organizations such as yours, in your rush to appear politically correct would make a unilateral decision not to use the proper name for an event without first educating yourselves as to the origins for the name.

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Statement from USEA on the loss of Plantation Field

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September 17, 2020

By SARA CAVANAGH

UNIONVILLE, Pa.--The Horse of Delaware Valley received the statement at the bottom of this article from USEA following a telephone conversation with Rob Burk during which he said the USEA had worked all along to come to a mutually satisfactory resolution as to the use of the name Plantation Field.

Plantation FieldHowever, in a letter to Eventing Nation dated Sept. 13 and signed by Rob Burk that The Horse received from a lawyer, Burk stated, "For your information, the USEA will be making clear moves to remove the use of the word plantation from our media, marketing and communications. Those moves will be made after we have been able to go through the proper channels and notify all involved with the competition and important stakeholders."

The Horse was told that this was the final straw that caused Plantation Field owner Cuyler Walker to terminate the lease.

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Plantation Field Eventing doomed because of USEA's ridiculous political correctness gone overboard

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September 16, 2020

By SARA CAVANAGH

UNIONVILLE, Pa.--Following the lead of Eventing Nation, U.S. Eventing Association has condemned the name Plantation Field as a racial slur, taking political correctness to a new and ridiculous high.

The property along Route 82 in Unionville has been in the ownership of the Plunkett Stewart, Hannum and Walker families for generations, and about 80 years ago, a Boy Scout troop approached the Stewart family, saying it would like to do something to earn a merit badge, and asking if it could plant trees on the property.

Trees were planted in the field and the name Plantation Field was born. 

Although not technically disallowing Plantation Field to hold events, refusing to use the name, choosing instead to call it P Field, makes it sound like using the N word, thus forever tying the Stewart, Hannum and Walker families to slavery.

To protect his families' names, Plantation Field owner Cuyler Walker has terminated eventing's lease on the property.

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It's A Journey wins thriller in Mrs.Penny, Jockey Mychel Sanchez and Trainer Ed Coletti Each Win Two

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September 8, 2020

By Staff Writers

BENSALEM, Pa.--It’s a Journey captured the afternoon’s tightest finish, while Jockey Mychel Sanchez and trainer Ed Coletti each won two stakes and Midtowncharlybrown won his second straight Banjo Picker Sprint on Labor Day Monday at Parx Racing at the 20th renewal of Pennsylvania’s Day at the Races.

Its A Journey winning the Mrs. Penny Stakes (Photo by EquiPhoto)The holiday program, run strictly for horses bred in Pennsylvania, featured five $80,000 stakes for state-breds with purses for the day totaling $740,000.

The Mrs. Penny Stakes for fillies and mares three and up at one mile and one-sixteenth on the turf produced the most exciting finish of the afternoon.

It’s a Journey, brilliantly ridden by Mychel Sanchez, came from the back of the pack, split horses late and got up to win in the final strides.

This durable mare was bought by EQB at a 2-year-old in training auction,

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Iranistan wins $50,000 Saratoga steeplechase, Sheppard and Fisher tie for lead in Trainer, Races Won

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September 7, 2020

By Staff Writers

SARATOGA, N.Y.--Iranistan, owned by Ed Swyer's Hudson River Farms, trained by Jonathan Sheppard and ridden by Darren Nagle, won the $50,000, 2 3/8 mile Handicap Steeplechase at Saratoga on Labor Day, Sept. 7.Iranistan draws off  to win by 5 1/4 lengths at Saratog (Photo by Tod Marks)

Saddled by assistant trainer Keri Brion, Iranistan sat second behind Bodes Well for the first two circuits of the track, beginning to move on the last turn, going to the front into the stretch and pulling away to win easily by 5 1/4 lengths over New Member, trained by Jack Fisher, with Go Get the Basil, also trained by Sheppard, finishing third.

With this win, Sheppard moves into a tie for Trainer, Races Won, with Fisher, with each having 10 wins.

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Princeton Show Jumping

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September 1, 2020

By Staff Writers

SKILLMAN, N.J.--Princeton Show Jumping Horse Shows have been shut down by the state of New Jersey, nothing to do with Covid-19, in an action that should scare exhibitors in every state.

Princeton Show Jumping groundsIf New Jersey can do this, so can any state.

And if states can close down horse shows, they might expand that to include other equestrian ventures, including dressage and eventing, rodeos and even racing.

So everyone should take this attack on equestrian activities very seriously and contact their state representatives. Princeton Show Jumping's statement about this closure, which is below, includes the names and contacts for New Jersey politicians.

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McLain Ward begins first international competition since Covid with two wins

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August 29, 2020

By SARA CAVANAGH

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--McLain ward opened with a bang in his first international competition back since Covid -19 closed down all showing, winning the first class, the $36.600 Welcome Stake on Contagious on Thursday, Aug. 27 over a field of top riders including Beezie Madden and Kent Farrington, and following that with a win in the $36,000 Speed class on Contaki on Friday.

McLain Ward on Contagious (Photo by Elaine Wessel, Phelps Media Group)"I've been showing a little at Saugerties, but this is my first international competition," said Ward. "It's nice to be back showing, and the horses have been good.

Covid certainly affected everyone's plans and livelihood, but Ward, who gets a large hunk of his income from buying and selling horses, said he had come thorough it OK.

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New PICTURE CLASSIFIEDS available

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August 27, 2020

By SARA CAVANAGH

The Horse of Delaware Valley is now offering PICTURE CLASSIFIEDS.

They will be the size of 300 x 200 andwillrun on the MARKETPLACE CLASSIFIED page.We had picture classified when The Horse was a print publication, so we are now adding it to our Online publication to aid our classified advertisers.

The cost of the ad is $40 before creative is added, and if our advertisers need to have the ad created, there is a $15 creative fee, which is the same creative fee as Marketplace.

Here are 3 samples we will be promoting on that page on the right hand side bar.

Sheppard's French Light and A Silent Player finish won-two in a steeplechase at Saratoga

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August 26, 2020

By SARA CAVANAGH

SARATOGA, N.Y.--Irv Naylor's French Light and A Silent Player, trained by Jonathan Sheppard, finished first and second in the $48,000, 2 3/8 mile Allowance Steeplechase at Saratoga on Aug. 26.

"The NayFrench Light leads stablemate A Silent Player home in Saratoga's steeplechase (Photo by Tod Marks)lors are ecstatic," said assistant trainer Keri Brion, who saddled both horses at Saratoga and who persuaded the Naylors to buy both horses. "They're very happy. I think we're all a bit relieved."

"I can't thank Diane and Irv enough," said Brion of the Naylors, who had never before had a horse with Sheppard. "I just called them last December and told them I had three horses I thought would be good. and they agreed to buy them. These two came together as a package. And they're best friends. they get turned out together at home."

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Bob McDonald cleared of all charges and his case closed

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August 23, 2020

By SARA CAVANAGH

All the false accusations against Bob McDonald, husband of dressage rider Debbie McDonald, have been dropped by SageSport, but not before his name was dragged through the mud by SafeSport without proof.

Bob and Debbie McDonald In June, Athletes for Equity in Sports pointed out that "regardless of what has been said, Bob McDonald was not given a hearing before being announced permanently ineligible."

Athletes for Equity in Sports is working hard to prevent SafeSport from doing such injustices as these in the future, as well as trying to repair some of the damage SafeSport has done in the past.

SafeSport accepts the often uncorroborated statements of accusers and ruins lives without allowing the accused to face their accusers and get a fair hearing.

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Leslie Young's Rashaan, Redicean one-two finish defeats two favorites

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August 20, 2020

By SARA CAVANAGH

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Giant killer Leslie Young saddled the two longest shots in the field for the $100.000 G1, 2 3/8 mile New York Turf Writers, Rashaan (Ire) and Redicean (GB), and they finished first and second, defeating the two prohibitive favorites, Moscato and Optimus Prime.

Rashaan leads Redicean to the wire in Turf Writers (Photo by Tod Marks)"What a result, with the two longest shots," said Young, driving back to Pennsylvania with husband Paddy Young by her side, as he was earlier in the winner's circle. "We're very happy."

Rashaan is owned by Bruton Street-Us, who also owns favorite Moscato, who finished third.

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Snap Decision an easy victor in Saratoga Novice Stakes

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August 19, 2020

By SARA CAVANAGH

SARATOGA, N.Y.--Bruton Street-US' Snap Decision, trained by Jack Fisher, made easy pickings of the $55,000, 2 3/8 miles Michael G. Walsh Novice Stakes Steeplechase on Aug. 19.

Snap Decision draws off to win the Michael G. Walsh Novice Stakes (Photo by Tod Marks)Despite carrying 165 pounds and giving 12 pounds each to second and third placed Family Tree, trained by Neil Morris, and Galway Kid, trained by Jonathan Sheppard, Snap Decision cruised along in second or third until after the final fence, moved up to join Galway Kid, who had just displaced Family Tree as the leader on the turn ad swept b to win by 5 1/4 lengths under a hand ride.

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Jonathan Sheppard has two winners in three races at Colonial Downs

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August 11, 2020

By SARA CAVANAGH

NEW KENT, Va.--Jonathan Sheppard had two very promising winners in $20,000 Maiden Special Weight steeplechase races at Colonial Downs on Aug. 10, moving him into just two wins short of Jack Fisher on the Trainer, Races Won leader board.

French Light winning at Colonial Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)Assistant trainer Keri Brion, who found both of these young horses in Ireland, saddled both winners for Sheppard, and both were ridden by Gerard Galligan, whose wins moved him into a tie for Rider, Races Won with Mikey Mitchell.

One of the winners, French Light, belongs to Irv Naylor, the other, Baltimore Bucko, is owned by Buttonwood Farm LLC, and both were found by Brion last December while she was at James Doyle's Baltimore Stables in Wexford, Ireland.

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Tiz the Law wins the Travers by 5 1/2 lenghts

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August 9, 2020

By Staff Writers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Tiz the Law decimated the relatively small G1, $1 million Travers field of six on Aug. 8, finishing with ears pricked under a geared down hand ride to win by 5 1/2 lengths and thrilli his owners Sackatoga Stables and trainer Barclay Tagg.

Tiz the Law (Photo by Chelsea Durand, NYRA PhotoDespite coasting through the final furlong, Tiz the Law's final time of 2:00.95 over the 10 furlongs was the second-fastest Travers in 32 years, trailing only Arrogate's track record of 1:59.36 set in 2016.

"I've been doing this a long time and I've always wanted to win the Travers," said Tagg. "This has been in my head my whole life. And now it happened, so it couldn't be better."

"You always have some doubt because many different things can happen," Tagg said. "That's always in the back of you're a mind, but I was very confident in the horse."

It was the first Travers win in his second try for Tagg, who went out on his own in 1972 and, after winning the first two legs with Funny Cide in 2003, completed a career Triple Crown with Tiz the Law's Belmont triumph.

Tale of Ekati, trained by Tagg, finished sixth in the Travers in 2008.

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