Racing

Finally, racing on the Fair Hill turf track is a possibility

Details: June 18, 2025; By SARA CAVANAGH

FAIR HILL, Md.--After six long years, horses have finally been allowed to train over the Fair Hill turf track, and there was even one day when four horses schooled over fences there.

Fair Hill turf course 1 Fair Hill turf course But there is still no official word on whether a race meet will be held at Fair Hill late this summer on Aug. 30.

"I'm doing everything in my power to encourage the state to hold races at Fair Hill on Aug. 30, but the final call is up to the Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources," said George P. Mahoney, Jr., Chairman of the Maryland Racing Commission."Racing would be not only for steeplechase but flat races as well. It's been six years, and Maryland taxpayers deserve to have Fair Hill used."

The Horse has called Trish Brown at the Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources for three days and has texted her as well, asking her, if she doesn't want to call back, to at least text back when a decision will be made as to if or when races might be held at Fair Hill.

So far, there has been no response.

Travesuras, trained by Cyril Murphy and ridden by Gerard Galligan, won at Laurel

Details: June 17, 2025; By SARA CAVANAGH

LAUREL,Md.--Travesuras, trained by Cyril Murphy and ridden by Gerard Galligan, won the $45,000, 2 1/8 mile Allowance Hurdle at Laurel on Sunday, June 15.

Travesuras winning James McCue Travesuras, ridden by Gerard Galligan, winning at Laurel (Photo by James McCue)Owned by Irv Naylor, Travesuras traveled mid pack in the seven horse race, moved forward on the final turn, found a gap in the stretch and caught and passed Biggerthanbigtime (Ire), trained by Barry Foley, who had led throughout the entire race, to win by 1/2 length, with Madeket's Arrow, trained by Kate Dalton, third.

"I got Travesuras in October, 2022," said Murphy. "He's been a solid horse for us. He always runs his race. "

Travesurus had previously run over fences in England, and his first race for Murphy was at Colonial Downs on Aug. 18, 2023.

"He was too fresh for his own good," said Murphy. "He popped and popped Gerard off. He learned from that and never did it again."

Since that ace, Travesuras has hit the board in nine of the 11 races he's run, and now has a record in this country of two firsts, three seconds and four thirds from 12 starts and total earnings of $105,515.

"He's more than paying his way," said Murphy,

"His jumping has always been his strong point," said Murphy. "He broke his maiden at Radnor last year. At the time, I didn't think he could handle Saratoga. Then he got an ankle and missed the early fall.

Holey Moley, ridden by Virginia Korrell, won at Laurel

Details: June 16, 2025; By SARA CAVANAGH

LAUREL, Md.--Holey Moley, ridden by Virginia Korrell, won the $40.000, 2 1/8 mile Maiden Special Weight Steeplechase at Laurel on Sunday, June 15.

Holey Moley ridden by Virginia Korrell (Photo by James McCue)Owned by Molly and Paul Willis and trained by Barry Foley, Holey Moley ran second throughout most of the race, moved into the lead on the final turn and went on to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Awesome Man, trained by Todd Wyatt, with Derby Street, trained by Jack Fisher, third.

"I've had Holey Moley for about eight or nine months," said Foley. "We bought him privately."

Holey Moley ran in claiming races, mainly at Laurel , in 2023 and 2034 with one in before transitioning to hurdles in 2025, finishing fourth, sixth and second at Radnor in his previous runs over fences.

"I'd never ridden Holey Moley before, but I watched him race this spring," said Korell. "He waa ridden by James O'Sullivan, but he had to go back to Ireland to get his visa sorted out. Barry called me a week ago and asked if I'd ride him."

Hendriks family, Wendy, son Ricky and grandson McLane, have winners, Motion, Brion, Fisher and Merryman also have winners

Details: June 14, 2025; By SARA CAVANAGH

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa.--Wendy Hendriks had a number of winners over last winter and spring, including three at Tampa Bay Downs, all trained by her son Ricky.

Wendy Hendriks at Radnor Wendy Hendriks Dynamic Actress won a Maiden Claiming race in January, then finished second twice in Optional Claiming races before winning again on May 4 in a $330,000 Starter Optional Claiming race at 1mile on the turf, with all at her races at Tampa Bay.

Ricky and McLane HenriksDynamic Actress runs as owned by Ken Kachel, but all those that run in the name of Kachel are actually owned by Kachel and Wendy and Ricky Hendriks.

"We bought her as a yearling and got her Delaware certified," said Wendy Hendriks.

Dynamic Actress has now won twice, and finished second twice and third once from six starts.

That threesome won two other races, both with Whirlwind, who won a $20,00, 1 1/16 mile Claiming race on the turd in March and a $27,500 1mile turf Claiming race in April.

Whirlwind, a 3-year-old Filly, now has won twice from two starts.

Wendy as an owner on her own had a winner in Casino Night, who won a $12,000 5 1/2 furlong Maiden Claiming race at Delaware Park on May 24, also trained by Ricky.

"Casino Night won, we ran her again, and she got claimed," said Wendy.

Wendy's grandson McLane is now also training racehorses, and he too saddled a winner.

Joy Slater's Chevy Man won a $42,215, 1 1/16 mile turf Maiden Claiming race at Laurel on May 26.

Proven Innocent won the G1, $150,000 Beverly Steinman in Saratoga for Jack Fisher

Details: June 4, 2025; By Staff Writers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Proven Innocent, trained by Jack Fisher, won the G1, 2 3/8 mile, $150,000 Beverly Steinman Hurdle Stakes with a determined stretch run.

Proven Innocent outduels Evies Prince in Steinman Proven Innocent (left) outduels Evies Prince in the Steinman (Photo by Tod Marks)Owned by Bruton Street-U.S. and ridden by Freddie Procter, Proven Innocent ran last for the first two miles, advanced to third on the turn, closed on Awakened, who was just ahead of Evie's Prince, drew even with the pair in the stretch and went on to win by 3/4 length'

Evie's Prince, trained by Neil Morris, passed Awakened to place second, and Awakened, also trained by Fisher, was third.

“I thought at the top of the stretch it was going to be Awakened, but when Awakened was done, it was 'Come on Proven! Come on Proven! Get up,” Fisher said. “He got up, so that was good.”

"It's good to have two horses,” Fisher said. “The more horses you've got, the more chances you have, I think, especially being picked one-two on the morning line."

"He was bred by Stuart Janney,"said Fisher. "We bought two off him, and we got rid of one that was no good. Graham Watters was supposed to ride him, but his wife had a baby this morning."

Mark Beecher won the Open Hurdle with Decisive Triumph at the Potomac Hunt Races

Details: May 20, 2025; By SARA CAVANAGH

SENECA, Md.--Mark Beecher saddled Decisive Triumph to win the $7,500 Preakness Open Hurdle on Sunday, May 18 at the Potomac Hunt Races.

Mark Beecher onProfessor Maxwell Maryland Hunt Cup without stirrups over 13th Mark Beecher, while still a jockey, on Professor Maxwell in the Maryland Hunt Cup without stirrups over the 13thDaniel R.Baker's Decisive Triumph, ridden by Dan Nevin, won the 2 1/8 mile Open Hurdle in 4:39 3/5 over Total Joy (Ire), trained by Leslie Young, and Brie's Mission, trained by Kathy Neilson.

Decisive Triumph is a multiple handicap and allowance winner in sanctioned races, and he was running in the last point-to-point of the spring season.

"I wanted to get a run in him before the summer," said Beecher. "He's 12, so he's too old to run at Saratoga, and he's rated above118, so he's too highly rated to run at Colonial Downs. So Potomac was my only option to get a run in him. We'll run him again in the fall."

"He jumped off second, then went to the lead," said Beecher. "He hooked up with Total Joy. They ding-donged down to the last, and then he pulled away to win."

Leslie Young had two winners at the Radnor Hunt Races

Details: May 19, 2025; By SARA CAVANAGH

MALVERN, Pa.--Leslie Young saddled two winners, including Project Two (Ire) in the Allowance Timber, at the Radnor Hunt Races on Saturday, May 17.

Project Two takes jump last in 2nd 2 Project Two ridden by Jordon Canavan (Photo by Tod Marks)Project Two, owned by Michael A. Smith, trained by Young and ridden by Jordon Canavan, won the $25,000, 31/4 mile Allowance Timber race by 4 3/4 lengths in 7:21 4/5 over Track and Trace (Ire), trained by Mark Beecher, and Imperial Assassin (Ire), trained by Kathy Neilson.

"Project Two was still a maiden when he started at Radnor," said Young. "Jordan gave him a great ride. He'd won over hurdles, then he had a tendon injury, so we gave him time, and then we brought him back over timber."

Project Two had previously had two thirds and a second in timber races before winning at Radnor.

Young also saddled Sharon E.Sheppard and Beverly (Peggy) Steinman's Mooney Love (Ire). ridden by Luke Carberry, to win the $30,000, 2 1/8 mile Maiden Hurdle by 1 1/2 lengths in 4:14 4/5 over Bold Look, trained by Barry Foley, and British Royalty (On) , trained by Neilson.

Joe Davies and Kathy Neilson won the two featured races at Willowdale

Details: May 12, 2025; By SARA CAVANAGH

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa.--Joe Davies trained both winners over timber, including the featured Stakes, while Kathy Neilson saddled the winner of the featured Hurdle Handicap at the Willowdale Steeplechase on Saturday, May 10.

Mr. Fine Threads Willowdale Mr. Fine Threads, ridden by Charlie Marshall (Photo by L. Mentzel)Armata Stables' Mr. Fine Threads, trained by Davies and ridden by Charlie Marshall, won the $35,000, 3 1.2 mile Willowdale Steeplechase Timber Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths in 7:34 4/5 over The Butler Yates (Ire), trained by Leslie Young, and Master Seville, trained by Mark Beecher.

"We've had Mr. Fine Threads for three springs now," said Davies. "He's been an improving horse. He won at the Grand National meet last year and won the Shapiro at the Manor this spring. We're just beginning to figure him out. He had bad feet. He ran for three years with no shoes. We put shoes on him this spring. I don't like to run Maryland Hunt Cup horses in the fall, but we may run hm in the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup this fall."

Abaan won the $250,000 Iroquois Stakes, beating Snap Decision

Details: May 12, 2025; By SARA CAVANAGH

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--In a race between two steeplechase giants, Abaan beat Snap Decision in the G1, $250,000, 3 mile Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle Stakes.

Abaan leads Snap Decision over the last fence in the Iroquois (Photo by Tod Marks)Snap Decision, 11, a steeplechase Eclipse Award winner and winner of 15 - yes, 15 - steeplechase stakes, is royally bred, by Hard Spun out of an Unbridled mare and was graded stakes placed on the flat before his jumping career.

Abaan, 8, is also royally bred, by Will Take Charge out of a Tapit mare, and won a G3 race as well as being G2 Stakes placed on the flat before turning to steeplechasing.

Described by Charlie Fenwick as "a maturing steeplechase horse," Abaan has already won four hurdle stakes, including two G1 hurdle stakes.

Abaan, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Daigneault Thoroughbreds, trained by Kate Dalton and ridden by Bernie Dalton, beat Snap Decision by 1 length in 4:02, with Vae Patron, trained by Leslie Young, third.

Taylor Kingsley won at Gulfstream in her first race as a professional

Details: May 8, 2025; By SARA CAVANAGH

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Taylor Kingsley,19, daughter of former top steeplechase jockey and trainer Arch Kingsley, had already won pony and amateur races all over the world when she rode in her first professional race as a flat jockey at a major racetrack.

Taylor Kinsley on Princetown at GulfstreamShe used that experience, plus her knowledge of the horse, to go right to the lead, save ground and improve her position to win by 2 1/2 lengths.

Kingsley rode Princetown for trainer Bill Mott in a $56,000.1 mile Allowance Optional Claiming race at Gulfstream on April 12.

She had started working for Mott as an exercise rider last January.

"It was fantastic," said Kingsley of winning. "I wasn't sure what to expect. I liked the horse. I'd worked him at home (at Churchill Downs, where Mott was stabled). There were a couple of horses in the race that I thought would be tough. If I'd been a betting man,, I would have bet against myself."

"We got a nice, clean trip in front, and no one could catch him." she said. “I’m lost for words. I’m grateful to Bill Mott. This is huge,”

Princetown, a 4-year-old by Speightstown, had previously run seven times with two wins.

Mark Beecher won two at Winterthur, including the featured Winterthur Bowl

Details: May 6, 2025; By SARA CAVANAGH

WINTERTHUR, Del.--Mark Beecher saddled two winners, including Track and Trace (Ire) in the featured Wintrthur Bowl, on Sunday, May 4 at the Winterthur Races.

Track and Trace takes jump in 2nd 1 Track and Trace, ridden by Dan Nevin (Photo by Tod Marks)Track and Trace (Ire), owned by Bruton Street-US, trained by Beecher and ridden by Dan Nevin, won the $25,000. 3 1/4 mile Winterthur Bowl Allowance Timber by 2 lengths in 6:29 over Theda's Boy, trained by Kevin Boniface, and Glencorrib Sky (Ire), trained by Kathy Neilson.

"Track and Trace is the first horse I've had for Bruton Street," said Beecher. "He broke his maiden over timber at the Grand National, and this was his second time over timber, so he's two for two,"

"I've had him since last November," said Beecher."'He's a very nice horse, very straight-forward. He'll be entered at Radnor."

Previously, Track and Trace ran in steeplechase races in England, where he won a Handicap at Catterick Bridge.

Jack Fisher dominated the Virginia Gold Cup with three Stakes wins

Details: May 5, 2025; By SARA CAVANAGH

THE PLAINS, Va.--Jack Fisher saddled three Stakes winners on Saturday, May 3 at the Virginia Gold Cup, a meet marred by a number of horses falling on the flat with others slipping badly but not falling.

Cool Jet leads pver last in Commonwealth Cup REMOTE 1 Cool Jet leads over the last in the Commonwealth Cup (Photo by Tod Marks)It was a dominating performance by Fisher, who won half of the races competed on the day and moved into a big lead in both Trainer, Money Won and also in Races Won.

Harry Beswick, who rode the winner of the first race, Thewizardswell (Ire), who lead by 20 or so lengths over most of the pack throughout the race, summed the race up perfectly.

"For me, it was pretty straight forward," said Beswick."I missed all the chaos behind me."

And chaos it was, with one horse falling over the first fence and then three horses slipping and falling on the turns with others in the race also slipping badly, with one going to his knees but recovering with his rider hanging on.

Following that race, there was a wait of more than an hour before the second race while race officials tried to remedy the problem by putting sand down on the tightest turns.

Also, one of the loose horses had left the grounds and had to be caught.

Todd Wyatt had two winners at Middleburg Point-to-Point

Details: April 30, 2025; By SARA CAVANAGH

MIDDLEBURG, Va--Todd Wyatt saddled the winners of both the Maiden Timber and the Open Timber on Sunday,, April 27 at the Middlebug Point-to-Point.

James left and Todd Wyatt James, left, and Todd WyattSarah M.Jay's Be Counted, ridden by Wyatt's son James, won the 3 mile Open Timber by a head in 5:59 over Racavan, trained by Richard Valentine, and Gun for Success, trained by Julie Gomena.

Racavan led over the first with Be Counted, Greylover and Marcel Magic following.

Racavan and Greylover had exchanged leads four times by the ninth fence.

At the 13th, Gun For Success joined Racavan, and competition got closer at the last as Be Counted won by a head over Racavan and Gun For Success.

"That was the horse and rider's foyrth win this spring if you count the Team race," said Wyatt. "James is 17 and just finiding his way, so we've been picking spots for him. Be Counted may go to Willowdale or Potomac."

Wyatt also saddled Ann Jackson's Left Blank, ridden by Freddie Procter, to win the Maiden Timber by a head in 6:06 4/5 over Lightning Ridge, trained by Sanna Neilson, and Reason to Pray, trained by James Piper.

At the start, Lightning Ridge was off first with Reason to Pray and Contre Ordre following.

At the seventh, Lightning Ridge led Left Blank with Contre Ordre third, and by the 15th Left Blank had taken the lead, and he went on to won.

"We've had him for a while,"said Wyatt."We ran him over hurdles.He's a good jumper, so we've been trying to get him over timber. It too a while for him to get it all together. It's nice to have a winner for an owner like Ann Jackson."

Jack Fisher had two winners at Foxfield, including Smart Uncle in the feature

Details: April 29, 2025; By SARA CAVANAGH

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.--Jack Fisher saddled Smart Uncle to win the featured $75,000, 2 1/8 mile Daniel Van Clief Memorial Novice Hurdle Stakes on Saturday, April 26 at the Foxfield Spring Races.

Smart Uncle takes last in 6th 1 Smart Uncle winning at Aiken last November (Photo by Tod Marks)Fisher and Leslie Young each won two races at Foxfield and Kathy Neilson won one race, and now the three are tied for the lead in the National Steeplechase's Trainer, Races Won, with seven wins each.

Fisher leads in Trainer, Money Won with $236,050 over Young with $186,950, and Mark Beecher with $134,850.

This was Smart Uncle's third consecutive win over hurdles, having broken his maiden at Pine Mountain last November, followed by an Allowance win at Aiken Fall.

Mrs. S.K. Johnston Jr.'s Smart Uncle, ridden by Stephen Mulqueen, won by 1 3/4 lengths in 4:05 3/5 over Travesuras, trained by Cyril Murphy, and Clifton Downs (Ire), trained by Todd McKenna.

"He's a nice horse," said Fisher. "He'll go next to Iroquois."

Fisher also saddled Riverdee Stable's Vintage Year to win the $30,000 Maiden Hurdle by 1 length in 4:07 1/5 over Point Me By, trained by Julie Gomena, and Dynamite Dan (Ire), trained by Tom Garner.

"I wanted to start him in a maiden claiming race,"said Fisher. "Luckily, the owner talked me out of it. He'll go to Laurel next."

Leslie Young, Kathy Neilson and Mark Beecher have winners at the Grand National

Details: April 23, 2025; By SARA CAVANAGH

BUTLER, Md--Wrestlingwithrae (Ire), owned by Michael A.Smith, trained by Leslie Young and ridden by Jordan Canavan,, won the $35,000, 3 1/4 mile Grand National Timber Stakes on Saturday, April 19.

Hard Game at the Grand National Hard Game won the Benjamin H Murray Allowance raceMark Beecher trained the winner of the second race, and Kathy Neilson saddled the winners of the third and fourth races.

Wrestlingwithrae won by 1 1/2 lengths in 6:35 1/5 over Goodoldtimes (Ire), trained by Mark Beecher, and Queens Empire (Ire), trained by Jack Fisher.

Wrestlingwithrae won an allowance race at Cheshire Point-to-Point and was second in the My Lady's Manor Stakes earlier this year.

The 7-year-old bay gelding ran mid-pack in the five horse field in the early going, led over the final fence and went on to win.

None of the five in the Grand National are going in the Maryland Hunt Cup.

Beecher saddled Bruton Street-US' Track and Trace (ire), ridden by Dan Nevin, to win the $15,000, 3 mile Maiden Timber by 10 3/4 lengths in 6:21 2/5 over Hey Teacher (GB), trained by Neilson, and Blackstar Rocco (Ire), trained by Willy Dowling.

Mark Beecher saddled Decisive Triumph to win at Loudoun

Details: April 24, 2025; By SARA CAVANAGH

LEESBURG, Va.--Mark Beecher saddled Decisive Triumph to win the $15,000 Apprentice Rider Hurdle, one of three recognized races at the Loudoun Hunt Point-to-Point on Sunday, April 20.

Keri BrionKeri Brion had four winners, including three in flat races, in the Point-to-Point section.

Decisive Triumph, owned by Daniel R. Baker, trained by Beecher and ridden by Dan Nevin, won the 2 1/4 mile race by 1 length in 4:27 1/5 over Tufton Avenue (Ire), trained by Todd McKenna, and Kiyomori, trained by Todd Wyatt.

Decisive Triumph has been with us for six or seven years," said Beecher. "He loves the game, and he loves to jump. "It's nice to see a horse come back time after time."

"He's a hard knocking horse that everyone in the barn likes," said Beecher. "He'll go next in the apprentice rider hurdle at Willowdale."

Neil Morris saddled Maranto Manor's Auction Kingdom, ridden by James O'Sullivan, to win the $25,000 Ratings Handicap Hurdle by 1 1/4 lengths in 4:34 1/5 over Dante's Fire, also trained by Morris, and Love Saga, trained by Sean McDermott.

Todd McKenna saddled Keystone Thoroughbreds' Box Office Warrior, ridden by Gerard Galligan, to win the $20,000 Maiden Claiming Hurdle by 6 1/2 lengths in 4:34 3/5 over Love Shaq, trained by Brion, and Selassie, trained by Kathy Neilson.

In the Point-to-Point secton, Brion saddled Arturo Toscanini (Ire), owned by K. Valerio,, T. Murabito and The International Venture and ridden by Stephen Muqueen, to win the first division of the Maiden Hurdle by 3/4 length in 5:00 over Rejection Hurts, trained by Beecher, and Anador (Fr), trained by McKenna.

"Arturo Toscanin iis an old classy horse that actually ran in the Irish Derby in Ireland years ago for Aidan O'Brien," said Brion. "He's got a new lease on life since jumping, and we plan to take him to the Maiden at Nashville."