Sean Clancy

Always a hectic, frenetic day. The day before race day. Especially the day before the biggest race day of the year. Far Hills puts on its annual star-studded card tomorrow, led by the $250,000 Grand National. Unfortunately, we’ll be watching the big one this year and dreaming about next year. … Read More

Still basking in a big weekend. Spent all day at Glenwood Park Sunday, picking up beer bottles, pulling down stall cards, taking down banners, folding up picnic tables, slashing ice bags, assessing the damage (minimal) and discussing how to improve after the eight-race card. I wound up with three bags … Read More

Wow. What a day. Riverdee doubled at the Virginia Fall Races Saturday. Our local meet. On a calm, clear day, you can hear the announcer from our farm. Not that I’ve ever been on our farm on race day at Glenwood Park but you get the point. There is nothing … Read More

We are still rolling from Cool Jet’s Grade 3 stakes win at Foxfield last week. That’s how this game goes. When you lose, turn the page, move on, look ahead. When you win, you linger a little longer, reminisce for an extra day or 10, bask in it for as … Read More

Cool Jet and Snap Decision. Rivals yesterday. Friends today. Riverdee’s Cool Jet got the better of their meeting yesterday, winning the Grade 3 Mariann de Tejeda Memorial at Foxfield. Bernie Dalton improved his record to 2-for-2 aboard the 9-year-old Irish-bred. Cool Jet stalked Foxy Walk, rolled past the pacesetter leaving … Read More

Seems strange to not be looking for my binoculars, checking car passes, tying a tie and scrambling out the door. The Foxfield Fall Races run on Sunday. I guess to avoid college football. I won’t be watching college football today. An easy Saturday, followed by a frenetic Sunday. Miles baseball … Read More

We bought one. After a lot of looking, shopping, chasing, we finally got our hand up and the gavel down for a filly at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic yearling sale at Timonium Tuesday. Hip 7. A daughter of Great Notion and Lemon Drop Kiss. Maryland-bred, soon-to-be Virginia certified. The bay filly … Read More

Riverdee doubled at Shawan Downs Saturday. There is nothing like a good Saturday to make a good Sunday. Free days. Ethics won his hurdle debut for trainer Jack Fisher and jockey Freddie Procter. The son of Hard Spun settled off the pace on the inside, jumped fluently, split horses coming … Read More

It’s bustling in Butler. Race morning. Ride morning. The Saturday fanatics are out in force. Bicycles in every direction, in pairs, singles and pelotons. Horse vans in one direction, up and over the hill to Shawan Downs. Velloccino Bicicletta e Caffe feels like Times Square. Pedals and pastries. Coffee and … Read More

For better or worse (I think better), the American steeplechase schedule has four distinct seasons. Spring, summer, fall, winter. Each has their own intricacies. The fall season kicks off Saturday. Looking ahead to the weekend, Riverdee entered five horses at Shawan Downs. Four drew in and one waits as the … Read More