Sean's Blog

Pudding Lane dropped the flag on the 2026 season in style with a win at the Aiken Spring Steeplechase March 21. Owned by Riverdee and Dr. Joe Fowler, the 4-year-old found a comfortable spot under jockey Bernie Dalton, jumped accurately, cruised to the lead around the final turn and won … Read More

Made it home. That’s about it. Another trip to Cheltenham and another bout with the flu or whatever it is we seem to get every time we travel there. This one doesn’t come with the uncertain dread of 2020, which, actually we came through unscathed. The pall of Covid way … Read More

Once more unto the breach. I’m sure I wrote that last year as well. Certainly, feels that way as several members of the Big Brother house have fallen to the vagaries of Cheltenham. Sore throats and empty wallets make bad bedfellows. But we carry on, we power through. Once more. … Read More

Halftime. Two down. Two to go. Wind and rain moving in to drape proper chasing weather on top of proper racing. The Willie Mullins train chugs along with three Grade 1 scores, including the small but mighty Il Etait Temps picking up where favorite Majborough left off, birch splintering, frame … Read More

The reception. That’s what it is about, always been about. In all places, at all times during the sport’s biggest week. The first, for me, was when Istabraq pulled up early in his final Champion Hurdle. Standing at the top of the hill, favorite out, money gone, as the new … Read More

And here we are. Yet again. The day of days. The week of weeks. The show of shows. Cheltenham. A place that began to seer into my racing soul way back in 2002. Sharing two bunk beds in the Hunter’s Lodge, breakfast, lunch and dinner in the stable canteen, a … Read More

Long trip. Big win. Washington to Heathrow to Kempton to Exeter to Sussex. Smooth. Certainly, the last bit as I slept, and my driver drove. Nothing like a driver. Sherminator made the trip worthwhile, for the second straight Cheltenham spree, as he continues his ascent with a facile score in … Read More

The world tour has started. Or at least the British World Tour. One track down, a morning jaunt to Epsom to watch two unraced 3-year-olds of George Baker’s go through the paces. Smooth. Job done. Now on the way to Exeter Racecourse to watch Sherminator make his handicap debut in … Read More

Big night for Riverdee Friday. We won seven awards at the Virginia Steeplechase Awards dinner. Cool Jet (3), Potus, Penicillin Success, Jhirsch and several individual accolades for the stable. Silver-plated plates for the walls. Trying to spread the love, Miles, Annie, Margaret Littleton, Lee McGettigan, Laird George and I accepted … Read More