Sean's Blog

Two Days and Counting

Time ticks until the Far Hills Steeplechase. Richest day. Deep fields. Stellar card. Jimmy Dan represents Riverdee and Ten Strike Racing in the $100,000 Novice Stakes. You can only climb the ladder so far – waiver maiden claimer, 110 handicap, 115 handicap, 120 handicap – before you reach the roof. A … Read More

The King

There is nothing like a local win. King Tsunami won the second division of the Daniel C. Sands Cup at Virginia Fall Saturday. I count 28, including King Tsunami, in the winner’s circle. There’s a baseball coach, a 90-year-old lifelong horsewoman from Maryland, a mother and a daughter, a mother-in-law, … Read More

TWo Days

The others side of the fence. The flip side of the coin. A different point of view. Yeah, all that when you join a race meet board. The Virginia Fall Races offers its annual stop on the tour Saturday. Eight races. 70 entries. I know those numbers. Know them like … Read More

Jimmy

The ever-improving Jimmy Dan won again over hurdles at Foxfield Sunday. The 6-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy has climbed the ladder this year – waiver maiden claimer, 110, 115, 120. Four wins from five starts for $72,500 for Riverdee and Ten Strike Racing. Some horse. Jimmy Dan roared from last to … Read More

On the road

Road trip to Rehoboth Beach, De. and then Charlottesville, Va. Waze says four hours, 36 minutes. Sunday morning freedom on the highway. Early post time adds a bit of pressure. First-world pressure. Going to a steeplechase on a Sunday. Miles has his learning permit. What a way to learn. I’ll … Read More

Weekend Wonders

Trying to adjust to Sunday steeplechasing. A free Saturday in October? We’ll make do. Time to get to the beach to celebrate Dad’s 90th birthday Sunday. We’ll enjoy the milestone Saturday and road trip to Foxfield Sunday. Rehoboth to Charlottesville? How far can it be? Noon post doesn’t help but … Read More

Hump Day

Wednesday. Weekend memories begin to fade – well, Queens Empire’s win is still vibrant – and we begin to look ahead rather than behind. That’s Wednesday in the world of racing. Time marches on. Riverdee entered four horses at Foxfield Sunday. Penicillin Success returns for the 110 handicap, his first start … Read More

sport

2:36. 3:14. p.m. The post times for the fourth and fifth races at Shawan Downs Saturday. Official times on official charts now. The fourth race spanned 4:01.80. The fifth lasted 7:09.20. Official times on official charts now. In those 45 minutes, the sport pushed and pulled, devastated and elevated, yanked … Read More

Race Day

We are back in action. The 11-stop fall steeplechase season rolls through Shawan Downs today. Riverdee unleashes Mission Brief, Palio, Queens Empire and Potus on the 24th renewal of the six-race steeplechase meet in Hunt Valley, Md. Right-handed, high ground in the stretch, low ground down the backside, two tight turns and two long straightaways. Natural amphitheater … Read More

The Sleeper

Happy retirement to Not So Sleepy. The 12-year-old stormed off the stage in the finest fashion, winning his 69th and final start over the weekend for trainer Hughie Morrison and owner/breeder Lady Blythe. A six-time winner on the flat and a six-time winner over hurdles, the chestnut gelding defended his … Read More