Horses and People briefs
By Betsy Parker
Warning to ridersMore than $500 in cash was stolen from multiple vehicles parked at a private farm near Middleburg during a foxhunt last Saturday. Officials say it appears that someone went into unlocked trucks and took cash, while leaving other valuables. Horsemen are encouraged to secure their vehicles, including trailer tack rooms, while they are out riding until the culprits are caught.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call (540) 687-6564.
Pari-mutuel turns 20
Nov. 8 marked the 20-year anniversary of the pari-mutuel wagering referendum that paved the way for horse racing at Colonial Downs. The referendum passed by a margin of 1,086,996 to 858,850.
The margin of 228,146 created final percentages of 55.8 percent for and 44.2 percent against. The results were geographic in nature, with Charlottesville and all areas east voting "yes," while almost all areas west of Charlottesville voted "no."
The larger populations of places like Northern Virginia, Richmond area and Tidewater carried the day.
The last lecture
The Smithsonian's Conservation Research Center in Front Royal has a lecture at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 on saving the world's coral reefs. For more, visit online at www.NationalZoo.si.edu or call (540) 635-6540.
New trails assembled for riders, hikers
Riding trails through privately owned property in northern Fauquier County were unveiled last week when the Orlean Snipe Club held its third annual community ride, hike and picnic at Southwood Farm.
Despite the threat of inclement weather, riders and hikers explored miles of contiguous trails that have been assembled after several dozen property owners granted permission for public access.
The event provided an opportunity for area landowners to learn about designating specific revocable passage corridors for riders. A large aerial map was displayed so that attendees could learn about the trail system, which runs through private properties between Orlean and the Free State area of Marshall.
For more information about the trail system, and to sign up for E-mail updates, call (540) 364-1919.
Congressional Cavalry to ride
The American Horse Council continues to expand its grassroots Congressional Cavalry program. With a new Congress to take office in January, officials of the equestrian lobby urge riders, landowners and horse lovers to get involved.
"The horse community is very diverse and has agricultural, sporting, gaming, entertainment and recreation components," explained AHC president Jay Hickey. "Some national issues affect the entire community and some just a particular segment or discipline. However, it is true that taken as a whole the horse community is a much larger and more powerful constituency than any one of its individual parts. When the horse community speaks with one voice, its diversity is a strength, not a weakness and it is a force to be reckoned with. All segments of the community enjoy the benefits this bring in federal legislation and regulation that keep opportunities open to expand our businesses and enjoy our horses."
The Congressional Cavalry is comprised of individuals who contact federal elected officials when national issues that impact the horse community arise. Cavalry members are placed on an e-mail or fax list so they can be contacted and activated quickly. When action is needed, the AHC provides each cavalry member with whatever is necessary to lobby their elected officials, including background information, talking points and sample letters.
AHC’s goal is to have Cavalry from all segments of the horse industry and in every Congressional district to guarantee the horse community is heard in Washington.
To sign up, log onto wwwHorseCouncil.org or call (202) 296-4031.
Talkin' turkey at Frying Pan Park
The annual Pre-Turkey Show at Frying Pan Park in Herndon is set Nov. 21-23. For details on the quarter horse show, call (703) 437-9101.
Hofstetter to teach
Hunter-jumper trainer Scott Hofstetter will teach a clinic Dec. 6-7 at Fox Chase Farm in Middleburg. Log on for more details: www.FoxChaseFarm.net.
Frying Pan shows posted
Frying Pan Park in Herndon will host hunter and jumper shows through the winter. Hunter show dates are Dec. 14, Jan. 17, Feb. 7, March 28 and April 25. Jumpers are Nov. 16, Dec. 6, Jan. 11, Feb. 8 and March 15. Details are at (703) 437-9101 or log onto wwwFairfaxCounty.gov/parks/fpp.
Reproduction courses
Equine Reproduction Concepts in Amissville will host a series of horse breeding seminars. A class on management of the breeding mare is set Nov. 13-14. Nov. 15 is a class on ultrasound technology, with an embryo-transfer class taught Nov. 17.
A full listing of ERC classes is online at www.equinereproduction.com or call (540) 937-9832.
Book smarts for horse operations
A seminar entitled "record keeping for horse operations" will be taught at Lord Fairfax College in Middletown from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 21. Registration of $15 covers all course materials, lunch and refreshments. Call (540) 635-4549 to sign up.
See historic Fredericksburg by horseback
An urban trail ride through downtown Fredericksburg is being planned for Nov. 15. Coffee will be served before the two-hour walking-only ride, with snacks provided afterwards. Details are at (540) 372-1086 or log onto www.fredericksburgva.gov.
Last call combined test
The last in the series of the Old Dominion Hounds Pony Club schooling shows is set Sunday, Nov. 16 at Windsor Lodge Farm in Flint Hill.
Divisions include dressage test of choice, a conventional combined test (dressage plus show jumping) plus a jumper derby combined test (dressage, show jumping including a few cross-country fences.) Call for details: (540) 636-2344.
Windsor Lodge will also hold a Brian Ross clinic Nov. 22-23. The dressage and eventing judge, technical delegate and clinician will teach flatwork, gymnastic jumping, cross-country and a fix-a-test dressage portion.
Call (540) 636-2344 to sign up.
Trailblazers to meet
The Trailblazers Trail Club will meet Thursday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Denny’s Restaurant in Warrenton. The dinner-meeting will be a club business meeting. Call (540) 341-4992 for more information.
The Trailblazers and the Fauquier Equestrian Forum are co-sponsoring a trail workday on Saturday, Nov. 8 starting at 9 a.m. Members and friends will work on the trails at Whitney State Forest in Warrenton. Call (540) 349-1412 for details.
Hunter pace series
The Rappahannock Hunt joined the Bull Run Hunt in hosting fall hunter paces, the two races combining for a series-end championship.
Bull Run's event was held at the Preserve near Culpeper; the Rappahannock pace was at The Hill near Boston.
Teams of two or three riders took to the 10-mile courses in hunt, western, junior and pleasure divisions.
Stacey Donnelly joined with juniors Janie Jacobs and Neil Donnelly to win the overall junior division. Julia and Marcello Dellaccio won the hunt division, while Marilyn Shackelford and April Markgraf won the pleasure division. The western division was won by David Hasbury-Snogles.
Complete information is online at www.RappahannockHunt.com.
Farmington, Piedmont riders
win Orange County event
Twelve hunt and pony clubs participated in last week's Orange County Hunt team event at Old Whitewood Farm near The Plains.
The junior champion was Piedmont FoxHounds member Lillibet Motion, 16, of Upperville, riding Marilyn Jarvis' Hokie Hi.
Blue Ridge Hunt member Sara McIntosh, 15, of Millwood, and Padicon earned reserve.
Genuine hunter champion was Farmington Hunt member Mark Thompson on 11-year-old grey Irish sport horse Gaelic. Reserve went to Julie McLearen of Berryville on Elizabeth Wolf's Military Hero.
In the hilltopper division, Piedmont junior Emma Walsh, 11, on Mr. Fox Trot and Orange County's Caroline Aquino on Cisco won the pairs class.
Local tracks verify horse slaughter policy
Magna Entertainment Corp., which counts nearby Laurel Park and Pimlico racetracks among its Thoroughbred holdings, has formally adopted a company-wide policy "promoting the humane treatment of racehorses."
Under the policy, any trainer or owner stabling at a Magna facility who directly or indirectly participates in the transport of a horse from a Magna track directly to a slaughterhouse or to an auction selling horses for slaughter will be prohibited from having stalls at any Magna track.
The policy also applies to any actions related to the transport of a horse from a Magna facility where the ultimate intended result is the horse's slaughter.
Magna chairman Frank Stronach said "Since the inception of Magna, we have taken care to protect the health and safety of customers, workers and equine athletes participating in activities at all of our facilities. The goal of the policy is to forewarn industry participants who participate in the slaughter of racehorses that they are not welcome at any of our facilities across the country. I hope other racetrack owners formally adopt similar policies."
Track, world records continue to
fall as Colonial's trotter meet ends
Jason Cribbs’ Wholeftthegateopen smashed the track record for male pacers with a 1:48.4 mile last week at Colonial Downs.
Wholeftthegateopen extended his lead to 2 1/2 lengths in the 1,300-foot stretch, drawing clear in upper stretch to prevail over Golden Mattjesty.
Tattler’s Jet held well for third, another 2 ¾ lengths back.
Wholeftthegateopen scored his fifth win of the season for trainer Mitchell Small in the $10,000 winners over $15,000 handicap. The 5-year-old Mattuity gelding now has seven wins from 38 lifetime starts.
Wholeftthegateopen eclipsed the old track and world record for older pacers on a greater than one mile track with the 1:48.4 clocking. Megabucks N, Oneinamillion N and Spastic shared the old mark of 1:49.3.
Small also trained Megabucks N.
Dojea Stables’ Pro North provided a perfectly fitting coda to his Horse of the Meet season by pacing the fastest 1 ¼ miles in Colonial Downs history to easily annex the $12,400 Emergency Squads of Virginia Late Closing Series Final Sunday afternoon at Colonial Downs.
Saturday at Colonial, Pro North was voted Horse of the Meet in voting conducted by the Mid-Atlantic chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.
Also on Saturday, First Rate set a new track and world record for the second straight year to win the 3-year-old colt pace Virginia Breeders Final and highlight the Virginia Harness Day of Champions.
First Rate’s 1:49 clocking in the $43,600 Final easily bested Speakeasy’s 1:50.1 that had set the standard. First Rate paced a mile in 1:50.2 to win the 2-year-old Virginia Breeders Final and set the 2-year-old mark last season.
The win was First Rate’s 10th from 29 lifetime starts. The Real Artist gelding pushed his lifetime bankroll past $165,000 for trainer Samuel Beegle.