CVS Carries DRF!!

Barbaro06 · Postby **Barbaro06** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 5:17 pm

After living here in Annapolis for the past six years and only able to get the DRF at the CVS across the street from work in DC, the CVS up the street from me is now carrying the DRF! Sure, and I'm only moving to Virginia in the next four months!!!! Figures!

Shammy Davis · Postby **Shammy Davis** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 8:44 am

If you want my advice. Keep your place in MD. :wink:

You will be hard pressed to find the DRF in VA, unless you are on the net. The last time VA thought TB racing was important was when George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were racing their horses in the streets of Williamsburg and Alexandria.

Barbaro06 · Postby **Barbaro06** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:02 am

Yeah, George came here to Annapolis a few times to watch the races....

Tappiano · Postby **Tappiano** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:15 am

Just like there were/are certain places in the country that think it's more important to show college football games instead of the breeder's cup. How's that for a big kick in the you know what for those state's and any hope of a successful breeding program.

griff · Postby **griff** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:46 am

And Secretariat was born and raised where??

griff, from VA

Shammy Davis · Postby **Shammy Davis** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:48 pm

Okay, Griff, there were a few bright lights in the interim between Jamestown and New Kent like Diomed, Hill Prince, First Landing, Riva Ridge, Cicada, and of course, Secretariat. The likes of John Randolph, John Tayloe, and somewhat recently Paul Mellon. Chris Chenery, Richard (and son, Bull) Hancock, Stuart Janney, and Marion DuPont Scott led a host of breeders up until the 1980's. Bertram Firestone and Ned Evans are highly invested in the business today. Colonial Downs is an extraordinary facility. As I recall Ruffian was a VA bred. In the 1770's, VA had over 30 major studs and definitely has a racing and breeding history, but the question of where to find the DRF is still unanswered in the Commonwealth.

By the way, the Chenery Stakes ($50K) is being run on Sunday. You can catch it live or on TVG. Not much is written about this man. That's ashame because we who love racing could have learned a great deal from him. He paid $750 for a young mare whose best place was 3rd in a maiden claiming race and bred her to Turn-To to produce First Landing. You'll find Hildene listed as a Blue Hen. She also produced Cicada. He took another mare that he didn't pay much more for and produced a Triple Crown winner. That mare was Somethingroyal and she never even made it in the money much less on the board. Another Blue Hen from VA.

Let's not forget Brookmeade Farm in Upperville. Isabel Dodge Sloan bred a number of fine horses that included Bowl of Flowers and Sword Dancer. Both Preston and Elliot Burch trained for Paul Mellon and Sloan. There was a very large stud on the Northern Neck when I was growing up. The name of the stud and its owner escapes me, but as I recall they were big producers around WWII.

Don't get me wrong, I love VA. I love its history and I love its horses. I get up every morning and tell myself how blessed I am. That being said, I still can't find a DRF when I need it. I'd love to catch some live racing every once in a while, but to be honest its a three hour drive for me to CD and its a 5 hour trip to MD. I can't stand Foxfield because of the drunks.

At least Barbaro06 can get a DRF in DC.

Today, WV, MD and PA have moved VA into the minor leagues and it doesn't matter whether you are fan, owner, breeder, gambler, or horse lover as long as VA remains on the sidelines all of us suffer. I guess I can live without a DRF, but if I do get to the track, I hope I don't forget to preprint the form. I'm at the age where "forgetting" is normal.

I'll get off my soapbox now. Got to go feed the horses. Hope your horses are winning. And where are they running? :wink:

Shammy Davis · Postby **Shammy Davis** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:40 pm

There was a very large stud on the Northern Neck when I was growing up. The name of the stud and its owner escapes me, but as I recall they were big producers around WWII.

As I recall now, it was originally owned by William Sharpe Kilmer. I think it was Court Manor Stud east of Tapahanock (SP). Sun Beau was bred there. If you visit Meadow Stud at Doswell (now the VA Fairgrounds on I-95 north of Richmond) you will see some gravestones of horses on the front lawn of the Chenery House. One of the gravesites is Sun Beau. Two others are Hill Prince and Impertice. Sun Beau's sire was Sun Briar, a French bred purchased by Kilmer. There is an interesting story that before his death Kilmer, seeing the success of Seabiscuit, threatened to put Sun Beau back into training. At the time, I think Sun Beau was eight or nine years Seabiscuits senior. Kilmer died sometime after that empty threat and Chenery bought a number of Kilmer's horses at auction.

There is a great deal of horseracing history here in VA, you just have to look for it. Somewhat like looking for a DRF. :lol: