September 25, 2025 • 19 mins
Darrell Wood of the Virginia Equine Alliance & Shenandoah Downs along with Judy Bokman of the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, join us on this week's Harness Racing Alumni Show. Darrell discusses the tracks current two-million-dollar upgrades that include a new track surface and a new 175 stall state of the art barn, he also talks about the upcoming racing events that are scheduled and how they market to bring in a younger audience. Judy joins in and thanks Darrell for the generous donations made by the Virginia Equine Alliances to the SRF, she also talks about the SRF's upcoming events and talks about retired standardbreds in the upcoming Macy's Day Parade that include a now New York City Police horse "Genius At Work" that was formerly owned by Jeff Gural and Bob and Monica Bencal... all on this week's broadcast.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to this week's Harness Racing Alumni Show. I'm Freddie
Hudson and I'm here today with Trade Martin and Bob Marks.
This week's Harness Racing Alumni Show is brought to you
by Hunterton Farm, selling their consignments at the upcoming Lexington
Select Urine Sale September twenty ninth through October third, and
at the Harrisburg Sale November three through the seventh. For
(00:24):
more information, visit Huntertonfarm dot com. The Metal Lands Racetrack
visit Playmetalands dot com. Also, we are looking for sponsors
for the upcoming October release of the Bill o'donald Tribute.
Sponsorships available visit us trots dot com. The Harness Racing
(00:47):
Alumni Show with your hosts Freddie Hudson and Trade Martin
joining us this week, we have two very special guests,
Daryl Wood from the Virginia Equinal Alliance and Channandoah Downs
and our great friend Judy Bachman from the Standard Bed
Retirement Foundation. Darryl and Judy, Welcome back to the Harness
(01:09):
Racing Alumni Show.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Glad to be Patty always.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Okay, Hey, Daryl, I'm going to start with you. It
looks like a lot of new things are happening over
at Channandoah Downs. You have a whole new stable area
in this stable area. Have you guys been stalled cameras
on the horses this year?
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Yeah, we actually have, Fred Wee. This is our tenth
year of racing up in Woodstock, Virginia and it's a
fair ground, so it's you know, it's a facility that's
not built and meant to be a racetrack, but over
the years we tried to make upgrades every year and
we're really really close to making it look and feel
and acting like a racetrack, especially the barn area. So
(01:52):
we we invested over two million dollars this year and
built a one hundred and seventy five stall barn that's
just fantastic and it's changed the way that we do
things instead of having stalls under tents which are susceptible
to weather issues. Of course, we've not got this beautiful,
brand new facility. We've got cameras installed there, so yes,
(02:16):
it's a huge stuff forward for us for us, actually
a game changer, and we just started using it here
when the meat opened two weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
So so far, so good.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Are you still using the other stalls with the tents
are they gone.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
We're using some but way to a lesser extent, and
they're only ship installs. So the horses coming in for
just Saturday or Sunday or for the weekend are based there,
and it just made it's just made life.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
You know that the sleepless nights for.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
When the forecast calls for forty million an hour winds
and a potential storm coming and that now is just gone.
So we know we've got a safe facility for the
horses and the horsemen and we can accommodate now under
permanent structures about two hundred and ten. So that kind
of takes care of all the horses that are based
at the track throughout the meat and train their seven
(03:06):
days a week. So it's again it's a multi purpose barn.
So the county Fair whose facilities and grounds were on
can use that during the fair as well, and we
use it during the race meet. So it's really become
a nice win win situation.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
When is the big fair day over there? The October Fair,
I think it's the October Fair, big your big fall
fall festival.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Yeah, it's called the Autumnfest and it's coming up a
week from Saturday, October fourth. We'll have about four thousand
people on the grounds, all of whom will at some
point during the afternoon watching wagers and harness races, which
is great. The big County Fair they hold their Precedes,
our fall meat, and they do four days of non
betting races for the for the standard breds there. So
(03:51):
there's such a tradition of standardbred racing up in Woodstock,
Virginia that goes back. This is the hundred eighth year
they've run the County Fair there with harness racing, so
it's a generation a generation that interest has kind of
been passed down.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
I remember I was there a couple of years ago
and I was representing the Santa Bred Retirement Foundation on
some and over their merchandise there, and I think we
sold close to one thousand dollars worth of merchandise. Judy,
is that correct?
Speaker 4 (04:22):
I do recall that. Yes, you look quite busy, and
thank you for so much for doing that. That was
a great day there, and that was.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
That was the day, Daryl. You had a lot of
the university kids over there from the local college, and
I was really surprised at how they were going through
the windows all the time.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Betta, I'll go when you got mom and dad's money
and you can infest that way at that.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
That's great. Don't bet your own money his mom.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
So, Darrell, what other events do you have coming up?
I know that you draw a younger crowd to Shina though,
what downs that most racetracks do. What events do you
have coming up? And what is your secret to doing?
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Souff?
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Well, we do get the younger folks when James Madison
University's football team is out of town or they're in
a bye week, so we haven't seen that big influx,
but we hope to. This weekend we've got the popular
Wiener dog races like every track seems to be doing
these days, and packs the grand stand with families and
young people and just it's a great atmosphere we've got.
(05:36):
We're given fans a chance to own a horse for
a day and sharing a five thousand dollars pers This Saturday,
we've got the Autumn Fest that we just talked about
here coming up. We've got a Pink Power event with
a miniature horse racers coming up. So we try to
every weekend we try to do something to Taylor maybe
to a little bit of a different audience and try
(05:56):
to expose you know, new fans to this great sport
and hopefully if we can get them back for at
a couple three times during the year to different events,
we maybe can create a year our customer that they
can then wager maybe online even over the winter time,
or go to Colonial Downs, or go up to roast
Craft or Charlestown and enjoy, you know, racing.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
And Daryl, you guys have been very very generous to
the charities. And there are different force associations, you know,
horse associations or rescue associations. However, we want to word
that you've been very generous to the Centerfred Retirement Foundation.
Judy's here and I think that Judy, what you have
ninety horses in Virginia now.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Just about I was just looking at this the other day.
We have a couple of big winners down there. One
that earns three hundred and twenty two thousand dollars. That
was come on, big guy. And we have another one
who earned one hundred and thirty six thousand and that
was sudden int and he's getting up in years and
(07:02):
he's twenty. I'm sure he's quite happy to be turned
out and join the rest of his life. He certainly
deserves it, and we really appreciate your support. I mean,
this is this is how we can get this done.
It's uh, you know, there's there's nothing standard about supporting
these horses, and your support has just been so steady
(07:23):
and we're very grateful.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Yeah, we're up for a little bit differ. Yeah, no,
we want you in October. We just we're still trying
to get that date that we can do a formal
check presentation event with several nonprofits there together. But yeah,
we're set up as a five oh one c six,
different from probably a lot of other tracks, but we
(07:45):
you know, we're it's a horse Uh, we're a horseman's group.
It's not a it's not a casino per se. So
a very understanding of the need for aftercare after the racing.
You know, careers are done for both Thoroughbread, standard Bread
steple chase horses everybody.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
So what you guys do tod is fantastic.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Well, thank you. I think you know. The big thing
is the public likes to see that these horses are
taken care of. People are very passionate to animals these days.
You know, and it's very important and it's terrific that
you recognize it. So thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Yep, No, happy to do it.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Hey day. Daryl is the governor and his wife's going
to be attending the races this year. Governor, you can
we uh.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
The latest we heard is that the governor's wife is
extremely passionate about horses, horse racing breeding and as far
as I know, she's tenciled in the last day of
the meet on October twenty sixth. So but again it's
the dates have changed a couple of times, but she
definitely wants to make it out this fall and looks
like closing day might be the might be the one.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Okay, that was the She was supposed to be there
the last closing date when I was there also, and
I think something came up where they couldn't make it
at the last minute.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
So from that's been great for Virginia, just their their
interest in passion, really her passion, especially about just horses
and the whole industry.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
It's been it's been great.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Is Foiled again going to make an appearance again.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
He's been out I think three times so far over
the last seven or eight years. Actually, four one racing
and three in retirement. Yeah, we had his birthday here
two years ago, but no plans, no plans yet, but uh,
definitely a crowd favorite that still can bring in a
(09:40):
lot of fans every time he's up in the area.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
For sure. Fred didn't didn't go ahead, Judy.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
I think he's working just as hard. Being retired. He
traveled quite a bit.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
He's just so gentle and loves people around him and
he's just a perfect, perfect spokesperson, you know, equine wise,
you know, for the sport and just what a great
history too.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
And then you also you also had you also had
the Secretariat statue go through there one time, too, didn't you.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Yeah, that was a big score. That was a couple
of years ago. On the way.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
It was actually between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness,
and we happened to be not too far off the
beaten path from point A to point B, so we
had him reside on our property for a week and
and the fans got to come out and get pictures
and T shirts.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
And yeah, that was that was something.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
I mean, that's just that's you know, arguably the greatest
racehorse of all time, just bred about thirty miles north
of Richmond, kind of the hometown horse and boy was
there a lot of people there to see that statue.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Nice Okay, yeah, the fans love the horses. It's so nice.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Yeah there and Judy, Judy, what type of the events
does the Standardbred Retirement Foundation have coming up?
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Well? Boy, so we have in November we do our
annual holiday at the farm which we bring back a
lot of our horses from the mounted police units for
a demonstration and the folks that come just love to
talk to the offices there and pet the horses. So
(11:30):
we have New York City, Newark, New Jersey, State Police,
Philadelphia Mounted Unit. It's a whole afternoon of meeting. We
have about eighty six horses here on a regular basis,
so it's meeting the horses. We have a young group
(11:53):
of girls who are amazing that come there between the
ages of eight and eleven, and we ride our horses
in the ring for adopters.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
You know.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
We have food trucks the whole nine yards. It's quite
it's quite fun. We do holiday shopping. We have a
whole setup for that. What else, that's that's the biggest
thing for the next few months. We have a golf
outing on Monday, but that's up here in New Jersey.
(12:25):
We usually have the run in Delaware every year, but
unfortunately the golf club is being renovated, so we don't
have that one this year. And that's what we have
going on. We're looking forward to it and if you
guys are up to it, come on.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Okay, Well, we might end up doing the Middleburgh parade again,
but I'll look into that. They'll be sending me that
notification pretty soon any day now. And they're a big
problem there. I just couldn't get any horses to show
up with us the last time.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
It's a lot of work. It's a lot of work
to get the horses to come. Yeah, it's a lot
of work to get people, you know, to get yourself
to go. I don't know. It's hard to get people
out so and then to drag their horses along makes
it a little bit tougher. But you know, there are
a group of people that are gained, so we would
(13:21):
love to send you horses to Nittleburgh, so we can
talk about that again, okay.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
And the other thing for your fall festival, Judy, do
you have is with the Mounted Police horses coming in
from New York. Is Jeff Garral and Monica Benkel's horse
coming with them, Genius.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Yes, and he's got the perfect name, Genius. He's their star.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
They bring him everywhere. So you'll see him in the
Maze's Day Parade. You'll see all of our standardbreds that
the New York Mountain unit has an Amaze's Day Parade,
which is really kind of cool watch on TV. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
I didn't know that he was in the Macy's Day Parade,
so that's new news to me.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
Oh, you know, maybe the will put out a press
release before that so people can look for him. He's
quite the hunk.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Yeah, So what else is going on? Darryl?
Speaker 2 (14:24):
My goodness, Virginia busy, I will say that.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Yeah, you know, we've got we're up to fourteen weeks
the standard Bread racing now seven and fall and seven
weeks in spring. Now this will be the next year
will be the fourth straight spring meet. Thoroughbread continues to
grow rapidly. This year, Colonial Downs ran forty four days
of racing. Again, that's so from fifteen in twenty nineteen,
(14:49):
and that's after being shuttered for five years previously. So
the thoroughbread industry is just rebounded tremendously. The Virginia Derby
after years as the turf race was switched to over
to the dirt in March as a prep race for
the Kentucky Derby. It works with Churchill Downs owning Colonial
Now and the new date was just announced last week
(15:10):
for twenty twenty six. That's going to be March fourteenth,
the first ever advanced sale sellout at Colonial Downs ever,
and it's just yeah, So there's big things happening here
in Virginia and we're excited from a standard bread perspective
to be part of that growth.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
You've done a tremendous job, Absolutely tremendous job, and these
other tracks really should take a look at what you're
doing to help themselves because you really stand out. You've
grown it, You've got a lot more interest in fans.
It's terrific.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
Yah know, we're for the races.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
I want to promote racing, but you know, Daryl, you
also have the steeple chase races that takeways in the
screen in the fall and they draw a huge crowd.
I mean, you know, you get seventy thousand people for
the steeple chase races.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Yeah there was, there was pre COVID fred but yeah,
close to seventy back in twenty eighteen. It's the Virginia
Gold Cup specifically that gets that number there. They got
they got back to around thirty or thirty five thousand
this year, so they're definitely on the trajectory to get
back to where they were. But all four venues, Foxfield, Middleburg,
(16:27):
Mount Pelier and the Virginia Gold Cup in the Plains
Virginia all do just big business tailgating and just a
fantastic atmosphere with just thousands of people. So that's that's
the Virginia jewel, those steeplechase events.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
I always thought, and we spoke about this last year,
that it would be a good place for hornet race
and to market to would be at the steeplechase races,
especially the Gold Cup.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
No doubt, with that kind of people there and again
a lot of young people, and you know, just to
see the celebration of racing those days is it's this fantastic,
you know. Twenty eighteen, the Virginia Gold Cup was the
largest spectator sporting event in Virginia, even more so than
Virginia Tech football University of Virginia football, even NASCAR. So
(17:17):
that's the that's the impact that that Virginia Gold Cup has.
So what a just a great event to UH to
have in Virginia.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
I bring that up because Judy, I think that would
be a good place to sell merchandise. Okay, before thirty
in front of thirty thousand people. If that's a good
that's a good clientele.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
Okay, I'm coming with that.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
I'm gonna I'm gonna close the show out. And Judy,
do you have any closing words? And Darrow your any
closing words before we close up?
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Judy want to go first?
Speaker 4 (17:53):
There, I just I have my thanks in one word,
just says it all. Thanks.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Yeah, and everyone can visit the Standardbred Retirement Foundation at
Adoctorhorse dot org.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yeah, Drek, I can close with Yeah, we're right now.
We're getting ready for our third fall weekend of racing.
We go through the end of October every Saturday and
Sunday at one oh five and encourage people if they're
out traveling, 're right off Interstate eighty one between I say,
between Winchester and Harrisonburg and really easy to get to
(18:29):
or right off the exit. Encourage people to check us out.
It's definitely a throwback style of racing. There's no frills,
there's no dining rooms or suites. It's just a rickety
old grand stand and everyone's into the live racing, so
good atmosphere, okay.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Hunterton Farm selling their consignments at the upcoming Lexington Select
Urine Sale September twenty ninth through October third, and at
the Harrisburg Sale November third through the seventh. For more information,
visit Hunterton Farm dot com. The Metal Lands Racetrack visit
play Meatlands dot com. Also, we are looking for sponsors
(19:10):
for the upcoming October release of the Bill o'donald Tribute.
Sponsorships available, visit us trots dot com. That's a wrap
for this week's show. Thanks for listening, and please join
us again next week The Hunness Racing Alumni Show
Welcome to this week's Harness Racing Alumni Show. I'm Freddie
Hudson and I'm here today with Trade Martin and Bob Marks.
This week's Harness Racing Alumni Show is brought to you
by Hunterton Farm, selling their consignments at the upcoming Lexington
Select Urine Sale September twenty ninth through October third, and
at the Harrisburg Sale November three through the seventh. For
(00:24):
more information, visit Huntertonfarm dot com. The Metal Lands Racetrack
visit Playmetalands dot com. Also, we are looking for sponsors
for the upcoming October release of the Bill o'donald Tribute.
Sponsorships available visit us trots dot com. The Harness Racing
(00:47):
Alumni Show with your hosts Freddie Hudson and Trade Martin
joining us this week, we have two very special guests,
Daryl Wood from the Virginia Equinal Alliance and Channandoah Downs
and our great friend Judy Bachman from the Standard Bed
Retirement Foundation. Darryl and Judy, Welcome back to the Harness
(01:09):
Racing Alumni Show.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Glad to be Patty always.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Okay, Hey, Daryl, I'm going to start with you. It
looks like a lot of new things are happening over
at Channandoah Downs. You have a whole new stable area
in this stable area. Have you guys been stalled cameras
on the horses this year?
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Yeah, we actually have, Fred Wee. This is our tenth
year of racing up in Woodstock, Virginia and it's a
fair ground, so it's you know, it's a facility that's
not built and meant to be a racetrack, but over
the years we tried to make upgrades every year and
we're really really close to making it look and feel
and acting like a racetrack, especially the barn area. So
(01:52):
we we invested over two million dollars this year and
built a one hundred and seventy five stall barn that's
just fantastic and it's changed the way that we do
things instead of having stalls under tents which are susceptible
to weather issues. Of course, we've not got this beautiful,
brand new facility. We've got cameras installed there, so yes,
(02:16):
it's a huge stuff forward for us for us, actually
a game changer, and we just started using it here
when the meat opened two weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
So so far, so good.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Are you still using the other stalls with the tents
are they gone.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
We're using some but way to a lesser extent, and
they're only ship installs. So the horses coming in for
just Saturday or Sunday or for the weekend are based there,
and it just made it's just made life.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
You know that the sleepless nights for.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
When the forecast calls for forty million an hour winds
and a potential storm coming and that now is just gone.
So we know we've got a safe facility for the
horses and the horsemen and we can accommodate now under
permanent structures about two hundred and ten. So that kind
of takes care of all the horses that are based
at the track throughout the meat and train their seven
(03:06):
days a week. So it's again it's a multi purpose barn.
So the county Fair whose facilities and grounds were on
can use that during the fair as well, and we
use it during the race meet. So it's really become
a nice win win situation.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
When is the big fair day over there? The October Fair,
I think it's the October Fair, big your big fall
fall festival.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Yeah, it's called the Autumnfest and it's coming up a
week from Saturday, October fourth. We'll have about four thousand
people on the grounds, all of whom will at some
point during the afternoon watching wagers and harness races, which
is great. The big County Fair they hold their Precedes,
our fall meat, and they do four days of non
betting races for the for the standard breds there. So
(03:51):
there's such a tradition of standardbred racing up in Woodstock,
Virginia that goes back. This is the hundred eighth year
they've run the County Fair there with harness racing, so
it's a generation a generation that interest has kind of
been passed down.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
I remember I was there a couple of years ago
and I was representing the Santa Bred Retirement Foundation on
some and over their merchandise there, and I think we
sold close to one thousand dollars worth of merchandise. Judy,
is that correct?
Speaker 4 (04:22):
I do recall that. Yes, you look quite busy, and
thank you for so much for doing that. That was
a great day there, and that was.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
That was the day, Daryl. You had a lot of
the university kids over there from the local college, and
I was really surprised at how they were going through
the windows all the time.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Betta, I'll go when you got mom and dad's money
and you can infest that way at that.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
That's great. Don't bet your own money his mom.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
So, Darrell, what other events do you have coming up?
I know that you draw a younger crowd to Shina though,
what downs that most racetracks do. What events do you
have coming up? And what is your secret to doing?
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Souff?
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Well, we do get the younger folks when James Madison
University's football team is out of town or they're in
a bye week, so we haven't seen that big influx,
but we hope to. This weekend we've got the popular
Wiener dog races like every track seems to be doing
these days, and packs the grand stand with families and
young people and just it's a great atmosphere we've got.
(05:36):
We're given fans a chance to own a horse for
a day and sharing a five thousand dollars pers This Saturday,
we've got the Autumn Fest that we just talked about
here coming up. We've got a Pink Power event with
a miniature horse racers coming up. So we try to
every weekend we try to do something to Taylor maybe
to a little bit of a different audience and try
(05:56):
to expose you know, new fans to this great sport
and hopefully if we can get them back for at
a couple three times during the year to different events,
we maybe can create a year our customer that they
can then wager maybe online even over the winter time,
or go to Colonial Downs, or go up to roast
Craft or Charlestown and enjoy, you know, racing.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
And Daryl, you guys have been very very generous to
the charities. And there are different force associations, you know,
horse associations or rescue associations. However, we want to word
that you've been very generous to the Centerfred Retirement Foundation.
Judy's here and I think that Judy, what you have
ninety horses in Virginia now.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Just about I was just looking at this the other day.
We have a couple of big winners down there. One
that earns three hundred and twenty two thousand dollars. That
was come on, big guy. And we have another one
who earned one hundred and thirty six thousand and that
was sudden int and he's getting up in years and
(07:02):
he's twenty. I'm sure he's quite happy to be turned
out and join the rest of his life. He certainly
deserves it, and we really appreciate your support. I mean,
this is this is how we can get this done.
It's uh, you know, there's there's nothing standard about supporting
these horses, and your support has just been so steady
(07:23):
and we're very grateful.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Yeah, we're up for a little bit differ. Yeah, no,
we want you in October. We just we're still trying
to get that date that we can do a formal
check presentation event with several nonprofits there together. But yeah,
we're set up as a five oh one c six,
different from probably a lot of other tracks, but we
(07:45):
you know, we're it's a horse Uh, we're a horseman's group.
It's not a it's not a casino per se. So
a very understanding of the need for aftercare after the racing.
You know, careers are done for both Thoroughbread, standard Bread
steple chase horses everybody.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
So what you guys do tod is fantastic.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Well, thank you. I think you know. The big thing
is the public likes to see that these horses are
taken care of. People are very passionate to animals these days.
You know, and it's very important and it's terrific that
you recognize it. So thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Yep, No, happy to do it.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Hey day. Daryl is the governor and his wife's going
to be attending the races this year. Governor, you can
we uh.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
The latest we heard is that the governor's wife is
extremely passionate about horses, horse racing breeding and as far
as I know, she's tenciled in the last day of
the meet on October twenty sixth. So but again it's
the dates have changed a couple of times, but she
definitely wants to make it out this fall and looks
like closing day might be the might be the one.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Okay, that was the She was supposed to be there
the last closing date when I was there also, and
I think something came up where they couldn't make it
at the last minute.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
So from that's been great for Virginia, just their their
interest in passion, really her passion, especially about just horses
and the whole industry.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
It's been it's been great.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Is Foiled again going to make an appearance again.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
He's been out I think three times so far over
the last seven or eight years. Actually, four one racing
and three in retirement. Yeah, we had his birthday here
two years ago, but no plans, no plans yet, but uh,
definitely a crowd favorite that still can bring in a
(09:40):
lot of fans every time he's up in the area.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
For sure. Fred didn't didn't go ahead, Judy.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
I think he's working just as hard. Being retired. He
traveled quite a bit.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
He's just so gentle and loves people around him and
he's just a perfect, perfect spokesperson, you know, equine wise,
you know, for the sport and just what a great
history too.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
And then you also you also had you also had
the Secretariat statue go through there one time, too, didn't you.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Yeah, that was a big score. That was a couple
of years ago. On the way.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
It was actually between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness,
and we happened to be not too far off the
beaten path from point A to point B, so we
had him reside on our property for a week and
and the fans got to come out and get pictures
and T shirts.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
And yeah, that was that was something.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
I mean, that's just that's you know, arguably the greatest
racehorse of all time, just bred about thirty miles north
of Richmond, kind of the hometown horse and boy was
there a lot of people there to see that statue.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Nice Okay, yeah, the fans love the horses. It's so nice.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Yeah there and Judy, Judy, what type of the events
does the Standardbred Retirement Foundation have coming up?
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Well? Boy, so we have in November we do our
annual holiday at the farm which we bring back a
lot of our horses from the mounted police units for
a demonstration and the folks that come just love to
talk to the offices there and pet the horses. So
(11:30):
we have New York City, Newark, New Jersey, State Police,
Philadelphia Mounted Unit. It's a whole afternoon of meeting. We
have about eighty six horses here on a regular basis,
so it's meeting the horses. We have a young group
(11:53):
of girls who are amazing that come there between the
ages of eight and eleven, and we ride our horses
in the ring for adopters.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
You know.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
We have food trucks the whole nine yards. It's quite
it's quite fun. We do holiday shopping. We have a
whole setup for that. What else, that's that's the biggest
thing for the next few months. We have a golf
outing on Monday, but that's up here in New Jersey.
(12:25):
We usually have the run in Delaware every year, but
unfortunately the golf club is being renovated, so we don't
have that one this year. And that's what we have
going on. We're looking forward to it and if you
guys are up to it, come on.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Okay, Well, we might end up doing the Middleburgh parade again,
but I'll look into that. They'll be sending me that
notification pretty soon any day now. And they're a big
problem there. I just couldn't get any horses to show
up with us the last time.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
It's a lot of work. It's a lot of work
to get the horses to come. Yeah, it's a lot
of work to get people, you know, to get yourself
to go. I don't know. It's hard to get people
out so and then to drag their horses along makes
it a little bit tougher. But you know, there are
a group of people that are gained, so we would
(13:21):
love to send you horses to Nittleburgh, so we can
talk about that again, okay.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
And the other thing for your fall festival, Judy, do
you have is with the Mounted Police horses coming in
from New York. Is Jeff Garral and Monica Benkel's horse
coming with them, Genius.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Yes, and he's got the perfect name, Genius. He's their star.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
They bring him everywhere. So you'll see him in the
Maze's Day Parade. You'll see all of our standardbreds that
the New York Mountain unit has an Amaze's Day Parade,
which is really kind of cool watch on TV. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
I didn't know that he was in the Macy's Day Parade,
so that's new news to me.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
Oh, you know, maybe the will put out a press
release before that so people can look for him. He's
quite the hunk.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Yeah, So what else is going on? Darryl?
Speaker 2 (14:24):
My goodness, Virginia busy, I will say that.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Yeah, you know, we've got we're up to fourteen weeks
the standard Bread racing now seven and fall and seven
weeks in spring. Now this will be the next year
will be the fourth straight spring meet. Thoroughbread continues to
grow rapidly. This year, Colonial Downs ran forty four days
of racing. Again, that's so from fifteen in twenty nineteen,
(14:49):
and that's after being shuttered for five years previously. So
the thoroughbread industry is just rebounded tremendously. The Virginia Derby
after years as the turf race was switched to over
to the dirt in March as a prep race for
the Kentucky Derby. It works with Churchill Downs owning Colonial
Now and the new date was just announced last week
(15:10):
for twenty twenty six. That's going to be March fourteenth,
the first ever advanced sale sellout at Colonial Downs ever,
and it's just yeah, So there's big things happening here
in Virginia and we're excited from a standard bread perspective
to be part of that growth.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
You've done a tremendous job, Absolutely tremendous job, and these
other tracks really should take a look at what you're
doing to help themselves because you really stand out. You've
grown it, You've got a lot more interest in fans.
It's terrific.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
Yah know, we're for the races.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
I want to promote racing, but you know, Daryl, you
also have the steeple chase races that takeways in the
screen in the fall and they draw a huge crowd.
I mean, you know, you get seventy thousand people for
the steeple chase races.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Yeah there was, there was pre COVID fred but yeah,
close to seventy back in twenty eighteen. It's the Virginia
Gold Cup specifically that gets that number there. They got
they got back to around thirty or thirty five thousand
this year, so they're definitely on the trajectory to get
back to where they were. But all four venues, Foxfield, Middleburg,
(16:27):
Mount Pelier and the Virginia Gold Cup in the Plains
Virginia all do just big business tailgating and just a
fantastic atmosphere with just thousands of people. So that's that's
the Virginia jewel, those steeplechase events.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
I always thought, and we spoke about this last year,
that it would be a good place for hornet race
and to market to would be at the steeplechase races,
especially the Gold Cup.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
No doubt, with that kind of people there and again
a lot of young people, and you know, just to
see the celebration of racing those days is it's this fantastic,
you know. Twenty eighteen, the Virginia Gold Cup was the
largest spectator sporting event in Virginia, even more so than
Virginia Tech football University of Virginia football, even NASCAR. So
(17:17):
that's the that's the impact that that Virginia Gold Cup has.
So what a just a great event to UH to
have in Virginia.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
I bring that up because Judy, I think that would
be a good place to sell merchandise. Okay, before thirty
in front of thirty thousand people. If that's a good
that's a good clientele.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
Okay, I'm coming with that.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
I'm gonna I'm gonna close the show out. And Judy,
do you have any closing words? And Darrow your any
closing words before we close up?
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Judy want to go first?
Speaker 4 (17:53):
There, I just I have my thanks in one word,
just says it all. Thanks.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Yeah, and everyone can visit the Standardbred Retirement Foundation at
Adoctorhorse dot org.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yeah, Drek, I can close with Yeah, we're right now.
We're getting ready for our third fall weekend of racing.
We go through the end of October every Saturday and
Sunday at one oh five and encourage people if they're
out traveling, 're right off Interstate eighty one between I say,
between Winchester and Harrisonburg and really easy to get to
(18:29):
or right off the exit. Encourage people to check us out.
It's definitely a throwback style of racing. There's no frills,
there's no dining rooms or suites. It's just a rickety
old grand stand and everyone's into the live racing, so
good atmosphere, okay.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Hunterton Farm selling their consignments at the upcoming Lexington Select
Urine Sale September twenty ninth through October third, and at
the Harrisburg Sale November third through the seventh. For more information,
visit Hunterton Farm dot com. The Metal Lands Racetrack visit
play Meatlands dot com. Also, we are looking for sponsors
(19:10):
for the upcoming October release of the Bill o'donald Tribute.
Sponsorships available, visit us trots dot com. That's a wrap
for this week's show. Thanks for listening, and please join
us again next week The Hunness Racing Alumni Show
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