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Quartet Of Steeplechase Events To Be Streamed Live For Free This Fall

With COVID-19 eliminating, or severely limiting, live spectators at fall steeplechase races from Pennsylvania to Georgia, race organizers were struggling with decisions on whether or not to continue with their race plans. Since the pandemic, and with events not allowed to have spectators in much of the U.S., there has been a large decrease in equestrian events. Many of those employed in the industry face potential unemployment and financial hardship. Additionally, many non-profits usually receive funding and increased awareness through relationships with steeplechase race meets.

In an effort to help alleviate the hardship on the industry and their partners, the National Steeplechase Association has stepped up and is livestreaming several fall race meets. These efforts by NSA allow the horses to race, while spectators enjoy the sport from their homes, and associated non-profits – including land conservation organizations, community hospitals and food banks— continue to have a spotlight on their great work. Over the past years, steeplechase events have contributed millions to community nonprofits.

“We wanted to provide a venue for the steeplechase/racing industry to be able to get horses out and receive some financial support in the form of purse money while continuing to create exposure for non-profit beneficiaries,” explained Dr. William Allison, co-chairman of the Virginia Gold Cup Association, the organization that oversees the Virginia Gold Cup and the International Gold Cup. “Thanks to the NSA, horsemen have been able to continue training their equine athletes and fans can still enjoy the racing through Live Stream viewing.”

Race fans and equestrian enthusiasts can easily “Jump into Fall!” and view the Live Stream at http://nsa.network.video/ on the following dates:

Saturday, Oct. 24 – International Gold Cup; The Plains, Virginia
Sunday, Nov. 1 – Pennsylvania Hunt Cup; Unionville, Pennsylvania
Saturday, Nov. 7 – Steeplechase at Callaway; Pine Mountain, Georgia
Sunday, Nov. 15 – Steeplechase of Charleston; Hollywood, South Carolina

Race day start times generally kick off at 12:30 pm; final start times will be posted on the NSA website 48 hours before each race meet. Expert commentary will be provided by industry insiders Megan Connolly and Joe Clancy, with guest appearances from other sporting notables.

Unlike flat track racing, steeplechase racing provides the thrills and excitement of Thoroughbred horses racing over fences. By most accounts, the first steeplechase race was held in 1752 in Ireland. Today's sport is a true celebration of the long and close relationship between man and the horse. Riders depend on the athleticism, strength, speed and sure-footedness of their horses to carry them safely over varied fences.

“While COVID restrictions have made race meets challenging this year, we hope to be able to bring in new spectators who may want to see and learn about steeplechase racing,” said Al Griffin, president of the NSA. “It's an exciting sport that relies on a partnership between riders and horses—not something you see with other sports. The live stream provides an opportunity for the public to see what it's all about, free of charge.”

This year, the Live Stream will capture that excitement as well as gorgeous fall scenery in some of the country's most beautiful equestrian regions. The complimentary Live Stream productions have been sponsored by Brown Advisory, Charleston's The Post & Courier, Bruton Street-US and the Virginia Equine Alliance.

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Oct. 23 Insights

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

DAUGHTER OF PLUM PRETTY DEBUTS IN NY

1st-BEL, $80K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1m, 12:20p.m.

PLUM AWESOME (Curlin), the latest offspring of GI Kentucky Oaks victress Plum Pretty (Medaglia d’Oro), makes her career bow in this spot for Todd Pletcher. Mandy Pope purchased dual Grade I winner and millionaire Plum Pretty for $4.2-million at the 2012 KEENOV sale and she has produced one winner from three to race thus far. Also debuting in this test is Gary and Mary West homebred Wedding Band (Candy Ride {Arg}), who is out of an unraced half-sister to Hall of Famer and four-time Eclipse winner Curlin (Smart Strike). Juddmonte homebred Millefeuille (Curlin) makes her second attempt here for Bill Mott. A close second on debut over track and trip Sept. 26, she breezed a bullet five furlongs in 1:01 flat (1/5) over a sloppy Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Oct 16. The bay’s second dam is Grade I winner Honest Lady (Seattle Slew), who is responsible for Grade I-winning sire First Defence (Unbridled’s Song) and stakes winners Honest Mischief (Into Mischief), Phantom Rose (Danzig) and Honest Quality (Elusive Quality). TJCIS PPs

MOTT UNVEILS JUDDMONTE BLUEBLOOD

10th-BEL, $80K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 5:20 p.m.

Bill Mott saddles a well-bred firster in Juddmonte homebred HACHURE (Tapit). The chestnut is a half-brother to Group 1 victor Announce (GB) (Selkirk), GSW & G1SP Mexican Gold (Medaglia d’Oro), MGSP Straight Thinking (Mizzen Mast) and stakes-placed Wessex (Unbridled’s Song) and Vanburgh (First Defence). This is also the family of European champion Zafonic (Gone West) and GSW & MG1SP Zamindar (Gone West). TJCIS PPs

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Kentucky Oaks Day Positive Undergoing Further Investigation

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) is conducting a follow-up investigation of a class C medication positive detected in a sample returned from Kentucky Oaks day, according to a KHRC statement Thursday.

“The Derby day samples were ‘cleared,’ showing no irregularities,” the statement read. “The Oaks day samples returned a finding for a class C medication in one (1) primary sample.”

The Kentucky Oaks was run at Churchill Downs this year on Sept. 4. The results “should be available” in November, a KHRC spokesperson confirmed. This year’s Breeders’ Cup is scheduled for Nov. 6 and 7.

According to the statement, “the KHRC will follow its established regulatory process in conducting a follow-up investigation of this matter. The name of the horse, trainer and owner will not be released at this time, “in accordance with that process,” the statement read.

The KHRC’s official laboratory, Industrial Laboratories in Colorado, conducted the initial analysis.

Churchill Downs carded 13 races on Kentucky Oaks day, including six stakes. The headline act was the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, won by Shedaresthedevil, with subsequent GI Preakness S. winner Swiss Skydiver second and the favorite, Gamine, back in third.

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Mr. Buff On The Muscle Ahead Of His Bid To Repeat In Empire Classic

Chester and Mary Broman's Mr. Buff will look to defend his title in the nine-furlong $175,000 Empire Classic, the feature event on Saturday's 11-race Empire Showcase Day card at Belmont Park, offering eight stakes races worth $1.2 million.

Trained by John Kimmel, the 6-year-old Friend Or Foe chestnut sports a record of 39-14-7-4 with purse earnings in excess of $1.1 million. He enters the Empire Classic from a pair of off-the-board efforts in graded races, including a last-out fifth in the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 1 at Saratoga.

The 17.2 hands tall Mr. Buff has breezed consistently on Big Sandy under regular rider Junior Alvarado in preparation for his title defense.

“He's giving me every indication that he's doing well,” said Kimmel. “He's training well and breezing well. Junior gets on him for all his breezes and says he feels terrific. I can't say anything negative about the way he's coming into the race.

“He's had a nice little break,” added Kimmel. “There weren't any New York-bred races for him at the Saratoga meet and this was the first restricted race he was eligible for that he fit.”

The eight-time stakes winner spent his winter at Aqueduct, capturing the Alex M. Robb against state-breds in December and the open Jazil in January ahead of a 20-length score over state-breds in the Haynesfield at one mile on the Big A main that matched a career-best 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

Kimmel said he is hopeful Mr. Buff will return to winning ways on Saturday.

“He's trying to repeat,” said Kimmel. “He's had a good little break coming into it and plenty of preparation breezes. Hopefully it will be enough and he can come out and do his thing.”

Whisper Hill Farm's Frost Me, a Frosted gray bred in the Empire State by Gallagher's Stud, will be among the favorites in Saturday's $150,000 Maid of the Mist at one-mile on Big Sandy for juvenile fillies.

Frost Me earned a 54 Beyer for a debut score at 1 1/16-miles in an off-the-turf maiden allowance tilt on Oct. 12 over a sloppy Belmont main. With Jose Ortiz up, Frost Me was an in-hand 2 ¾-length winner over the more experienced Maid of the Mist-rival Cara's Dreamer.

“It's a little out of my normal routine to run a horse back on a short turnaround like that, but considering the competition it's probably a pretty winnable spot for her,” said Kimmel. “Jose Ortiz said to me that in her first race she was very green and looking around a lot and that there was a lot more in the tank.

“She's come out of the race in good order and she's eating well and happy going back and forth to the track,” added Kimmel. “She's not giving me any signals that the last race knocked her for a loop. We'll take a shot.”

Despite being entered on turf for her debut, Kimmel said he is confident Frost Me can handle any surface.

“I think she can run on anything. I was just looking for a long race and that's why I entered her on the grass,” said Kimmel. “She has a lot of stamina. She just does not get tired. She may not be the quickest thing, but she has a lot of stamina.”

Kimmel will also be represented on Empire Showcase Day by John McClutchy's Arrowheart in the day's opening race, a 1 1/16-mile turf maiden for state-bred juveniles.

After running third on the Saratoga turf at second asking on Sept. 4, Arrowheart was again third last out under Benjamin Hernandez in a one-mile turf maiden on Sept. 26 at Belmont captured by Breadman, who is entered in Saturday's Sleepy Hollow for trainer John Terranova.

“Breadman is a nice horse. He was by far the best that day and my horse got in a little tight in certain spots in that race,” said Kimmel. “Maybe he can work out a little better trip, he has the experience now of two starts on the grass. He's in the one-hole, so he'll have to figure out an inside out trip.”

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