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Racing Pioneer Sylvia Bishop Featured In New Book

A chance meeting, an exchange of pleasantries in Virginia with a stranger while waiting in line for a cup of coffee, led Vicky Moon on a 15-year journey that has resulted in “Sylvia Rideoutt Bishop Had a Way With Horses.”

The book tells the story of Bishop, a pioneer in sport who became the first Black woman to win a Thoroughbred race as a licensed trainer, according to Moon's book, while training horses at Laurel Park, Timonium and Charles Town, as well as former tracks Hagerstown Race Course, Shenandoah Downs and Cumberland Race Track.

Moon, an author of several books including the “The Private Passion of Jackie Kennedy Onassis” and “Equestrian Life,” was fortunate to spend time with Bishop before she died in December of 2004.

“After the chance meeting with one of her relatives waiting for coffee, I was able to spend one day a week with her from August of 2004 until December of that year when she passed away,” Moon said. “She knew the impact of what she did, but in a very unassuming way. She would sit on her couch and say, 'I was the first Black woman to do this.'”

There was probably no one better to tell Bishop's story than Moon, who grew up in Fort Lauderdale, learned to ride in nearby Davie, and watched her family's horses run at Gulfstream Park, Hialeah Park and Calder as a child.

“My mother would let me skip school to go to Hialeah,” recalled Moon, a resident of Fort Lauderdale who spends summers in Virginia.

Moon's chance encounter in the coffee shop and the time she spent with Bishop led to her 15-year study of Bishop's life as well as her determination to break stereotypes and segregation in Thoroughbred racing over the past century.

Born in West Virginia, Bishop, one of 17 children, worked as a groom at Charles Town at the age of 14. While many of the horses she trained ran under her husband's name, she became the first licensed Black woman to train the winner of a Thoroughbred race in the United States on October of 1959 with a horse named Chalkee.

Bishop, who left racing for financial reasons between 1973-1987 to work at Doubleday publishing, trained some horses for Nelson Bunker Hunt as well as Fasig-Tipton President Tyson Gilpin. It was Gilpin's Bright Gem who afforded Bishop one of her biggest victories, winning the Iron Horse Mile at Shenandoah in 1962. Eddie Arcaro presented the winning trophy and Carl Gambardella was aboard. She returned to training in the 1980s and saddled her last winner in 2000, visiting the Charles Town winner's circle with Lone Wolf in February of that year.

“Sylvia Rideoutt Bishop Had a Way With Horses” is available as a book and on Kindle at Amazon.com. Autographed hardback books are available at vickymoon.com.

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Mighty Heart, Pink Lloyd Among 2020 Sovereign Award Finalists

The Jockey Club of Canada has announced the finalists for the 2020 Sovereign Awards, which christens Canada's champions. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 46th Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony will be held virtually in April. The winners of 12 horse categories and five human categories will be crowned.

Finalists in each category follow.

Champion 2-year-old female: Alda (Munnings), Dreaming of Drew (Speightster), and Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown)

Champion 2-year-old male: Gretzky the Great (Nyquist), Master Spy (Silent Name), Ready to Repeat (More Than Ready), and Stephen (Constitution)

Champion 3-year-old female: Artie's Princess (We Miss Artie), Curlin's Voyage (Curlin), and Merveilleux (Paynter)

Champion 3-year-old male: Belichick (Lemon Drop Kid), Mighty Heart (Dramedy), and Shirl's Speight (Speightstown)

Champion older main track female: Painting (Distorted Humor), Souper Escape (Medaglia d'Oro), and Summer Sunday (Silent Name)

Champion older main track male: Mr Ritz (Oasis Dream), Pink Lloyd (Old Forester), and Skywire (Afleet Alex)

Champion female turf horse: Elizabeth Way (Frankel), Rideforthecause (Candy Ride), and Theodora B. (Ghostzapper)

Champion male turf horse: Count Again (Awesome Again), Say the Word (More Than Ready), and Silent Poet (Silent Name)

Champion female sprinter: Artie's Princess (We Miss Artie), Boardroom (Commissioner), and Lady Grace (Kantharos)

Champion male sprinter: Not So Quiet (Silent Name), Pink Lloyd (Old Forester), and Silent Poet (Silent Name)

The outstanding broodmare category includes Count to Three (Red Ransom), Danceforthecause (Giant's Causeway), and Include Katherine (Include).

Horse of the Year finalists will be announced and a winner anointed at the ceremony.

Finalists for outstanding breeder are Anderson Farms Ont., Inc, Sam-Son Farm, and Tall Oaks Farm; while outstanding owner is between Gary Barber, Live Oak Plantation, and Sam-Son Farm. Kevin Attard, Josie Carroll, and Mark Casse are up for outstanding trainer. The outstanding jockey honored will be either Rafael Manuel Hernandez, Patrick Husbands, or Justin Stein; and outstanding apprentice jockey is a three-way battle between Nikki Alderson, Maurcio Malvaez, and Edgar Zenteno.

Media award finalists will be announced later this month and crowned at the ceremony. Also announced later in February will be the winner of the outstanding groom award and a special Sovereign Award winner.

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Weekend Lineup: Road To The Kentucky Derby Continues Through Tampa, Aqueduct

The Road to the Kentucky Derby resumes on Saturday with the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct Racetrack and Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs both offering qualifying points to the top-four finishers points on a 10-4-2-1 scale toward the first Saturday in May.

Both the Withers and the Sam F. Davis will both be showcased on the NYRA-produced “America's Day at the Races” program along with races from Oaklawn Park and other tracks. Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, the show will air from 2-6:30 p.m. ET on FS2 on February 6.

Racing from Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park, and other tracks will be shown on TVG all weekend as part of their usual comprehensive coverage.

Saturday, Feb. 6

2:36 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Suwannee River Stakes at Gulfstream Park on TVG

La Signare (FR) is slated for a return to Gulfstream Park for Saturday's Suwannee River, and trainer Brendan Walsh couldn't be more pleased to bring the well-traveled 6-year-old mare back to the site of her last stakes win. The French-bred mare captured the Sand Springs last March before clashing with some of the best turf fillies in the country during the rest of a 2020 racing season that concluded with a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Stakes at Belmont Park.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GP020621USA6-EQB.html

3:30 p.m.—$175,000 Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on TVG

A field of 12 older horses are expected for Saturday's 35th running of the Tampa Bay Stakes headed by Sole Volante, last year's Sam F. Davis Stakes winner, and Grade 2-winning 4-year-old colt Fancy Liquor. Sole Volante is trained by Patrick Biancone and will make his seasonal bow having most recently finished sixth in the Tropical Park Derby on Dec. 26. Fancy Liquor is trained by Michael Maker is seeking his first win since taking the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes last September.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/TAM020621USA8-EQB.html

4:03 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Richard Mandella's impressive recent maiden winner Moonlight d'Oro and Bob Baffert's graded stakes winning Kalypso headline a field of five sophomore fillies going one mile in Saturday's Las Virgenes Stakes, which offers 10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the winner. The 4-5 favorite in her first try at two turns, Moonlight d'Oro pressed the early pace and drew off to a solid three length win going a flat mile on Dec. 13 at Los Alamitos under Flavien Prat, who will ride back in the Las Virgenes. A $620,000 Keeneland September Yearling, Moonlight d'Oro finished a close second as the 3-5 favorite in her five furlong debut last August and was then third, beaten 1 ½ lengths going six furlongs on Nov. 7.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA020621USA3-EQB.html

4:25 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct on TVG and FS2

Trainer Todd Pletcher will be packing a one-two punch in pursuit of a fourth Withers victory, sending out maiden-winners Overtook and Donegal Bay, both of which will be making their respective stakes debut. Owned by Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, Overtook graduated going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct on Dec. 20. The son of Curlin was 10 lengths behind the pace before making a six-wide move around the far turn, making up considerable ground in the stretch to secure a two-length triumph while recording a 70 Beyer Speed Figure.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU020621USA8-EQB.html

4:36 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

In what appears to be a wide-open affair on turf, recent arrival Masteroffoxhounds and well-accomplished California-bred Acclimate figure prominently among six older horses in Saturday's San Marcos Stakes. Originally scheduled to be run Jan. 30, the San Marcos was moved to this Saturday to avoid heavy rains and will be contested for the 69th time. Trained by Richard Baltas, Masteroffoxhounds began his career at age two in Ireland and managed one win from six starts on the Emerald Isle before making his U.S. debut on Nov. 7. A non-threatening seventh in a one-mile turf allowance, Masteroffoxhounds came back win going away by 4 ¼ lengths in a 1 3/8-miles turf allowance Nov. 28.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA020621USA4-EQB.html

4:32 p.m.—$175,000 Grade 3 Endeavour Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on TVG

Heading the field for the 22nd edition of the Endeavour Stakes are 4-year-old filly New York Girl, an Irish-bred who won her first start in the United States on Dec. 31 at Gulfstream, and Counterparty Risk, a game second in the Lady of Shamrock Stakes on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. New York Girl is trained by Mott and will be ridden by Junior Alvarado. Chad Brown conditions Counterparty Risk, who will be ridden by John Velazquez.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/TAM020621USA10-EQB.html

5:02 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on TVG and FS2

Nova Rags, who won the Pasco Stakes on Jan. 16, and Candy Man Rocket, a runaway winner of a maiden special weight sprint on Jan. 9 at Gulfstream, give Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott a formidable pair of contenders in Saturday's Sam F. Davis Stakes. Mott may have rival trainer Todd Pletcher to beat. Pletcher, who has won a record six Sam F. Davis Stakes, will go for No. 7 with Donegal Racing's colt Millean and St. Elias Stables' Known Agenda, who finished third in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes on Dec. 5 at Aqueduct.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/TAM020621USA11-EQB.html

6:14 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

A pair of impressive first time maiden winners, Bob Baffert's Concert Tour and Eric Kruljac's The Chosen Vron, head a field of six sophomores going seven furlongs in Saturday's San Vicente Stakes. Under a snug hold early, Concert Tour could not have been any more impressive on Jan. 15, as he drew out to a 3 ½ length win going six furlongs in a manner that suggested he should relish more distance. A California-bred gelding by Vronsky, The Chosen Vron was very quick from the gate in his 6 ½ furlong debut Dec. 27 and he was much the best among nine statebred rivals as the 2-1 favorite, winning off by 6 ¾ lengths under John Velazquez.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA020621USA7-EQB.html

6:46 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Fresh off a Grade 2 win sprinting and in the money in 26 out of 40 lifetime starts, Tom Kagele's 7-year-old Hembree heads a field of eight older horses going one mile on turf in Saturday's Thunder Road Stakes. Claimed for $62,500 out of a one turn mile win two starts back on Nov. 19 at Churchill Downs, Hembree rallied for an authoritative three quarter length score going 6 ½ furlongs on turf in the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes here on Jan. 1. Trained by Peter Miller, Hembree is a two-time graded winner.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA020621USA8-EQB.html

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‘Such A Fighter’: Mouheeb Sets Stakes Record In UAE 2,000 Guineas

Thursday's UAE 2,000 Guineas at Meydan Racecourse attracted a select field of just six, but produced a thrilling finish with Mouheeb leading in the dying strides to deny Meshakel who made a gallant effort from the front only to be thwarted. The 3-year-old son of Flatter prevailed by a neck on the wire, setting a stakes record in the process.

“I thought we would be a bit closer than we were, but (jockey) Ryan (Curatolo) rode a great race and the horse ran very well,” said winning trainer Nicholas Bachalard. “We are really happy because it's our first win at Meydan. We thought Zhou Storm would go to the lead (to battle Meshakel), but thankfully our horse ran Meshakel down just at the right time. It would have been a shame to get beaten by a head. We're delighted for the team and for Sheikh Ahmed for believing in us. It hasn't been an easy three years for the stable and now we can pay back some of the trust he had in us. (Mouheeb) still holds an invite for the Saudi Derby, but that's only 16 days, so we'll see how he comes out of the race and go from there.”

Slowly away on both his previous outings, a winning debut over 1200m (six furlongs) at Jebel Ali and just conquered in the UAE 2000 Guineas trial three weeks ago, over the same 1600m (one mile), Mouheeb broke alertly this time.

Settled in third by Curatolo, the Flatter colt was probably five lengths off the eventual runner-up entering the straight with Godolphin's Naval Crown splitting them. That one cried enough in the final 300m, fading into third, when Curatolo had to get very serious with Mouheeb who, as he had done in the trial, responded gamely to gain a gutsy success. They posted the fastest time in the history of the race in the process, 1:36.46. I

t was a first Meydan winner, since taking over at Jebel Ali Stables, for trainer Nicholas Bachalard who, from his previous base in Saudi Arabia, did win the 2017 UAE 1000 Guineas with Nashmiah.

It was a second success from Jebel Ali Stables in this race for the trainer's main patron, Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, following in the hoofprints of Market Rally who landed the prize in 2016 for Dhruba Selvaratnam.

Curatolo, riding his first Meydan winner, said: “This horse is such a fighter and to ride my first winner here in a big race is just brilliant.

“I always thought I could get there in that long straight and, credit to the horse who has really fought hard for me. I think he will stay further so I imagine we will look at the UAE Derby but we can enjoy this first!”

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