Racing

McTigue won and set a track record in the Leo O'Brien

Details: July 6, 2026; By Staff Writers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Cyril Murphy saddled McTigue, his100th winner, to win the inaugural 2 3/8-mile G1, $150,000 Leo O’Brien steeplechase handicap in track record time.

McTigue outduels Rocket One to wire in OBrien 3 McTigue, left, outduels Rocket One to win the Leo O'Brien (Photo by Tod Marks)The final time of 4:30.45 was more than a full second faster than the previous record of 4:31.57 set in 2014 by subsequent G1 winner All the Way Jose, bred and trained by Jonathan Sheppard, who had set it in an allowance win by 14 1/4 lengths.

In the O'Brien, Irv Naylor's McTique settled in the back as Take Your Seats opened a 15 length lead, moved up gradually to third on the final turn, caught Rocket One, trained by Jack Fisher, in the stretch, and went on to win by 1 length.

St. James the Great, trained by Keri Brion was third, another 12 1/2 lengths back.

Local trainers win from New York to Kentucky

Details: July 3, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

FAIR HILLS, Md.--A number of trainers based either at the Fair Hills Training Center or locally have been winning consistently during the past month in flat races ranging from New York to New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Kentucky.

Keri Brion NYRA Keri Brion (Photo from NYRA)Keri Brion has had six winners, Graham Motion has had five winners, including a stakes win, Michael Matz has had two wins and Kathy Neilson and Liz Merryman have had one each.

Two of these trainers, Brion and Neilson, are better known as steeplechase trainers.

Brion saddled winners for five different owners, beginning with two wins for Michael Foster, whose Nogradi won a $83,000, 1 mile Starter Allowance at Churchill Downs by 1/2 length on June 8, and then his Planet Clare won a $28,000,1 1/16 mile Starter Optional Claiming race at Delaware Park by 5 3/4 lengths on June 17.

Christmas Jones won a $32,040, 1mile turf Maiden Claiming at Laurel by 6 1/2 lengths on June 8 for Byrdnest Racing, Dark Horse Racing, Victory Circle Racing and Scott Gibson.

KMSN Stable's Fly Now won a $20,000, 1 1/16 mile turf race at Delaware Park by 1 length on June 18, Norma Lewis' Lendalfoot won a $44.590, 1 1/16 mile turf race at Laurel by 2 3/4 lengths on June 21,and Greentree Stables' Free Refills won a $48,000, 1 1/16 mile turf race at Belmont at the Big A by 2 1/2 lengths on June 28.

Gold Charm won the $100,000 Stakes at Colonial Downs

Details: July 2, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

NEW KENT, Va.--Gold Charm, trained by Cyril Murphy, won the G2, $100,000 Theodora A. Randolph Filly and Mare Hurdle Stakes at Colonial Downs on Monday, June 29.

Gold Charm Coady Media Maddy Becker Gold Charm winning the Life's Illusion Stake in 2024 (Photo by Coady Media Maddy Becker)GIt was a day full of excellent steeplechase racing at Colonial Downs with good purse money and exciting races.

It was a day full of excellent steeplechase racing at Colonial Downs with good purse money and exciting races.

Gold Charm, owned by Irv Naylor and ridden by Jamie Bargary, won the 2 1/4 mile Stakes by 2 34 lengths over Timetoshine, trained by Mark Beecher, and Anoint, trained by Keri Brion.

"We've had Gold Charm since 2023," said Murphy. "We bought her as a 4-year-old at a sale in England. She'd been running on the flat in England. She's been a really consistent performer since we've had her."

Gold Charm has won seven times for Murphy and Naylor, six of them stakes.

The mare was held at the back of the field early, began to make a move on the backstretch the last time around, caught the leader, Timetoshine, in the stretch and went on to win under a hand ride.

"It was always our intention to sit behind," said Murphy. "She was the high weight, so we didn't want to press her early. The race set up perfectly for her."

"Timetoshine was the mare we were most worried about," said Murphy. "She had the best form, and she'd beaten us last time out in Nashville. We thought if we beat her that we'd win, Our mare's jumping is her strong point."

Kathy Neilson's Morning March wins at Laurel

Details: June 23, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

LAUREL, Md.--Morning March, trained by Kathy Neilson, won the $40,000, 2 1/8 mile Ratings Handicap Hurdle on Sunday, June 21 at Laurel Park.

Morning March ridden by Conor Tierney Morning March, ridden by Fredddie ProcterMorning March Partners' Morning March, ridden by Freddie Procter, won by 14 1/2 lengths over Doctor Love (Fr), trained by Tom Garner, and L'Avvocato (Fr), also trained by Neilson.

Doctor Love went out to a huge lead, ahead by as much as 25 lengths at times, but was caught on the final turn by Morning March, who went into the lead in the stretch and opened up for the win, while Doctor Love held on gamely for second.

"Morning March was bred and races by Alexander Gordon Watson, but he got hurt and sold his horses," said Neilson. "Janet Elliot called me and said, `You need to buy this horse'. I got a couple of my fox hunting friends together, and we bought him."

"He's a really good looking, sturdy individual," said Neilson.

This was his fifth start for Neilson, all this year, and he won two and was third once.

Jimmy P wins Steinman for Keri Brion

Details: June 3, 2026; By Staff Writers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Keri Brion saddled Jimmy P to win the $150,000, 2 3/8 mile Beverly R. Steinman Steeplechase Handicap on June 3.

Jimmy P rallies past Rocket One, left, in the Steinman (Photo by Tod Marks)Jimmy P, owned by Madaket Stables and Molly and Paul Willis and ridden by Stephen Mulqueen, won by a neck over Rocket One, trained by Jack Fisher, and Coutach (GB), trained by Ricky Hendriks.

"He's a really cool horse," said Brion. "I think his accomplishments speak for themselves. Not many horses win a grade 1 in three consecutive years, especially in Saratoga. That's a tough feat."

"I'm privileged to train him," said Brion. "He'll go to the Sheppard next. "I'd like to try to win it three years in a row."

JIimmy P, the 8-year-old son of Slumber, is now 3-for-5 in steeplechase races at Saratoga, adding the Steinman to back-to-back wins in the Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard Handicap in 2024-25.

"He’s a funny horse. All credit to Stephen there, he never gave up,” Brion said. “He's a horse who doesn’t really ever travel, and you kind of saw that throughout the race. He was having to niggle him along. That’s just him. He never missed a fence and jumped for fun.”

Steeplechasing enjoyed a successful return to Fair Hill

Details: May 27, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

FAIR HILL, Md.--Steeplechasing finally returned to Fair Hill, and the day was a huge success, with the new turf course holding up beautifully despite days of rain and large fields of runners on Memorial Day, May 25..

Predominate Graham Watters win Valentine 3 Predominate, ridden by Graham Watters, leads Neotopic and Take Your Seats in the Valentine (Photo by Tod Marks)Charlie Fenwick, President of the Fair Hill Foundation, had twice the reasons to celebrate, as not only was it a great day of racing, but, as co-owner of Bruton Street-US, he had a winner and two seconds.

"It's been seven years since we've had racing at Fair Hill," said Fenwick. "The whole turf track was redone. The Fair Hill Foundation paid for a lot of that. We were delighted with the day."

"There was lots of anxiety before the races, but it went off beautifully," said Fenwick. "The sport was terrific. There were 83 runners. That's the biggest field Fair Hill has ever had and maybe the biggest field this year."

"The turf was superb," said Fenwick. "It had absorbed three inches of day from two days before the races. It was unfortunate that there had not been flat racing on Sunday, but hopefully we can get flat horses back on the course soon."

A full day of flat racing had been scheduled for Sunday, May 24, but racing was cancelled due to the downpour the day before.

Mark Beecher won three at Potomac Hunt Races

Details: May 19, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

SENECA, Md.--Mark Beecher saddled the winners of three races, including the featured Open Hurdle, at the Potomac Hunt Races on Sunday, May 17.

Mark Beecher in coat Mark Beecher Daniel R. Baker's Decisive Triumph, ridden by Dan Nevin, won the $7,500, 2 1/8 mile Preakness Open Hurdle by about 9 lengths over Solomon's Choice, trained by Jason Cole.

"Decisive Triumph is 13 now, so he's not allowed to run in sanctioned races, under the National Steeplechase rules." said Beecher. "He just went around nicely and won with a smile on his face."

Pelham Road's Awesome Strike (On), ridden by Nevin, won the $5,000, 3 mile Novice Timber by a nose over Auction Kingdom, trained by Neil Morris, and Sir Lenny, trained by Cole.

:Awesome Strike is a nice horse for the future," said Beecher. "He's 7, and we've had him for a year and a half. This was his second timber start, after he was third at the Piedmont Point-to-Point. Last year, he won the maiden hurdle at Camden, but in my eyes he was always going to be a timber horse."

"He'll have the summer off and then run in the maiden timber at Shawan," said Beecher.

Turks Head Turf's Grace Darling (Ire), ridden by Sophie O'Brien, won the $1,000, 1 1/2 mile Amateur Open Flat race by 2 1/2 lengths over Outperform, trained by Joe Davies, and Why Why Not, trained by Todd Wyatt.

"She's a little mare owned by Betsy Barr," said Beecher. "She just had a nice little run around, because she's running this weekend at Fair Hill."

Kathy Neilson had two winners at Radnor Races

Details: May 19, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

MALVERN,Pa.--Kathy Neilson saddled two winners, including Philip My Dear in the featured National Hunt Cup, at the Radnor Hunt Races on Saturday, May 16.

Philip My Dear left leads Roja Redemption past last in NHC 2 Philip My Dear, left, leads Roja Redemption over the last fence in the National Hunt Cup (Photo by Tod Marks)Commonwealth Racing's Philip My Dear, ridden by Freddie Procter, won the $35,000, 2 1/8 mile National Hunt Cup Allowance Hurdle by 1 1/4 lengths over Roja Redemption, trained by Jack Fisher, and Starforce,trained by Ricky Hendriks.

"My daughter Skylar found Philip My Dear, he was being trained by a Kentucky trainer," said Neilson. "He loves a right-handed track. He's fast. He made a lot of money on the flat. But he''s much better on a right-handed track, so it's a little tricky as to where he goes to race. He'll go next to Callaway and Shawan, as both are right-handed."

"Skylar loves him and trains him," said Neilson. "He really should be named Skylar My Dear."

Motley Crew Racing's Marcel Magic (Ire), ridden by Evan Dwan, won the $25,000, 3 1/4 mile Radnor Hunt Cup Allowance Timber by 4 3/4 lengths over Anzio, trained by Sandra Webb, and Total Joy (Ire, trained by Leslie Young.

Joe Davies had three winners at Willowdale, two for Armata

Details: May 12, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa.--Joe Davies saddled three winners at Willowdale Steeplechase on Saturday, May 9, including two, The Ballybreen Fox (Ire) and De Nordener (Ire), for Armata Stables.

Bogeys Imafe riddden by Teddy Davies Jim Graham Bogey's Image, ridden by Teddy Davies, leads Huyana early in the Timber Stakes (Photo by Jim Graham)Davies also saddled Bogey's Image to win the featured Willowdale Timber Stakes.

"It was a good day," said Davies.

"I've never seen anything like it," said Ben Griswold, primary owner of Armata Stables.

Armata Stables' The Ballybreen Fox, ridden by Teddy Davies, won the $15,000, 3 mile Maiden Timber by 3 lengths over Doesn't Sting (GB), trained by Jack Fisher, and Shining Marble (Ire), trained by Kathy Neilson.

Armata's De Nordener,, ridden by Charlie Marshall, won the $15,000 Foxhunter's Chase Apprentice Rider Timber by 4 3/4 lengths over Old Style Humor (Ire), trained by Mark Beecher, and The Kid Rocks, trained by Meriweather Morris.

"We've had The Ballybreen Fox a couple of years," said Griswold. "He came with that name, straight from County Tipperary.'

"We've had De Nordener a couple of years, too," said Griswold. "Charlie Marshall, who rode Mr. Fine Threads to win the Maryland Hunt Cup, found both of them for us."

"They probably won't run again this spring," said Griswold. "As for where they'll go next, the one race we all want to win is the Maryland Hunt Cup. That's a huge goal. The odds of winning that race are so small."

Armata Stables has won the Maryland Hunt Cup four times, including most recently this spring,

"Armata Stables has been in business for 32 years, running in it every year,, so that's how often you have tor run in it to win," said Griswold.

Little Trilby won the G1 Stakes at the Gold Cup for Ricky Hendriks

Details: May 4, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

THE PLAINS, Va.--Ricky Hendriks saddled Little Trilby (GB) to win the G1, 2 1/8 mile Commonwealth Cup at the Virginia Gold Cup on Saturday, May 2.

Little Trilby left duels Jimmy P early in Commonwealth Cup 1 Little Trilby, left, duels with Jimmy P early in the Commonwealth Cup (Photo by Tod Marks)"He ran a big race," said Hendriks,who has had Little Trilby for almost two years.

Owned by Del Rio Racing and ridden by Conor Tierney, Little Trilby won by 6 3/4 lengths over Welshman, trained by Jack Fisher, and Merry Maker (Ire), trained by Arch Kingsley.

"Little Trilby had just won two races in Ireland, and a friend of mine called me and said we should get him," said Hendriks, who got the horse in August, 2024.

Little Trilby won the Holiday Cup Stakes at Aiken that fall for Hendriks and now has four wins, all in Stakes, and a second in 10 races in this country.

He was just unlucky last year," said Hendriks. "He won the Stakes at the Gold Cup here in the fall, but they had just dropped it from a grade 1 to a grade 2, and then he fell at the Colonial Cup. We still can't understand why he fell in that race."

"He's a very straight forward hose to train," said Hendriks. "We had this race targeted from early spring. My team did a great job getting him ready."

"It all paid off Saturday," he said. "That was by far his best race. He's just 6, so hopefully he's just coming into himself."

Leslie Young and Ricky Hendriks had winners at Middleburg Point-to-Point

Details: April 29, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

MIDDLEBURG, Va.--Broken Vow (Ire), trained by Leslie Young, won the Maiden Hurdle and Jamestown, trained by Ricky Hendriks, won the Restricted Maiden Hurdle at the Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point on Sunday, April 26.

Leslie Young 12 Leslie Young Leslie Young saddled Silverton Hill's Broken Vow (Ire), ridden by Luke Carberry, to win the 2 1/8 mile Maiden Hurdle by 2 lengths over Sir Lenny, trained by Cole, and Bandoola, trained by Hendriks.

"Kevin Prendergast bred Broken Vow, and she ran once at Lingfield on the flat and won," said Young. "I bought her in a digital sale. We've had her since February. This was her first race for us. She ran great."

"She's easy to train," said Young. "For a little rd-headed filly, she's a good girl. She's nominated for Iroquois, but maybe she'll go to Fair Hill instead."

Broken Vow landed in front of long time leader Sir Lenny over the last fence and went on to win at Midleburg.

Uco Valley is okay, but he's not good enough to go to the Gold Cup," said Young of the gelding that was leading in the Grand National when Justin Batoff on Storm Team steered right into Uco Valley in an attempt to avoid cutting a flag.

Both Uco Valley and Storm Team, as well as their jockeys, are lucky not to have been badly hurt if not killed.

Batoff has since resigned his jockey's license and will ride races no more.

Jamestown, trained by Hendriks, owned by Leamington Racing and ridden by Jake Coen, won the Restricted Maiden by 7 lengths over T Rex, trained by Lawrence Smith, and Ladsfirstlove, trained by Jason Cole.

Cyber Ninja won the $75,000 Novice Stake at Foxfield

Details: April 28, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.--Riverdee Stable had a good day at the Foxfield Spring Races on Saturday, April 25, finishing first and second in two races, including in the featured $75,000 Danial Van Clief Novice Stakes.

Cyber Ninja and Rocket Onr Photo courtesy of Camden Littleton Cyber Ninja and Rocket One, first and second in the Novice Stakes (Photo courtesy of Camden Littleton)Cyber Ninja,trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Jamie Bargary, won the $75,000, 2 1/8 mile Novice Stakes by 1/2 length over Rocket One, also owned by Riverdee and trained by Fisher, and Mr. Percy (Ire), trained by Neil Morris was third, another 2 3/4 lengths back.

"We bought Cyber Ninja in the fall of '24 off Bill Mott," said Sean Clancy, manager of Riverdee Stable."We gave him the winter off. Last year was his first full year racing for us."

Riverdee raced Cyber Ninja both on the flat and over fences last year, and he placed second in an allowance on the flat and won an allowance over fences.

"I felt confident going into this race off last year," said Clancy. "He was sitting third, with two way off in front, but I knew we had those two measured. At the top of the hill he got a little flat."

Cyber Ninja was fourth over the last fence but rallied in the stretch for the win.

"I was impressed by him," said Bargary. "He's one of the best I've ever sat on."

"He's nominated for the Novice at Nashville," said Clancy.

Mr. Fine Threads won the Maryland Hunt Cup

Details: April 28, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

GLYNDON, Md.--Mr. Fine Threads won the Maryland Hunt Cup on a rainy Saturday, April 25 for owner Armata Stable's fourth win and trainer Joe Davies' eight win in the most difficult timber race in the world.

Mr. Fine Threads leads Great Road at the 6th (Photo by Tammie J. Monaco)Ridden by Charlie Marshall, Mr. Fine Threads won by 6 lengths over Shootist, trained by Todd McKenna and Royal Ruse, trained by Sanna Neilson.

Seven of the nine starters finished, with Withoutmoreado, who won in 2024 and was second last year, and Road to Oz, who won last year, being the only two that fell.

"The third time was the charm," said Davies of Mr. Fine Threads, who had fallen in his first two runs in the Hunt Cup. "It started raining 10 minutes before the race, not enough to soften the ground but enough to make it slippery."

"Withoutmoreado slipped on the take-off at the sixth,"said Davies of the horse ridden by son Teddy. "Teddy's okay and is planning to ride in the Gold Cup this weekend."

"Mr. Fine Threads had a pretty quiet first fences at the back of the field and began to move forward at the 16th," he said.

The Maryland Hunt Cup to be an exciting competition

Details: April 22, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

GLYNDON, Md.--This year's Maryland Hunt Cup may be one of the most exciting and hard fought ever, with a big field 10 entered for the 4 p.m. race on Saturday, April 25.

Road To Oz and Withoutmoreado Road To Oz, left, and Withoutmoreado in last year's finishThe field included two past winners, Withoutmoreado, who won in 2023 and finished second last year after losing his rider in 2024, and Road to Oz, who won last year over Withoutmreado in his first attempt at the daunting 4 mile race that includes 22 stiff timber fences ranging from 4' to 4'10 in height.

Getting around the course is a challenge in itself.

With a very close finish between Road to Oz and Wiithoutmoreado last year, it could be just a rematch, but there are a number of other strong contenders to challenge them.

Also entered are two horses besides Withoutmoreado that have finished second; Shootist, who finished second in 2024 and also finished fourth in 2023; and Royal Ruse, who was second in 2023 and lost his rider in 2024.

Of the remaining entries, Monbeg Stream (Ire) finished fourth last year, Mr. Fine Threads and Great Road, both of which fell last year, and Storm Team, Animal Kingston and The Butler Yates (Ire), who are the three first time entrants.

All the horses must be ridden by amateurs.

Cyril Murphy had two winners at Loudoun

Details: April 21, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

LEESBURG, Va.--Cyril Murphy saddled two winners in the recognized races at the Loudoun Hunt Point-to-Point races on Sunday, April 19.

Ranger 1 Thunderbolt Ranger ThunderboltIrv Naylor's Ranger Thunderbolt, ridden by Harry Beswick, won the $20,000, 2 1/4 mile Maiden Claiming Hurdle by 30 1/2 lengths over Army Times, trained by Neil Morris, and Carnane (Ire), trained by Kathy Neilson.

"We've had Ranger Thunderbolt for quite some time, since November 2023," said Murphy. "Sunday was the first time he got to the races. He had all kinds of injuries. He won quite nicely. Hopefully, he will win again."

Belfast Banter (Ire), owned by Naylor and ridden by Elizabeth Scully,, won the $15,000 Apprentice Rider hurdle by a head over Walk the Warrior (Ire), trained by Leslie Yong, and Clifton Down (Ire), trained by Mark Beecher.

"That was great for Belfast Banter and for Elizabeth," said Murphy. "Elizaabeth comesin to rideout for us twice a week and has been forquite a while."

"Belfast Banter won the A.P. Smithwicjk a couple of years ago and then had a tendon injury that kept him away for two years. Last year he had to run in stakes, and his old legs couldn't keep up. He's 11 and not that competitive now. Now, because he didn't win a stake last year, he can run in apprentice races, and luckliy the apprentice races give him a chance. The alternative would have been retirement. He enjoys training and still has a desire tor race.=, so the apprentice races are great."

Mr. Fine Threads won the Grand National for Joe and Teddy Davies

Details: April 20, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

BUTLER, Md.--Joe Davies saddled Mr. Fine Threads to win the $50,000, 3 1/4 mile Grand National Timber Stakes on Saturday, April 18 after barely avoiding a catastrophic collision that took out three horses.

Mr. Fine Threads Grand National Mr. Fine Threads after splitting loose horses (Photo by Robert Keller)Mr. Fine Threads, owned by Ben Griswold's Armata Stables and ridden by Teddy Davies, won by 3 lengths over Shootist, trained by Todd McKenna, and Master Seville, trained by Mark Beecher, with Royal Ruse, trained by Sana Meilson, the only other finisher, fourth.

Approaching the 11th fence while Uco Valley (Ire) was leading, Justin Batoff on Storm Team wandered way off to the right outside of a flag.

Despite having already been off course, Batoff dragged his horse sharp left and collided violently with Uco Valley, throwing both riders to the ground.

Riderless, Uco Valley and Storm Team veered sharp right to avoid jumping the fence just as Davies was approaching.

"Teddy said that he had a split second to decide whether to try to pull up or to go between Uco Valley and Storm Team," said Joe Davies.

Teddy chose to try to go through, and he just squeaked through by a hair's length.