Virginia Gold Cup

[Glimmerglass]

While the entries haven't been closed yet does anyone know for certain if Straight Gin will be pointed to the showcase $100,000 Virginia Gold Cup race next Saturday?

[SteeleRdr]

Word on the street is that's what they're aiming for. Nominated for it, but that's a CLASSY field. I wouldn't be surprised to see him not on the entries come Tuesday.

[Glimmerglass]

Ah, but he's a very classy horse and last weekend had a very impressive victory and defied a few doubting Thomases ;) I do hope he makes a go at it and pulls off a very big win for Whitewood Stable and Kim Zito.

Flashback to almost 6-years ago to "Zito breezes Straight Gin for Preakness" (http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2002/May/13/Zito-breezes-Straight-Gin-for-Preakness.aspx)

Flashback to almost 4-years ago to "Two years after Preakness run, Straight Gin tackles new hurdles" (http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/weekly-feature-articles/2004/May/22/Mileposts-Two-years-after-Preakness-run-Straight-Gin-tackles-new-hurdles.aspx)

At the time of him embarking on the steeplechase second career, Nick's wife Kim was quoted as saying:

"We knew he wouldn't have made it as a racehorse again and been able to compete at the level Nick and Marylou would have wanted. So, instead of making him some cheap $4,000 claimer, we decided to do this. "

"He's very happy and he's very spoiled," Zito said. "I've done this a lot and it's important that people know there are other options out there for these horses once their racing careers are over. If you take the time with them ... they usually take to it really fast. I've never gotten one that was so mean they couldn't be turned around."

[Hunter's Rest]

His trainer always said this was the target.

[Glimmerglass]

Indeed, forget about adding a lime we're talking Straight Gin (by Go For Gin - Valeta) and the 9-yr old gelding is entered in "the big one":

5th Race. Purse $100,000.
THE 83rd RUNNING OF THE VIRGINIA GOLD CUP
Timber Stakes at a distance of 4 Miles over the Virginia Gold Cup Timber Course.

Post Position 1
Horse: STRAIGHT GIN
Weight: 165-lbs
Jockey: Calvin McCormack
Owner: Whitewood Stable
Trainer: Richard Valentine

pdf - fully entries here (http://www.nationalsteeplechase.com/post/entries/Virginia%20Gold%20Cup.pdf) (thanks Patty)

And Hunter's Rest has the outline here with her article for the Fauquier Times-Democrat (http://www.fauquier.com/news/2008/apr/29/gold-cup-attracts-stellar-field/)

One to be concerned with is Bubble Economy and, in my view quite possibly Erin Go Bragh (NZ) as well. Still it great to see Kim Zito and Richard Valentine's hard work long after the Preakness resulting in this entry. Go Gin!

[Glimmerglass]

It is almost baffling that as huge of an event as the VA Gold Cup is there is zero press on the results. Yes, I'm sure there will be something published in a couple of days but wow - nothing on the event web site, nothing in the Washington Post, you'd think that 45,000 showed up in a field and just played cards.

[Xctrygirl]

OMG I know something Glimmer doesn't!!!

http://www.rjhracing.com/results.html

They have live results. Enjoy.

~Emily

[awm]

I saw at the NSA results that he fell----
Is he OK?

[SteeleRdr]

Steeplechasing Times had the results and an article up on Saturday night.

Don't know the status of Straight Gin, but heard it was a BATTLE to the wire between Miles Ahead and Bubble Economy. With the third and fourth place horses, Hot Springs and Monte Bianco, in hot pursuit.

[SidesaddleRider]

It was a fabulous race. Straight Gin, from what I heard is OK (but that was right after the race). I was rooting for Miles Ahead, but I have always liked Bubble Economy too, so I was cheering for both at the finish! :)

[awm]

Thanx for the updates!
Ann

[Texarkana]

I just saw Straight Gin is entered again in the Mason Houghland Memorial Timber Stakes this weekend at Nashville... unless they scratch.

[Glimmerglass]

I just saw Straight Gin is entered again in the Mason Houghland Memorial Timber Stakes this weekend at Nashville... unless they scratch.

Thanks Texarkana. Running back either shows confidence he's fine or it is pure optimism. I didn't want to add to the thread in light of the rest of the weekend's occurances until I knew a bit more.

The account of what happened to him thanks to Hunter's Rest:

Fauquier Times-Democrat May 6, 2008 "Bubble Economy wins Gold Cup" (http://fauquier.com/news/2008/may/06/bubble-economy-wins-gold-cup/)

Excerpt

In addition to the fierce stretch battle, Bubble Economy also had to contend with the falling Straight Gin at the 19th fence.

"He went down like a rock right in front of us," Miller explained, saying Bubble Economy did not have time to change his stride as Straight Gin fell. "He literally jumped him. Literally 'bounced' over him."

Miller said that he'd already braced for the near-certain collision that was to come. "But Bubble was really clever. He didn't change stride even."

[Glimmerglass]

Yes, I do expect more but I'm not shocked the Washington Post "coverage" of the Virginia Gold Cup is nothing more then a fashion blurb. With 50,000 people attending and some great racing you'd think a bit more celebration of the action instead of inebriation could be shared even in WP.

How much of a write-up, photos and column space did the Nationals get in the same paper yet they have 1/2 the audience size in their stadium?

Washington Post 5-7-08 "Horse, Fashion Sense Reign At Race for Gold" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/07/AR2008050700156.html)

The covergae from the Steeplechase Free Press .. err I mean the Steeplechase Times (inside joke), which also is exceedingly thin in its coverage:

Virginia Gold Cup Results May 3, 2008 (http://www.st-publishing.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=240&Itemid=73)

Bubble Economy wins Virginia Gold Cup May 4, 2008 (http://www.st-publishing.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=242&Itemid=73)