Meghan Blackburn

Several sterling silver trophies for the Virginia Fall Races, held annually at Glenwood Park in Middleburg, were stolen from the home where they had been stored.

Gary Baker, chairman of the Virginia Fall Races, first noticed the trophies were missing on the evening of March 15 after returning home from the Virginia Steeplechase Association annual banquet.

The Virginia Racing Commission has approved the license for pari-mutuel betting at both the Virginia Gold Cup and the International Gold Cup in The Plains. With this announcement, the Virginia Gold Cup Association will now host the only two steeplechase events in Virginia with approved pari-mutuel betting.

Veteran steeplechase jockey Brian Crowley announced his retirement from race riding at the close of the 2012 season due to neck injuries.

“My neck isn’t in pieces, but the doctor wasn’t that pleased with it,” said Crowley. “It’s more of a better safe than sorry situation. If I rode in races next year and never had a fall, all would be fine. But I have to look at the bigger picture.”

The 31-year-old Irish native hung up his cap after three seasons in the United States, but that was after 168 wins in Ireland and England. He came over in 2010 to work for Jonathan Sheppard.

Steeplechase jockey Darren Nagle was issued a three-day suspension as a result of reckless riding during a $65,000 allowance optional claiming race on Aug. 2 at Saratoga Racecourse (N.Y.). After a hearing, New York state steward Carmine Donofrio and Braulio Baeza, the New York Racing Association steward, gave Nagle a three-day race ban and a $1,000 fine.

Irish-born Nagle, now based in Glyndon, Md., was riding the Jonathan Sheppard-trainee, The Price Of Love.

Unrelated injuries led to three horses being humanely destroyed at the close of Saratoga Open House on July 15 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Twice The Price incurred a broken ankle; Autumn Riches fractured a knee, and Plattsburgh broke his humerus. Plattsburgh fell at a jump, while the other two were pulled up after fences.

Lexington, Ky.—May 13

“When we walked the course, I thought, ‘There’s the WEG again over here,’ " said Mario Delauriers, the winner of the $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix at the Kentucky Horse Park—the second half of a U.S. Show Jumping Team Observation Event. Deslauriers won the speed leg of the show jumping competition at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games—held in this exact arena.

Lexington, Ky.—May 11

April 7—Tampa, Fla.

Mario Deslauriers had planned on riding Cella in the U.S. Equestrian Federation Olympic Show Jumping Trials, but the mare had a toothache, and Deslauriers chose not to compete her March 21-24. His cautious decision (and the three weeks he gave Cella to recuperate) proved to be fortuitous in Tampa, as Jane Clark’s gray mare jumped to the top of the $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational.

March 4—Gulfport, Miss.

When Frances Land exited the ring after her victory gallop, her father, Jay Land, was right there to help with her horse and congratulate his daughter on her win. 

“Not bad,” he said. “Three out of four!”

March 2—Gulfport, Miss.

The weather was constantly changing during the morning of the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Gulf Coast Magnolia Classic IV—clouds rolled by, winds were gusty, but between patches of sunshine and a few drops of rain, Holly Shepherd and Triompf remained strong. Their steadfast performances earned them the blue in the classic round as well as the overall title. Bob Brawley and Diane DeMatteo's Amadeo took second in the handy round, and third overall. Christian Rogge and Promise Me won overall reserve honors.