Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 6 · column 5 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
of handling championproducing stallions like Clavier, Castle Magic, Castle Cove, and Rock Point; Mignon Smith, who was awarded the VTA Award of Merit for the achievements of her Mede Cahaba Stable as well as innovative contributions such as providing dickeys for handlers to wear in the paddock at steeplechases and point-topoints so racing fans can easily identify the horses; horseman and scion of the Maryland polo dynasty Joe Muldoon; commentator Carol Holden; and her cohort in racing and in the West Virginia Breeder’s Classic (and all-time Redskins’ great) Sam Huff.
Having said our how-do-youdos, we proceeded to the paddock, where I challenged Lee Rose to pick a bet based on looks alone, lb me, the 3 horse was the class of the field, but farrier Rose said that my favorite was sure to be sore due to very long front toes and a badly rundown heel on the right fore. Rose later picked up his winnings on No. 3 while, having listened to Rose’s advice, I tore up my ticket on No. 9.
I next collared trainer Bill Mott, who trained the 2002 and 2003 Virginia Derby winners, as I find it expedient to do my winning interviews before the fact whenever possible.
(My favorite example of this was years ago when I walked the course with then rider, now trainer, Doug Fout, before he won the Colonial Cup on Rodion Cantacuzine’s Sailor’s Clue.)
After tearing up a few more $2 tickets it was time to move on to the next important part of the working journalist’s day: staking out the best vantage point for the big race with fastest access to the finish line.
One must consider also how long it takes to reach this point from the paddock and what security guards might object to your choices in order to eliminate roadblocks thrown in your path at the last minute.
After several test runs, I had the good fortune of settling next to Mott-trained Go Between’s owners, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Vegso who, like me, were looking slightly self-conscious having co-opted an empty box near the finish line. The Vegsos call Florida home, but love racing in Virginia, as they have a daughter at the University of Richmond and perhaps also because they were hoping for their third straight big win at Colonial Downs after having claimed two Virginia Derbys.
I, at least, was sitting in EMO’s empty box and figured I could put forth an urgent insurance question to its rightful owner Ernie Oare should he show up at the last minute.
t>___• i.„ j_j. _i.
91.2%