Shady Hill Farm is one of the last large thoroughbred breeding operations in Virginia due to development and legislation that gives Virginia breeders less money than other states. At Shady Hill Farm in Fauquier, Erica Hitch and Katy Lee bring foals and mares to the barn to be fed.

Photo: Andrea Bruce, Washington Post

Tagged: Fauquier County, horses, Shady Hill Farm, State news

Virginia has lost most of its thoroughbred operations over the past thirty years because of development and legislation that gives Virginia breeders less money than other states. Shady Hill Farm, one of the last large thoroughbred breeding operations in Virginia, produced Quality Road, a horse that may run in the Belmont Stakes.

Photo: Andrea Bruce, Washington Post

Tagged: Fauquier County, horses, Shady Hill Farm, State news

Shady Hill Farm is one of the last large thoroughbred breeding operations in Virginia. The state has lost most of its thoroughbred operations over the past 30 years because of development and legislation that gives Virginia breeders less money than other states.

Photo: Andrea Bruce, Washington Post

Tagged: Fauquier County, horses, Shady Hill Farm, State news

Trophies crowd the office of Shady Hill Farm from the horses they have bred. The farm produced Quality Road, a horse that may run in the Belmont Stakes. Shady Hill Farm is one of the last large thoroughbred breeding operations in Virginia.

Photo: Andrea Bruce, Washington Post

Tagged: Fauquier County, horses, Shady Hill Farm, State news

Shady Hill Farm is one of the last large thoroughbred breeding operations in Virginia.

Photo: Andrea Bruce, Washington Post

Tagged: Fauquier County, horses, Shady Hill Farm, State news

Shady Hill Farm, one of the last large thoroughbred breeding operations in Virginia, produced Quality Road, a horse that may run in the Belmont Stakes. But over the past 30 years, Virginia has lost most of its thoroughbred operations because of development and legislation that gives Virginia breeders less money than other states.

Photo: Andrea Bruce, Washington Post

Tagged: Fauquier County, horses, Shady Hill Farm, State news

Horses at Shady Hill Farm in Fauquier, one of the last large thoroughbred breeding operations in Virginia. Virginia has lost most of its thoroughbred operations over the past 30 years because of development and legislation that gives Virginia breeders less money than other states.

Photo: Andrea Bruce, Washington Post

Tagged: Fauquier County, horses, Shady Hill Farm, State news

Erica Hitch and Katy Lee bring foals and mares to the barn to be fed. Shady Hill Farm is one of the last large thoroughbred breeding operations in Virginia.

Photo: Andrea Bruce, Washington Post

Tagged: Fauquier County, horses, Shady Hill Farm, State news

Shady Hill Farm is one of the last large thoroughbred breeding operations in Virginia. The farm produced Quality Road, a horse that may run in the Belmont Stakes. Virginia has lost most of its thoroughbred operations over the past 30 years because of development and legislation that gives Virginia breeders less money than other states.

Photo: Andrea Bruce, Washington Post

Tagged: Fauquier County, horses, Shady Hill Farm, State news

Going for a horse drawn carriage ride at Fireman's Field. From left, Linda Nickelson (in pink, front seat), Nolan Barzee (driver), Joanna Buckley with son Carter, 3 1/2 yrs old (from Great Falls).

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: fair, family, festival, horses, Purcellville

Mark Deane exercises one of his horses at Homeplace farm in Lincoln, where he raises and trains thoroughbreds for racing.

Photo: Charity Corkey, LoudounExtra.com

Tagged: animals, horses, Lincoln, Up Close

Jockey Carl Rafter (#8) regains control of Country Cousin and gets back in the race, after almost being thrown during the first race of the Virginia Gold Cup on May 2.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

Jockey Carl Rafter (#8) swings in the air for about five steps after almost falling off Country Cousin in the May 2 Virginia Gold Cup races.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

During the first race of the day, the Maiden Hurdle, Jockey Carl Rafter (#8) is almost thrown off of Country Cousin while going over the hurdle.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

Friends try on big hats at the 84th anniversary of the Gold Cup Races: from left, Stephanie Maxwell of Fredericksburg with a white hat, Karli Schneider of Fredericksburg with a blue hat and Laura Stowe of Arlington with a beige hat.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

Friends tailgate at the Virginia Gold Cup Races at The Plains on May 2: from left, Deborah Thornton, Justin Thornton and Kevin Harnisch (on the tailgate), Sarah Harnisch (in the white hat) and Dennis Chapman (blue jacket).

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

The canine competitors shot out of the gate at the Terrier Race Exhibition at the Virginia Gold Cup races on May 2.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

Each year at the Virginia Gold Cup races, Carol Newland of Culpeper has a hat theme for her table display.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

Chad Heflin of Warrenton helps 20-month-old Austin Mawyer try on a pair of sunglasses to watch the Virginia Gold Cup races on May 2.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

Irene Kerns of Markham, Va., made roast beef, turkey and ham sandwiches on pita bread for her tailgate party at the 84th anniversary of the Virginia Gold Cup on May 2.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

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