Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 3, 1990 TAG: 9003032509
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Roanoke is among the 3-year-olds entered in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race at the Hallandale, Fla., track. If Roanoke runs well today in his first race as a 3-year-old, the plan is for him to make his next start two weeks from today in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream.
"Roanoke has improved dramatically on the track over his work as a 2-year-old," said Dr. Ted Sprinkle of New York-based Nedlaw Stable, which owns Roanoke. "He's put on weight, and, mentally, he's gotten tougher."
Sired by 1981 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Pleasant Colony, a stallion bred at Northern Virginia's Buckland Farm, Roanoke got his name after being purchased by Nedlaw Stable. Sprinkle tied Virginia's first colony to Roanoke, but the first English colony in the New World actually was Roanoke Island, N.C. - the so-called Lost Colony.
Among the 13 entries for today's Fountain of Youth, The Daily Racing Form has Roanoke as the fourth choice at 8-1, behind Slavic, Rhythm and Yonder. Jose Santos, who finished last year as Roanoke's jockey, will be on Slavic, so Roanoke's ride goes to Herb McCauley.
With the Kentucky Derby scheduled May 5, Roanoke ranks 11th among Triple Crown contenders in the Thoroughbred Racing Communications 3-year-old poll. In six starts, Roanoke has three wins, two places and one show, and he has banked more than $233,000.
Last year, the chestnut colt was most remarkable for his size - 17 hands, which is tall for a thoroughbred. Horses are measured at the top of the shoulders, called the withers, and a hand is equal to about four inches, so Roanoke is about 68 inches at the withers.
In the Futures Book at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev., last summer, Roanoke was listed at odds of 35-1 for the Derby; now he's down to 12-1. Roanoke's last race was Nov. 18 in the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct, where he finished second by three-quarters of a length to Yonder.
Slavic is the top-ranked 3-year-old in the TRC poll.
Sprinkle, a veterinarian-turned-horse breeder and owner, spoke of contacting Roanoke Mayor Noel Taylor about having his photo taken with the horse. Sprinkle said he hopes to strengthen the ties between the Southwest Virginia city and his horse.
"He's big and tough," Sprinkle said. "Some horses can't perform at that top level, but we think Roanoke can. I couldn't be happier with how things have worked out. I have a gut feeling Roanoke will be at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday of May."
Keywords:
HORSE RACING
by CNB