Colonial Downs Journal June 28, 2002--

Hey from Colonial Downs! We arrived Wednesday, the 19th, and began work the following day. Live racing began the next day.

We set up office in the Virginia Horseman's Benevolent Protection Association (VHBPA) trailer, and began tasks such as collecting overnights, programs, and basic statistical data that the racetrack needs for records.

We are also plugging the Groom Elite Program (offered by the VHBPA, in order to train the existing workforce to "become better horsemen and employees" by using professional trainers and teachers to show the proper way of horse care), and handing out surveys to the workers on the backside in order to help the VHBPA to provide better backstretch faculties.

At the same time we are working within our own fields of interest:

Amy Schuver has been working with the track veterinarians, tracking down
horses to give them their pre-race check, in order to make sure that they
are up to par for their upcoming race.

Nikki Sherman has been helping in the Racing Secretary's office with the
pre-race post position draws, checking past performances for the Virginia
Derby entrants, and finding suitable entrants for stakes later in the
season.

Jackie Mitchell is working with Wendy Kingsley, who trains steeplechase
horses, and learn everything from mucking out a stall, to galloping a
racehorse, to hot-walking a horse just in from a workout.

Every day has been a hot, muggy one, but the opportunity to be on the
backstretch, with real trainers, real jockeys, and most importantly, real
racehorses, has been worth the sweat in every way.

Jackie Mitchell
Nikki Sherman
Amy Schuver