Columbus, OH – Always A Virgin p,3, 1:48.4 ($1,135,559), the all-time leading money-winning sire in Indiana with progeny earnings of more than $82 million, has passed away at the age of 22. After an incredible racing career, Always A Virgin went on to an equally remarkable 14-year stud career at Victory Hill Farm in Indiana, which includes four seasons at Pepper Tree Farm in Australia. In 2022, Virgin retired from stud duty and enjoyed the remainder of his life as a cherished member of the retirees at Bluestone Farm in New Jersey. Always A Virgin’s son Always B Miki p,1:46 ($2,715,368) blazed to a 1:46 World Record performance in 2016 at the Red Mile. That record stood until 2022 and is still the second-fastest of all time. Always B Miki is currently the leading active pacing sire of Breeders Crown wins with 10. Always A Virgin and Always B Miki were both bred by Joe Hurley’s Roll The Dice Stable. Always A Virgin sired three Breeders Crown winners — Always B Miki , Colors A Virgin p,4,1:49.2s ($1,070,533) and Beckhams Z Tam p,4,1:49s ($885,056), in addition to numerous Indiana Sires Stakes champions. Following a successful racing career in which he narrowly missed sweeping pacing’s Triple Crown for owners Bluewood Stable, Val D’Or Farms, and breeder Joe Hurley’s Roll The Dice Stable, Always A Virgin was retired to Victory Hill Farm in Indiana, which is owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Dr. Jeff King and Dr. Maria King. As a son of Western Ideal out of the Big Towner mare Neverhadneverwill, he brought the important Western Hanover blood to Indiana offering Indiana breeders one of the most successful male sire lines in Standardbred breeding. Always A Virgin’s ownership stayed the same throughout his racing and stallion career. Mitchel Skolnick of Bluewood Stable and Bluestone Farms recalls how that partnership came to be after he witnessed the early talent of Always A Virgin himself. “It was 2007 and I had several horses training with Joe Holloway. Virgin had arrived at Joe’s barn that same year to begin training for his three-year-old season. Joe had not trained him at two. I was often at Showplace to watch my horses – sometimes two, three times a week. Joe and I would talk about all the horses he had in training, often mentioning Virgin. I believe his exact words were ‘he might be alright.’ So, aside from my own horses, I would watch Virgin as well. Sometime before his first qualifier, I called Bob Boni about the horse and told him he was a very nice colt; we should consider buying a piece. Bob demurred. Maybe a week later, I asked Bob to come watch the colt train. Again, Bob demurred. Just about a week before Virgin would qualify, I insisted he (Bob) come to Showplace Farms to watch him train. He finally relented. Joe took Virgin out for his final training mile that day. He may have gone in 2:02, but halfway through the mile Bob says to me ‘make the deal.’ “We purchased half of Virgin from Joe Hurley, and as often is said the rest is history.” “Always A Virgin was a truly great champion for his ownership group, both on the track for trainer Joe Holloway, and as a sire at Victory Hill Farm. We are so grateful to have been a part of his incredible life and career.” Trainer Joe Holloway remembers Always A Virgin as “a special horse! He was a very good and underrated racehorse, he almost pulled off the Triple Crown and all three legs would’ve been on a half mile – something we have not seen in quite some time. He was also an accomplished sire and a beautiful animal. He will be missed!” 

June 24 - Woodbine Mohawk Park Trainer Shawn Steacy surpassed $10 million in career earnings as his Outbound Train won one of seven $25,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots second-leg divisions on Tuesday, June 24 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Outbound Train floated out from post six and drove on into the first turn for Bob McClure in the second sophomore trotting male split, advancing parked-out to take the lead at the quarter in :28. Go Blue (Doug McNair) rolled to the front in a backstretch brush, seizing command before the half in :57 and heading into the final turn with the lead. Outbound Train departed the two hole midway around the bend and chugged along the outside track through three-quarters in 1:26.2 with Go Blue holding firm. The two were flat out at the eighth pole with Go Blue still in front, but Outbound Train produced the most trot in deep-stretch and got up by a neck to score in 1:54.3. Hp Lucas (Tyler Borth) finished third. The winning colt notched his second career victory in his Ontario Sires Stakes debut. Outbound Train , who debuted in Kentucky, moved to Ontario in May and broke his maiden in his second try north of the border. Fredericka Caldwell of Georgetown, Ky. and Bluestone Farms LLC of Hopewell, N.J. own and bred the son of Muscle Mass-Oasis Dream. He is now two-for-12 lifetime with $35,413 in earnings. The win price was $2.90. Watch the race replay

W e are honored to recognize Bluestone Farms as our Platinum Sponsor and the largest donor of the 2025 season! Their incredible generosity has made a direct and lasting impact on the future of Standardbred aftercare and adoption. A leader in elite Standardbred breeding for over 30 years, Bluestone Farms is renowned for producing world-class athletes with integrity, passion, and excellence. That same commitment now fuels our mission at MMXX Standardbreds: helping retired racehorses transition into successful second careers and loving homes. Because of Bluestone Farms, we’ve been able to expand our adoption program, and create more educational opportunities to promote the Standardbred as a competitive, versatile, and adoptable riding horse. Thank you, Bluestone Farms, for believing in our vision and helping us make it a reality. You are true champions of the breed!

The leading equines and individuals from Indiana’s 2024 campaign were honored Saturday evening (Jan. 25) at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Noblesville. The Indiana Standardbred Awards Banquet, sponsored by the Indiana Standardbred Association, Standardbred Advisory Board and Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, recognized winners on both the pari-mutuel and fair circuits last season. JK Endofanera was selected as Indiana Pacing Sire of the Year after his offspring turned in a strong 2024 campaign. Led by the aforementioned Lets Go Endofaera, the sire was represented by 225 starters that collectively tallied 517 wins and purse earnings topping $7.2 million. Standing at Victory Hill Farm, JK Endofanera sired Super Final winners Can’ttouchthese ($255,370) and Noblesville ($269,396) as well as Indiana Sires Stakes Point Champions Brookview Fancy ($151,105) and Hopeyaliketheshow ($137,843). JK Endofanera was previously recognized as the state’s top pacing sire in 2022