Yes, there is racing in Russia. On Saturday, at the Moscow Hippodrome, the President of the Russian Federation Stakes was run. It was a 2400-metre race on dirt. Eleven horses answered the starter’s call. Monomakh, ridden by V Melekhov, won the race. Monomakh was the winner of the Russian Derby last year and was one of the fancied runners.

Why am I devoting a paragraph or two to racing in Russia? It is news and there was a horse from England running in the Russian race. Bronze Cannon, trained by John Gosden, made the trip to Moscow. Jockey Jimmy Fortune went along. Bronze Cannon was prominent until late and faded to finish fourth and finished seven and one half lengths behind the winner. Bronze Cannon won the Hardwicke Stakes on the final day of Royal Ascot in June.

Del Mar began the summer meeting on Wednesday with a 10-race card. Del Mar is referred to as the course where ‘the surf meets the turf.’ The body of water close to the racecourse is referred to as the surf.

In 2009, Del Mar will race five times a week. It is a 37-day meeting. There will be eight Grade I races. Zenyatta, unbeaten in her career, is likely to make an appearance in the 1700-metre Clement L Hirsch Stakes on August 9. The Hirsch will be on the All Weather track. Zenyatta, after the Hirsch, will be readied for a defence of the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Santa Anita in early November. Del Mar’s biggest race is the million-dollar Pacific Classic to be run on the grass on September 6.

Vision d’Etat has won a bunch of Group I races. It all began in the 2008 French Derby. In last year’s Arc, the Eic Libaud-trained runner finished three and one half lengths behind Zarkava. As a four year-old, Vision d’Etat is doing everything right. In the Prix Ganay at Longchamp, Vision d’Etat justified expectations. In the Prince of Wales, entrusted to Olivier Peslier, the French colt rallied from last to first to beat the strongly fancied Tartan Bearer. It has been reported that Vision d’Etat will take his chances in the Prix Foy this year. The Prix Foy is the traditional Arc prep.

Trainer Eric Libaud commented. “Vision d’Etat came out of his race at Royal Ascot very well. The plan is for him to run in the Prix Foy at Longchamp on September 13. He is improving and can go on both firm and heavy ground.”

The three-day meeting at Ascot opens on Friday and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is the piece de resistance of the three-day extravaganza. The King George, over 2400 metres, will be run on Saturday. Some showers are forecast for Friday afternoon. Saturday and Sunday are expected to be dry and bright days.

Sir Michael Stoute has three runners in the Group I King George. Ryan Moore rides Conduit who is the 13-8 favourite. Conduit, winner of the 2008 St Leger and the Breeders’ Cup Turf last year, was third to Sea The Stars in Sandown’s Eclipse in early July. Tartan Bearer, second to Vision d’Etat in the Prince of Wales Stakes, will have the services of the ageless Mick Kinane. Ask, the Coronation Cup hero at Epsom on Oaks day, is the third runner from the Stoute stable. Stoute is 4-7 to land the King George.

A conspicuous absentee in the King George is Cima de Triomphe. It is possible that Ascot’s loss may be Arlington Park’s gain. A Luca Cumani trainee, Cima de Triomphe has the distinction of beating Conduit this year. In his most recent outing, Cima de Triomphe was fourth in the Eclipse Stakes.

Trainer Cumani saddled Tolomeo to win the Arlington Million in 1983. Cumani spoke. “Cima de Triomphe is not running in the King George. We are looking at the Million at Arlington. We’ll see how he is next week or so before we make a decision.

Do you remember Masterofthehorse? He was one of the leading sophomores in the Aidan O’Brien stable. Masterofthehorse was third behind Sea The Stars in the Derby at Epsom in the first week of June. Now with trainer Debbie Mountain, Masterofthehorse will run in the Betfair Gordon Stakes next Tuesday, the opening day at Glorious Goodwood. The new owner is Al-Abdulmalik Hassan who races at Qatar on a big scale.

This is what happened in the Grade II $750,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs last Saturday. The Colonial Cup at Colonial Downs was run on June 20. Battle of Hastings won it from Straight Story. The same horses finished one-two in the Derby. Tyler Baze rode Battle of Hastings. Nine ran. California-based Jeff Mullins trains Battle of Hastings. The 2000-metre race was run in 2 03.29 on soft grass. Battle of Hastings was the 36/10 second favourite. Nicanor, Barbaro’s full brother and the 9-5 morning line favourite, was scratched. Battle of Hastings is in line for a five-million payoff (including purse money) for what is called the ‘Grand Slam of Grass Bonus.’ The Grand Slam consists of the Colonial Cup, the Virginia Derby, the Secretariat at Arlington in early August and the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita in November. Battle of Hastings has won the first two and two deep rivers remain to be crossed. Bred in Britain, Battle of Hastings is by Royal Applause.

In Saturday’s Virginia Derby, Straight Story had what looked like an insurmountable lead but knuckled under. Jockey Tyler Baze got an inspired late run out of Battle of Hastings who got his nose in front in the last jump. Tyler Baze talked about his ride. “He’s very honest and gave me everything when he had to. He’s an awesome horse.”

Two high profile yearlings were sold for big prices at the Fasig-Tipton July select yearling sale. In 2009, two sires have done very well, thanks to the exploits of Rachel Alexandra, Mine That Bird and Summer Bird. Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks, beat the boys in the Preakness and took the Mother Goose at Belmont Park. She is now getting ready for a tilt at the Haskell at Monmouth Park. Mine That Bird was first in the Kentucky Derby, second in the Preakness and third in the Belmont Stakes and is being pointed to the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer. Summer Bird was sixth in the Derby, skipped the Preakness and won the Belmont Stakes and will oppose Rachel Alexandra in the Haskell. Medaglia d’Oro is Rachel Alexandra’s sire. Birdstone is the sire of Mine That Bird and Summer Bird.

A filly by Medaglia d’Oro was sold for $425,000. The buyer was Darley, owned by Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum. The filly is out of Ting A Folie by Careafolie.

A colt by Birdstone was sold for $400,000. The buyer again was Darley. The dam is Slew Smarts by Seattle Slew.

Jockey Richard Hughes may not have had a productive trip to Bangalore. Hughes is enjoying one of his best riding seasons in his native England. Last Saturday, jockey Hughes had three winners at Newbury. He won with Sir Parky at 11-4 and trained by Richard Hannon. Monsieur Chevalier, beaten at Royal Ascot after being interfered with, won for Hughes as the 2-1 favourite. Hannon trains the Monsieur. The E A L Dunlop-trained King Charles, a 11-2 chance, was the third winning ride for Hughes.

On Wednesday, jockey Hughes was in action at Sandown. It was a riding triple for Hughes and a training triple for Richard Hannon. In the 6 30 race, Hughes rode Yer Woman, a 9-2 chance, to victory. He came back to win the 7 05 race with Cadley Road, the well backed 13-8 chalk. In the 8 15 race, Hughes steered Romany Princess to a win at 5-1. Hughes is in irresistible form.

Francis Norton, David Allan and Silvestre d’Souza won a race each in England on Wednesday. Chris Hayes and Colm O’Donoghue won a race each in Ireland.

In Chicago, the biggest race in the thoroughbred calendar is the Arlington Million. It is the first race with a million-dollar purse to be run anywhere in the world. The Beverly D Stakes and the Secretariat will be run on the same day as the Million. The Million festival will be on Saturday, August 8.

Saratoga in upstate New York will take over when Belmont Park closes. Saratoga’s main race is the Travers Stakes. There are several Graded races that will be run at Saratoga. I have never been to Saratoga. If things work out, I will be at Saratoga over a weekend.

The biggest event in American harness racing will take place at the Meadowlands (New Jersey) on August 8. It is the Hambletonian, a trotting race for sophomores. It will be telecast. The Hambletonian carries a purse close to two million dollars.

It is good news. I am referring to Hyderabad hosting the Invitation Cup in late October. On a personal note, I will not be able to attend. The Breeders’ Cup is in early November. I loved my Hyderabad visit in March 2008 when the Invitation was run there. I am planning to be in India by December 20. The Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin is on December 14 this year. I am planning to go but there are unresolved questions. I am making an allowance for the Hong Kong visit. Tickets to India are less expensive if they are booked in advance.