TDN Weekend December 2016 Issue 9
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1087484
Created for by: M A R C H 2 0 1 9 \ \ I S S U E 0 3 6 Publisher: THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS 60 Broad Street, Suite 100 Red Bank, NJ 07701 Cover photo: Barry A. Bornstein Photographers: Sarah K. Andrew • Benoit Photo • Barry A. Bornstein • Nick Bridges Commander's Palace • Christie DeBernardis • Eclipse Sportswire • EquiSport Photos Fasig-Tipton • Getty Images • Horsephotos • Liuzza's by the Track • Tod Marks Mother's Restaurant • NOLA Poboys • Pavla Nygaard • Ocala Jockey Club Jon Siegel • Soniat House • Brittlan Wall • The Willcox TDN Weekend is published by the Thoroughbred Daily News. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the Thoroughbred Daily News is strictly prohibited. TDN WEEKEND w w w . P M a d ve r t i s i n g . c o m T H O R O U G H B R E D D A I LY N E W S TDN 42 NEW ORLEANS In town for Fair Grounds? The Big Easy is unlike any other city in the world. By David Brooks 82 DRAYDEN VAN DYKE One of Southern California's –and the nation's– top young riders has The Last Word. By Bill Finley How life can change in a few years. It was only a little over a decade ago that DEAN AND PATTI REEVES na- ively bought their first racehorse. Now, with a thriving stable and a fairy-tale ride to the big stage with Mucho Macho Man, the energetic couple are some of the most recognizable people in the business and are working to bring racing to their home state of Georgia. Twenty min- utes or so from the Georgia border is AIKEN, South Car- olina, a horseman's paradise. Join us as we explore the genteel town's offerings which are particularly delightful in springtime. While we're on the subject of exploring, few places on earth tantalize the senses more than NEW ORLEANS. Spring racing at Fair Grounds may be among the nation's best, but don't forget to partake in some of the Big Easy's prolific music, food, and fun while you're there. A world away from Bourbon Street is the Ocala Jockey Club, where bucolic scenes are increas- ingly on display in both the racing and the sport horse worlds, but they are surely a far cry from the communist country proprietor PAVLA NYGAARD fled many years ago. Jen Roytz tells Nygaard's stunning story on these pages. And finally, one of the hottest riders on the planet, the young DRAYDEN VAN DYKE, has parlayed his Eclipse Award for leading apprentice into success on the tough Southern California circuit. He gives us The Last Word. JILL WILLIAMS Associate Publisher