Spring Double led Maryland stallions in the first quarter of 1976, with three stakes winners and two stakes-placed winners. The 13-year-old son of Double Jay stood at Glade Valley Farms in Frederick.
Somewhat surprisingly, Dr. Robert Leonard, managing partner of Glade Valley, reported that Spring Double's 1976 book was his smallest. "This horse can easily handle 40 mares," said Leonard, "and in past years we've always had to turn down applications. But for some reason that hasn't happened this year. Right now it looks like we'll wind up breeding him to only about 30 mares."
Two of the stakes winners were 5-year-old Gala Double and his 4-year-old full-sister Gala Lil. The latter went on to win five stakes that year, and 25 of her 65 career starts. Spring Double stood his career at Glade Valley until pensioned in 1989, siring 26 stakes winners including champion steeplechaser Martie's Anger.
Investing modestly in his first horse seven years earlier, Washington dentist Herman Kossow co-owned two stakes-winning fillies, Donetta and War Exchange, with partner Manny Cohen. They had three horses in their stable.
Kossow gave credit to their trainer, Carlos Garcia, who picked out War Exchange when she had yet to break her maiden, and Donetta as an unraced 2-year-old. Donetta had three stakes wins, including Bowie's Barbara Fritchie, while War Exchange scored in the Conniver and placed in five other stakes.
Laurel's Maryland Futurity attracted 222 nominees, which would make it the richest Maryland-bred race ever run. Only 2-year-olds sired by nominated Maryland stallions were eligible to compete. Sixty-three stallions standing in Maryland during the 1973 breeding season were nominated at a cost of $100 per horse; a further eligibility fee of $25 was required for each 2-year-old by those stallions. What Luck led with 16 nominees The race was scheduled for November.
The 13-year-old Maryland-bred broodmare Shenanigans was voted Broodmare of the Year for 1975 by the Thoroughbred Breeders of Kentucky. The gray daughter of Native Dancer, bred and owned by Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Janney Jr., finished second in the 1965 Maryland Futurity for her only stakes placing. She was the dam of two-time champion Ruffian (as well as additional graded winner Icecapade).
The Maryland Hunt Cup Committee created the S. Bryce Wing award, to be presented only when a rider of outstanding sportsmanship becomes apparent to the committee by displaying characteristics upon which Wing based his life -- horsemanship, sportsmanship and an eagerness to help fellow horsemen.
