Colonial Downs

Colonial Downs may be wrapping up a historic 2023 season with Saturday's GIII New Kent Country Virginia Derby but several firsts paved the way this summer for brighter things to come in New Kent, VA. In addition to hosting its first Grade I races, the Arlington Million and the 'WAYI' Beverly D., Colonial welcomed a new face in the steward's stand. North Carolina native Whitney Verbal joined veterans Jack Houghton and Pat Bovenzi in making the calls Wednesday-Saturday and has been nothing but a welcome breath of fresh air in...

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. The TDN also posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from the same week. These include decisions from around the country. California Track: Del Mar Date: 08/31/2023 Licensee: Ramon Vazquez Jr., jockey Penalty: Three-day suspension...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Activist Investing in a Saratoga race last weekend. Kingman Colt Doubles Up In New York The Klaravich Stables/Chad Brown axis combined with Saratoga winner Activist Investing (GB) (Kingman {GB}) on Sunday (video). Already a winner during the Belmont at Aqueduct meet third out last October, the son of Astronomy's Choice (GB) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) was bred by Robin Geffen. Joining the Klaravich fold...

NEW KENT, VA--Not far from the Colonial Downs racetrack in southeastern Virginia, a sign on the interstate reads, 'Welcome to America's Historic Triangle'. The trio of Jamestown, Yorktown, and Williamsburg provide a gateway into American history from a time when the British ruled the American colonies. And while it's been a long time since Great Britain had success in this part of the country, Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}) got them back on the board with a win in the GI Arlington Million. In Virginia's first rendition of the 'Million',...

NEW KENT, VA--Fev Rover (Ire) is headed West. With a win in Saturday's GI Beverly D. S., another line of history was written in the storied legacy of thoroughbred racing in Virginia. Colonial's first Grade I race attracted a field of just five going 1 3/16 miles over the famed Secretariat turf course. And with the Friday night defection of her main rival Didia (Arg) (Orpen), Fev Rover took full advantage and asserted her dominance. In doing so, she booked herself a fees-paid spot in November's GI Breeders' Cup Filly...

The Virginia-bred Gigante (Not This Time) refused to let Nagirroc (Lea) by in the final yards as he gallantly defended his home turf in the GI Secretariat S. at Colonial Downs Saturday. The 22-1 longshot was shuffled back to last as Mo Stash (Mo Town) took the field through fractions of :23.67 and :48.03. The field bunched up around the far turf and Gigante was rolling up into contention four wide approaching the lane. He forged to the lead with a furlong to run and grittily held Nagirroc at bay...

4th-Colonial Downs, $60,000, Msw, 8-12, 3yo/up, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.17, fm, 6 1/2 lengths. INTEGRATION (c, 3, Quality Road--Harmonize {GISW, $827,860}, by Scat Daddy) earned even-money favoritism in his first start since bringing $700,000 as a yearling at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton New York Select Yearling Sale. 30-1 longshot Elon (Great Notion) was eager to go on with it and surged ahead to open up nearly five lengths on the field through a half in :47.58. Integration, though caught a bid wide throughout, easily took over into the far turn as the...

4th-CNL, $60K, Msw, 3yo/up, 1 1/16mT, 3:00 p.m. A $700,000 Ylg FTSAUG purchase, INTEGRATION (Quality Road) debuts for Shug McGaughey. Out of 2016 GI Del Mar Oaks heroine Harmonize (Scat Daddy), who was campaigned and bred by Larkin Armstrong, this 3-year-old colt hails from a deep, extended female family which includes MGSWs like Al Khali (Medaglia d'Oro), Cappuchino (Capote) and Hungry Island (More Than Ready), plus GI Diana S. heroine and MGSW Somali Lemonade (Lemon Drop Kid) and MGISW Verrazano (More Than Ready). TJCIS PPs 5th-SAR, $136K, Msw, 2yo, 7f,...

In the absence of Godolphin standout and GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf winner Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the role of morning-line favorite for Saturday's feature at Virginia's Colonial Downs fell to GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational winner Atone (Into Mischief). A Godolphin-bred gelded son of leading sire Into Mischief, the Michael Maker trainee, owned by Three Diamonds Farm, put a career best 103 Beyer Speed Figure to take down Brazilian standout Ivar (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 28. He'll stretch out to 1 1/4 miles...

1st-CNL, $60K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 1:30p.m. Lael Stables' BUBBLING UP (Vino Rosso) marks her career debut at Colonial Downs for trainer Michael Stidham. Out of  GSP Shaken (Uncle Mo), the Mark Stansell-bred filly brought $550,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Select Sale last summer. The top-priced offspring by the champion Vino Rosso last season, the filly's pricetag far surpassed the Spendthrift sire's 2022 yearling average of $94,287 for 112 head sold. TJCIS PPs  

Joining an ever-growing list of tracks to cancel their programs to start the weekend, Delaware Park will follow suit and reschedule their Saturday live racing card due to the excessive heat forecasted for the region, the track said in a release Friday. Acting upon the recommendation of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission (DTRC) veterinarians, the entire July 29 live racing card will be transferred to Friday, Aug. 4. The national weather service has predicted temperatures in the 90s with a heat index of value approaching the mid-100s. Live racing is...

A forecast for extreme heat caused the cancellation of live racing at Woodbine Thursday and Friday, as well as at Laurel Park Friday, while Ellis Park will move its Friday and Saturday programs. Colonial Downs, which announced it was cancelling its Friday card Wednesday, additionally has now cancelled its Saturday card. Woodbine announced its cancelled Thursday races would be offered to be carded for July 30 and the track will also attempt to make up Thursday's races by adding additional races over the next few race cards. After monitoring the...