The following appeared at nationalsteeplechase.com and was written by Don Clippinger.
Steeplechase racing will be featured this summer with full lineups on tap at Saratoga Race Course and Colonial Downs.
Saratoga has scheduled nine hurdle races, and Colonial Downs will have 12 jump races during its season. Beginning in late July, the complementary programs at the two pari-mutuel tracks will provide racing opportunities for almost all hurdle divisions.
Saratoga’s program will spotlight the steeplechase sport’s stars and rising stars. The steeplechase action at the New York Racing Association track begins on Wednesday, July 22, with the Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes for horses in their first seasons of racing over fences. The sport’s top division will be highlighted the following afternoon, Thursday, July 23, in the A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1).
Those divisions will be in action four weeks later in the Michael G. Walsh Novice Stakes on Wednesday, Aug. 19, and the Saratoga meet’s signature jump race, the New York Turf Writers Cup Handicap (Gr. 1), on Thursday, Aug. 20.
Kensington Court wins a steeplechase race at Colonial Downs in 2019. Photo by Coady Photography.
Hudson River Farms’ Winston C soared to the top of the steeplechase division with runaway victories in the Smithwick and New York Turf Writer last summer and was voted the year’s Eclipse Award as North America’s steeplechase champion.
The world’s premier summer race course, Saratoga will feature jump racing every Wednesday of its meet. In addition to the Kiser and Walsh on its Wednesday programs, Saratoga will host the filly-and-mare division for the Mrs. Ogden Phipps Stakes on Aug. 5. Last year’s Mrs. Phipps winner, Beverly R. Steinman’s Market Alley, was the year’s female champion.
Allowance hurdles featuring steeplechasing’s emerging stars will be held on July 29, Aug. 12, and Aug. 26. Bruton Street-US’s Snap Decision won one of those allowance races last August and went on to become a multiple stakes winner and the year’s novice champion.
Saratoga will stage its first ratings handicap, for horses ranked at 125 or lower, on Wednesday, Sept. 2. That is the ratings level immediately below the sport’s Grade 1 competitors.
Colonial Downs in Virginia’s capital region will offer a strong program of jump racing on Mondays during its six-week season, which opens July 27. At least one maiden hurdle will be presented each week.
Maiden hurdles on Aug. 3 and Aug. 24 will be limited to fillies and mares, while the Aug. 17 race will be restricted to three- and four-year-olds.
Colonial will feature four ratings handicaps—on July 27, Aug. 10, Aug. 17, and Aug. 24. The meet’s jump-racing season concludes with the Randolph Rouse Stakes for fillies and mares on Aug. 31.
Here is the chronological list of summer racing at Saratoga and Colonial Downs.
Saratoga Race Course
Wednesday, July 22: $55,000 Jonathan Kiser Novice StakesThursday, July 23: $100,000 A.P. Smithwick (Gr. 1)
Colonial Downs
Monday, July 27: $20,000 Maiden
$20,000 Ratings Handicap (115 or lower)
Saratoga
Wednesday, July 29: $48,000 Allowance (NW 2)
Colonial
Monday, Aug. 3: $20,000 Filly-Mare Maiden
$20,000 Maiden
Saratoga
Wednesday, Aug. 5: $50,000 Mrs. Ogden Phipps (for fillies and mares)
Colonial
Monday, Aug. 10: $20,000 Maiden
$15,000 Ratings Handicap (110 or lower)
Saratoga
Wednesday, Aug. 12: $48,000 Allowance (NW 2)
Colonial
Monday, Aug. 17: $20,000 Maiden (3 & 4 YO)
$20,000 Ratings Handicap (115 or lower)
Saratoga
Wednesday, Aug. 19: $55,000 Michael G. Walsh Novice Stakes
Thursday, Aug. 20: $100,000 New York Turf Writers Cup (Gr. 1)
Colonial
Monday, Aug. 24: $20,000 Filly-Mare Maiden
$15,000 Ratings Handicap (110 or lower)
Saratoga
Wednesday, Aug. 26: $48,000 Allowance (NW 2)
Colonial
Monday, Aug. 31: $20,000 Maiden
$35,000 Randolph Rouse Stakes (for fillies and mares)
Saratoga
Wednesday, Sept. 2: $50,000 Ratings Handicap (125 or lower)