Festival of Racing Slated for August 10; Virginia Derby Scheduled for September 7
Topped by a quartet of graded races, Colonial Downs unveiled its 2024 stakes program consisting of 27 races worth $5.7 million for the 27-day season which runs from Thursday,
July 11 through Saturday, September 7.

The Colonial Downs Festival of Racing, slated for Saturday, August 10 is highlighted by the Grade 1 Arlington Million, the Grade 2 $500,000 Beverly D. and the Grade 2 $500,000 Secretariat Stakes, the traditional weekend for the renowned trio. The Million will be run at 1¼ miles, the Beverly D. will be contested at 1-3/16 miles and the Secretariat covers one mile. All three races are slated to be run over Colonial’s acclaimed Secretariat Turf Course.

Once again, the Beverly D. has been selected as a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf to be held at Del Mar in California on Saturday, November 2.

Festival Day is being expanded for 2024 to include 4 additional stakes races: the $100,000 Petramalo Mile, a one-mile dirt race for 3-year-olds and its sister race, the $100,000 Penny Chenery at seven furlongs; the $150,000 Van Clief for 3-year-olds & up at 5½ furlongs on the turf and its distaff companion event, the $150,000 Andy Guest.

The Grade 3 $500,000 New Kent County Virginia Derby, Colonial’s longtime signature event, will be raced on closing day, Saturday, September 7. The 1-1/8 miles grass race headlines a card with $1.3 million in stakes purses including five other turf stakes: the $250,000 Virginia Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1-1/16 miles; the $150,000 Da Hoss Stakes for older horses at 5½ furlongs; the $150,000 Colonial Cup a 1½-mile marathon for 3-year-olds & up; the $125,000 Rosie’s Stakes for 2-year-olds sprinting 5 ½ furlongs; and the $125,000 Kitten’s Joy Stakes for 2-year-olds over a two-turn 1-1/16 miles on turf.

Last year’s major stakes races at Colonial netted several notable winners: Da Hoss victor Nobals went on to capture the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita; Fev Rover, who took the Beverly D., added the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine to her already impressive resume; and Virginia Derby hero Integration later scored in the Grade 2 Hill Prince at Aqueduct. More recently, 2023 Virginia Derby runner up Program Trading captured the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

Opening weekend action includes three new turf stakes: the $125,000 Million Prep at 1-1/8 miles; $125,000 Beverly D. Prep over 1-1/16 miles; and the $125,000 Boston at one mile, which will serve as a prep for the Secretariat.

The following Saturday, July 20, a quartet of turf races for Virginia-bred or -sired older runners are on the docket: the $125,000 Brookmeade for filles and mares at 1-1/16 miles, the $125,000 Edward P. Evans at one mile, and the $125,000 Punch Line and $125,000 Tyson Gilpin/Glenn Petty both at 5½ furlongs with the latter of the pair restricted to fillies and mares.

A pair of 2-year-old races for Virginia-restricted runners – the $150,000 Hickory Tree and its sister race the $150,000 Keswick – headline the Saturday, August 3 program. Both races have been lengthened to 5½ furlongs on the dirt.

Commonwealth Champions Day is scheduled for Saturday, August 31 and is highlighted by a quintet of turf races saluting Virgina runners: the $125,000 Jamestown is for Virginia-bred or -sired 2-year-olds going 5½ furlongs while the remaining four events are for Virginia-restricted horses – the $150,000 Meadow Stable for older horses at 5½ furlongs and its female companion race the $150,000 Camptown; and the $150,000 Bert Allen and its filly and mare counterpart, the $150,000 Nellie Fox, both at 1-1/16 miles.

Additionally, there will be two $100,000 stakes races for fillies and mares presented by the National Steeplechase Association, the Randolph D. Rouse on Thursday, August 8 and the Life’s Illusion on Thursday, September 5.

Condition books and stall applications are available online at www.colonialdowns.com under the horsemen’s tab. Stall applications are due Tuesday, May 21.

About Colonial Downs
Colonial Downs Racetrack, in New Kent, Virginia, hosts live thoroughbred racing on two nationally renowned surfaces – the Secretariat Turf Course, the widest turf course in North America at 180 feet wide and on a 1 1/4-mile dirt track. The Colonial Downs Group, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums® in Richmond, Hampton, New Kent, Vinton, Emporia, and Dumfries which offer innovative historic horseracing (HHR) gaming technology and full card simulcasting as well as Rosie’s Game Room in Collinsville, which features a limited selection of some of their best HHR titles plus full card simulcasting. The 2024 live racing season, which consists of 27 days from July 11 through September 7, is highlighted by the Grade 1 Arlington Million, Grade 2 Beverly D. and Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes on August 10 and the Grade 3 New Kent County Virginia Derby on September 7. The Beverly D. is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win & You’re In” race.

The biggest horse racing event of the year is this coming Saturday May 4 — and for the first time ever, there are 15 different places that Virginians can wager the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve! 

Fans can bet the “Run for the Roses” at any of the seven Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums in New Kent, Richmond, Hampton, Dumfries, Collinsville, Vinton and Emporia, at the VA-Horseplay OTBs inside Breakers Sports Grille in Henrico & Buckets Bar & Grill in Chesapeake, at the Virginia Gold Cup Steeplechase Races in The Plains, at the Shenandoah Downs Harness Races in Woodstock, and online via four partner sites: Twinspires.com, TVG.com, Xpressbet.com & NYRABets.com. 

There is much more to wager in addition to the Derby. Saturday features an additional seven graded stakes including the $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (Gr. 1), the $1,000,000 Churchill Downs Stakes (Gr. 1), $1,000,000 Derby City Distaff (Gr. 1), $750,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (Gr. 2), $600,000 Pat Day Mile (Gr. 2), $600,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (Gr. 2) and $600,000 American Turf Stakes (Gr. 2). The $200,000 Knicks Go Overnight Stakes will complement the eight graded events. First post is 10:30 AM and the Derby itself goes off at 6:57 PM.

The day prior — Friday May 3 — is the $1,500,000 Kentucky Oaks (Gr. 1) card. In addition to the feature for 3-year-old fillies, six other graded stakes are programmed including the $1,000,000 La Troienne Stakes (Gr. 1), $750,000 Alysheba Stakes (Gr. 2), $600,000 Eight Belles Stakes (Gr. 2), $600,000 Edgewood Stakes (Gr. 2, $400,000 Modesty Stakes (Gr. 3) and $400,000 Unbridled Sidney Stakes. First post is at 10:30 AM and the Oaks goes off at 5:51 PM.

Kentucky Derby post time is 6:57 PM. Advance Derby wagering is available all day and evening on Friday, then Saturday up until post time.          

The following was written by Nick Hahn and appeared in The Racing Biz on May 1.

Virginia’s Certified Residency Program has generated nearly six dollars of economic impact for every dollar invested, according to a new study. The program, which provides incentives for horse owners to stable their young horses in Virginia, has paid out $14.6 million in bonuses over six years, returning $86.2 million in value.

That number includes over $54 million in direct economic impact and supports 825 jobs, the study says.

The study, blandly entitled “Economic Impact: Virginia-Certified Residency Program for Thoroughbred Horses,” was prepared by Chmura Economics & Analytics and reviewed the impacts of the program created after Colonial Downs became dormant a decade ago.  Racing returned to Colonial Downs in 2019 after the track was sold.

“What the study does is verify what our members have been telling us about the program,” said Debbie Easter, Executive Director of Virginia Thoroughbred Association, which is part of the Virginia Equine Alliance, which initialized the review.  “It has allowed them to grow their business, hire employees and make improvements to the farms.”

The incentive program benefits hundreds of Virginia horse farms that receive income from horse owners outside Virginia. It requires a horse to  maintain a minimum six-month continuous residency in Virginia prior to the beginning of its three-year-old year.  Many participants in the program stay longer.

“I think I would have been bankrupt or out of business if the program hadn’t been developed.  I have never struggled like that before,” said Diana McClure, who credits the program for more than doubling her horse population from 20 to 50 horses at her DMC Stable in Berryville, Virginia.  “I didn’t realize how big an effect the closing of Colonial Downs was.  Nobody had any reason to send us any horses.  I’m not exaggerating.” 

McClure recalls a large meeting in Middleburg among the leaders of horsemen’s groups and farm owners to discuss what to do when the concept came up. Delaware had already developed a similar program Maryland and West Virginia, neighboring states to Virginia with year-round racing, had incentivized state-programs.  When the idea surfaced, it quickly gained momentum.

“It has saved the infrastructure that we’ve also been hearing from [such as] blacksmiths, veterinarians, feed suppliers, that serves our members,” added Easter.  “You can’t grow business without that infrastructure.”

Through 2023 over 5,000 horses had participated in the program since its launch in 2017. That alone supports 825 jobs in Virginia, part of the over 5,000 jobs that Virginia horse racing employs.  

Average daily spending per horse rose from an average $35 a day in 2017 to $52.50 a day in 2023.  The program hasn’t just preserved Virginia’s thoroughbred industry, it has made it stronger and more resilient.

“We had a cycle during the year that had a gap between breaking horses and the meet at Colonial Downs where we were like squirrels gathering nuts,” explained McClure about earlier years.  “The certified program filled that gap.  We never kept such a consistent program until the certified program was developed.”

The bonus program allows horse “developers” – the owner at the time of the horse’s first race — to receive a 25% bonus which the horse wins open races throughout the Mid-Atlantic and a 10% bonus on wins in state-restricted races.   Though the program has been fine-tuned over the years, it has, pardon the pun, stabilized hundreds of thoroughbred farms in Virginia both large and small.

Madison Meyers and her husband Kieran Norris started breaking and training thoroughbreds at the Middleburg training center when the program was started. Grateful Bred was a horse that was sent to their stable, Ballyerin Racing, LLC, in the first year of the program by then-owner Gordon “Gordie” Keys. Grateful Bred lists the 2021 Meadow Stable Stakes at Colonial Downs and Marland Million Turf Sprint among his wins and is now owned by Ballyerin Racing after Keys passed away in 2023.

“It’s been huge for us,” said Madison Meyers of the program. “My phone started ringing off the hook.” 

She added, “It’s a great add-on for any horse from any state to race in the Mid-Atlantic. There are different ways to get certified, from weaning to yearling from breaking to training. It’s a big add-on for horses going to sale.”

When the couple kicked off their business in 2017 in Middleburg, they had 20 horses under their stable roof. Now they have 60 and could get more. 

The total economic impact includes both the $54 million in direct impact and indirect impacts — money used for such things as maintaining fences or purchasing office supplies – of $19.2 million. Induced impacts – economic activity generated when workers spend their money at retail stores, restaurants, etc. – was $12.5 million.

All of that supports rural economies and allows horse farms to thrive all year.

“For a state that doesn’t have year-round racing, we have businesses that have year-round programs,” added Easter.

March 30 was a monumental day for Ashland, Virginia and for horse racing from near and far! The town has proclaimed it “Secretariat Day” to celebrate the birthday of the legendary Triple Crown champion and to hold the long-awaited dedication ceremony for the stunning bronze statue “Secretariat Racing Into History” by sculptor Jocelyn Russell.

A formal dedication and ribbon-cutting took place at the Reynolds Family Plaza at Randolph-Macon College in downtown Ashland. This was the first and only monument of Secretariat in Virginia, his birth state. He was born on March 30, 1970 at Meadow Stable, which was founded by Christopher Chenery, who grew up in Ashland.

At 21 feet long and 11.5 feet tall, the monument depicts a larger-than-life Secretariat at a full run, ridden by jockey Ron Turcotte. The saddlecloth shows the number two for Secretariat’s post position in the 1973 Belmont, his most memorable race. The 3,800-pound artwork garnered national publicity last summer during its 5,000-mile tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown. The Secretariat For Virginia Committee with the non-profit Ashland Museum raised the funds for the project.

“Secretariat Racing Into History represents my family history coming full circle, in more ways than one,” said Kate Chenery Tweedy, chair of SECVA. “Like my grandfather Chris Chenery and my mother Penny overcoming their challenges with Meadow Stable, our team displayed an unwavering determination to get the job done. We are extremely grateful for such a rewarding collaboration with the Ashland community, the Commonwealth of Virginia, generous donors, and loyal fans from near and far. This glorious monument will stand as an emblem of excellence and inspiration that honors a matchless legacy.”

As a tribute to Secretariat’s Virginia roots and his still-unbroken track records in the 1973 Triple Crown, the majestic sculpture will be standing on a base containing portions of sand from the original training track at Meadow Stable and from the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont.

Here are additional pictures from Big Red’s celebration Ashland:

The following was written by Tod Marks and appeared on his social media channels.

In a blockbuster announcement, the National Steeplechase Association has released details of powerhouse jump racing programs at the flat tracks this summer that includes 19 races worth $950,000 at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., and four races at Saratoga Race Course in Upstate New York: the A.P. Smithwick and Jonathan Sheppard, both Grade 1s with a $150,000 purse, and two $75,000 novice stakes, the Jonathan Kiser and Michael G. Walsh.

Additionally, NYRA will showcase the $150,000 Beverly R. Steinman handicap hurdle stakes, named after the longtime owner who has successfully straddled both the steeplechase and flat racing worlds with stars such as Dark Equation, who captured the 2008 New York Turf Writers Cup (G1), and Colstar, a filly who won more than $1 million on the flat. The Steinman will be contested at 2 ⅜ miles on Sunday June 9 at the Spa, the day after Belmont Stakes, which is being run at Saratoga for the first time while Belmont Park is reconstructed from the ground up.

“Peggy Steinman has represented the National Steeplechase Association at the highest level for decades, particularly at Saratoga, where her presence alone, sitting in her prominent finish-line box, has reminded people in the industry and especially at the New York Racing Association that the traditions of steeplechasing run deep,” said Bill Gallo, the NSA’s Director of Racing. “This is a fitting and wonderful tribute to a very special person on an historic weekend in Saratoga. She is thrilled with the honor and looking forward to the Belmont at Saratoga Festival.”

NYRA also reaffirmed its commitment to host the $150,000 Lonesome Glory (G1) and $75,000 William Entenmann novice stakes at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet on Thursday Sept. 19, a week after the Friday Sept. 13 opening day.

The summer calendar, which begins July 11 and ends Sept. 6, offers steeplechasing the opportunity to broaden its appeal to a wider fan base, especially at Saratoga, the highest profile race meet in the U.S.

NYRA races are broadcast live on Fox2 TV, with replays available on NYRA website, https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/replays. Fans can watch the races from Colonial Downs on their simulcast signal or via live stream from the NSA web site, www.nationalsteeplechase.com.

All races will be part of the flat-racing cards at Colonial on Thursdays (the races were previously run on Fridays) and at Saratoga on Wednesdays. At both meets, the jump races will be at the beginning of the day. The races at Colonial will go off as the first, second, and third on the program, with a 1:30 p.m. first post. At Saratoga post time is 1:10 p.m.

Highlighting the action at Colonial are a pair of $100,000 filly and mare stakes, the Randolph D. Rouse and Life’s Illusion. Most of the races at Colonial Downs have been carded as open maiden special weights hurdles (one of which is restricted to four-year-olds), and all have gotten a purse bump to $50,000. There are also two $55,000 allowance contests for non-winners of two, and several ratings handicaps and starter events worth $30,000 to $35,000. Colonial is bringing back another popular event, a $50,000 flat race for horses who competed but didn’t win a jump race at the track during the meet. It’ll take place on the track’s closing Friday, Sept. 6.

The addition of the Beverly R. Steinman stakes gives the NSA a total of eight Grade 1s on the 2024 schedule. In January, the Virginia Gold Cup Association revealed plans for a new Grade 1 fixture, the Commonwealth Cup, at Great Meadow Race Course in The Plains, Va., on May 4. Before that, the Carolina Cup Association announced it would bring back after an eight-year hiatus the Colonial Cup at Springdale Race Course in Camden, S.C., on Nov. 17.

Full major track schedule:

Belmont at Saratoga

• June 9, Beverly R. Steinman (G1)

Colonial

• July 11, Open maiden, filly & mare maiden, allowance

• July 18, Open maiden, 110, and 115 ratings handicap

• Aug. 01, Open maiden, maiden starter, and allowance

• Aug. 08, Open maiden, 115 ratings handicap, and Randolph D.Rouse Memorial filly & mare stakes

• Aug. 22, Open maiden, four-year-old maiden, maiden starter

• Sept. 05, Open maiden, 110 ratings, Life’s Illusion filly & mare stakes

• Sept. 06, Flat race for jumpers who started at the meet but didn’t win

Saratoga

• July 17, A.P. Smithwick Memorial (G1)

• July 31, Jonathan Kiser Memorial novice stakes

• Aug. 14, Jonathan Sheppard Memorial (G1)

• Aug. 28, Michael G. Walsh Memorial novice stakes

Belmont at Aqueduct

• Sept. 19, William Entenmann Memorial novice stakes, Lonesome Glory (G1)

2024 NSA Grade 1s

May 04, $150,000 Commonwealth Cup, 2 ⅛ miles, Virginia Gold Cup Races

May 11, $200,000 Calvin Houghland Memorial Iroquois, 3 miles, Iroquois

June 09, $150,000 Beverly R. Steinman, 2 ⅜ miles, Saratoga

July 17, $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial, 2 ⅜ miles, Saratoga

Aug. 14, $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard Memorial, 2 ⅜ miles, Saratoga

Sept. 19, $150,000 Lonesome Glory, 2 ½ miles, Belmont at Aqueduct

Oct. 19, $250,000 Grand National, 2 ⅝ miles, Far Hills

Nov. 17, $150,000 Colonial Cup, 2 ⅝ miles, Colonial Cup

Note: The Iroquois and Grand National are weight-for-age races. The other Grade 1s are handicaps.

The annual controlled burn of the Secretariat Turf Course at Colonial Downs took place Monday March 18 at the New Kent track. The grass oval is set ablaze at this time every year to quickly and efficiently remove dead cover off the surface’s top player. The burn also drives nutrients deeper into the ground to provide a green, lush and safe racing surface in time for the summer racing which begins July 11 and continues through September 7.

The 2024 burn was completed in a record time of just over one hour. The burn was conducted under the supervision of Colonial’s Senior Director of Racing Operations Frank Hopf, new Director of Track Operations Leif Dickinson and of course, New Kent Fire & Rescue.

The 9-week summer thoroughbred season will feature daily average purses in the $700,000 range along with racing Thursdays and Saturdays at 1:30 PM and Fridays at 4:30 PM. Photos of the controlled follow (overhead photos provided by Mitchell Bradley)

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← Spring Point-to-Point Season Continues with the Warrenton Hunt; Piedmont PTP Up Next

Virginia horse racing fans got to celebrate a milestone event Wednesday February 7 as a ceremonial groundbreaking for the magnificent bronze Secretariat “Racing into History’ monument took place in Ashland on the outer edge of the Randolph Macon College campus. The ceremony took place under gorgeous sunny skies, and a large, appreciative crowd was on hand to celebrate Virginia’s greatest athlete — who also happens to be a hometown hero. Groundbreaking speakers included Kate Tweedy (daughter of Secretariat owner Penny Chenery Tweedy), Jocelyn Russell (sculptor of the Secretariat statue), Steve Trivett (Mayor of​ Ashland) and Ann Martin (President of the Ashland Museum). 

A formal statue dedication will take place on Saturday March 30 during Secretariat’s birthday celebration in Ashland. The grand event will feature vendors, food trucks, a choir, guest speakers, photo opportunities and a free showing of the movie Secretariat at the Ashland Theatre among other activities. 

The Town of Ashland accepted the monument the evening prior where it took formal ownership of Big Red. Secretariat will be based on land at the college that has been leased to the Town. The small park — located the intersection of England Street & Railroad Avenue — will formally be named the Reynolds Family Plaza at Randolph Macon College.

“It was a wonderful ceremony and a very moving moment for me,” noted Tweedy. “It was the culmination of a long project and a lot of good work. Last night was a crowning achievement.”

“My grandfather began to fulfill his dream to breed and race good horses here in Virginia in 1936 and it took a long time before the greatest horse came around,” she continued. “My mom took over when he became ill and served as the steward of Secretariat. I can only imagine what Granddad and Mom would think about this project. I just know that they would be overwhelmingly proud and thrilled about today, and about what it will look like at the dedication ceremony. 

At the end of her remarks, Tweedy announced that a sandy area underneath the statue will include sand mixed in from track surface materials at all three Triple Crown host tracks — Churchill Downs, Pimlico and Belmont — in addition to sand from The Meadow, Big Red’s birthplace in Doswell. Sculptor Jocelyn Russell then took a pail of sand from The Meadow and spread it in with an existing sand mixture in front of the stage that was used for the ceremonial groundbreaking.    

Russell, who was emotional in discussing the scope of the sculpting process and the efforts from many that went into it, sent a blanket thank you to everyone involved and promised a longer speech at the dedication. 

Mayor Trivett referenced what a big event this is for Ashland and that the Town was breaking ground in a special way. “This is not only the first monument of Secretariat in Hanover County, or the first monument of Secretariat in Central Virginia, but the first monument of Secretariat in the state of Virginia! We are extremely proud to continue Ashland’s longstanding ties with Chenery family and on March 30th, this park will be the center of the ‘Center of the Universe’.” 

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The following appeared in The Racing Biz

Larry Johnson’s Legacy Farm will for the first time stand his graded stakes winner True Valour (Ire) for 2024, as well as his homebred graded stakes winner Street Magician 

These decisions are designed to take advantage of the lucrative opportunities for Virginia state-sired horses in which not only are they eligible for the State-bred and State-certified stakes and overnight race bonuses offered at Colonial Downs, but also bonuses of 25% for wins at any track in the Midatlantic!

A breeder can foal a Virginia-sired horse anywhere (and be eligible for the foaling state’s bonus program) and still be eligible for these Virginia-focused bonuses without any residency or other requirements.

2024 marks True Valour’s second year at stud.  He is a multiple graded stakes  winner at several distances against the best in the country. In his last start he raced Breeders’ Cup winner Golden Pal to a head bob. (Golden Pal covered 290 mares at $30,000 in 2023).  As his trainer Graham Motion has said, True Valour had more speed than any horse he had ever trained.  At $2,000, True Valour offers significant value. 

Street Magician will resume his successful stallion career that boasts more than $10 million in progeny earnings, an ample number of stakes winners, along with several state-bred champions. He will stand for no fee to approved mares.

Both stallions will participate in the Virginia Thoroughbred Association’s stallion season auction, which takes place February 14. In addition, they will be eligible for viewing at an open house at Legacy Farm scheduled for January 27 and 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Virginia Gold Cup Adds a Grade 1 Stakes to its May 4 Date

Virginia’s horse racing event calendar for 2024 is set and in addition to dates at Colonial Downs (thoroughbred) and Shenandoah Downs (harness), seven spring Point-to-Point (PTP) meets along with seven National Steeplechase Association (NSA) sanctioned meets –- three in spring and four in fall — fill in the calendar. 

The Rappahannock PTP kicks the season off March 2 at The Hill in Boston with a rain date of the following Saturday, March 9.  Additional meets in March include Warrenton Hunt PTP March 16 at the Airlie Race Course, the Piedmont Fox Hounds PTP March 23 at the Salem Course in Upperville and the Blue Ridge Hunt PTP March 30 at the Woodley Farm in Berryville. Heading into April, the Old Dominion Hounds Point-to-Point kicks the month off on the 6^th at the Ben Venue Farm in Ben Venue, VA. followed by a pair of Sunday gatherings — the Loudoun Hunt PTP April 21 at Morven Park in Leesburg and the Middleburg Hunt PTP April 28 at Glenwood Park. 

The Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) will again offer a popular Starter Rewards initiative called “Point-to-Points Pay”. The program began in 2019 and has helped to enhance participation in the early spring race meets. The concept is straightforward— every time a Virginia-owned or Virginia-trained horse makes a start in any PTP race, the owner will receive a $200 starter reward. The bonus is designed to increase steeplechase participation at all levels, from owner-rider divisions to open hurdle and timber divisions.

Growth of this program is important and in 2024, two of the PTP meets will raise their profiles dramatically. The Old Dominion Hounds card will host a trio of NSA sanctioned races for the second year in a row and for the first time ever, the Blue Ridge Hunt will host a pair of NSA sanctioned events. 

“The Point-to-Point season is critical and gets horses ready for sanctioned races,” said NSA Director of Racing Bill Gallo. “It provides a feeding ground and gives trainers a good gauge on what they’ve got. The NSA is engaged with the Point-to- Points more than ever. It is a very exciting step to be able to combine sanctioned races into a non-sanctioned race card. That aspect provides a nice synergy between the Point-to-Points and the NSA.”

“Spring in Virginia is heralded for many by the beginning of the steeplechase season,” said NSA President, Dr. Al Griffin. “From the Point-to-Points that begin in March through the National Steeplechase Association meets in April and May, jump racing provides an exciting and varied experience to gather with family and friends for a great day at the races.”

A trio of those NSA spring jump meets will be contested on three consecutive Saturdays starting with the Middleburg Spring Races at Glenwood Park April 20 followed by the Foxfield Spring Races in Charlottesville April 27 and the Virginia Gold Cup at Great Meadow in The Plains –- that features pari-mutuel wagering — on Kentucky Derby Day, May 4.  Griffin spoke of unique aspects each of the three provide.

“In addition to great racing, Middleburg’s Spring Race Meet is known for its beautiful setting and spectacular tailgates. The Foxfield Races is where racing enthusiasts and college students come together to celebrate spring at a renewed and greatly updated Foxfield Racecourse. Foxfield also contributes significantly to the local community in the form of its financial support of local charities, including Habitat for Humanity.  The Gold Cup is known for its high quality racing and wide open race course and will be hosting a Grade One Hurdle Race this year for the first time, one of only two grade one steeplechase races in America run in the spring season.” 

Heading into warmer weather months, Colonial Downs will continue its successful weekly steeplechase program by offering two jump races every Friday during their summer thoroughbred meet — with a potential twist. Discussions are taking place about making the races part of Colonial’s betting card instead of presenting them before that day’s pari-mutuel program begins — and live streamed only to NSA online viewers. If that plan moves forward, the jump pair would be treated like Colonial’s flat races – simulcast to a broader audience that wagers an average of $2 million-plus per program. In all, 18 sanctioned steeplechase races will offered at the New Kent facility.

“Having our races there each week has been impactful to say the least,” said Gallo. “It has made a significant difference to our summer racing schedule. It’s remarkable actually. To be part of the pari-mutuel program this year would just add another element. Having two races per week over the 9-week meet enables us to focus on maiden and ratings races, in addition to two nice filly stakes races (Life’s Illusion & Randolph D. Rouse) which don’t conflict with Saratoga. This provides a tremendous opportunity for horsemen with jump racing at Saratoga on Wednesdays and at Colonial on Fridays. The schedule allows jockeys and trainers to travel back and forth easily.”

The state of steeplechase racing seems to be on the rise according to Gallo. “Coming out of pandemic, it’s been a long road back but it’s been a remarkable journey – from competing with no fans in 2020 to where we are now.  We have a solid horse population and have new owners coming into the sport. From an infrastructure standpoint, Foxfield revamped their racecourse and they, along with the Gold Cup, added an irrigation system to their course.  Foxfield will inherit races from Charlotte, North Carolina and be able to present an upgraded card in 2024 which includes a $75,000 novice stakes renamed in honor of D.G. Van Clief. Middleburg Spring Races plays host to the Temple Gwathmey Stakes and the Gold Cup has the Semmes and Gold Cup Stakes itself. That is an impressive spring stakes lineup between the three Virginia tracks.”

Foxfield’s Van Clief Stakes, which had been known as the Queen’s Cup, is the middle leg of a three-part series with the Carolina Cup and a novice stakes at Iroquois.    

Absent from the steeplechase scene this spring is Will O’Keefe, who passed away December 18. Will was a longtime race caller for race meets in Virginia and throughout the steeplechase circuit nationally who also wrote regularly for “In and Around Horse Country. “Will is a longtime Virginia horseman,” said Griffin. “Will’s voice was easily recognizable to all in racing and his enthusiastic calls defined the thrill of racing in the countryside for over 40 years.”

“It’s quite a loss,” added Gallo. “He wasn’t just a race caller. He worked the PTPs and created the Central Entry Office (clearinghouse for all events) which will continue to be used. I’ve known and worked with Will for 45 years. He is a special kind of guy. He put his heart and soul into racing. Will called in Maryland too so his presence went beyond Virginia. He had a big focus on Point to Points.”

The Secretariat For Virginia Committee (SECVA) of the Ashland Museum has announced the dates for the groundbreaking and dedication ceremonies for the “Secretariat Racing Into History” monument.  

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Reynolds Family Plaza at Randolph-Macon College, where the magnificent bronze will be permanently installed, will take place on Wednesday February 7 at the site at 11:00 am. The event is free and open to the public.   

The Secretariat Monument “Racing Into History” will be installed and ready for dedication by March 30.  Secretariat was born on that date in 1970 at Meadow Stable, which was founded by Christopher Chenery, formerly of Ashland.  The town will celebrate the dedication and birthday with a full day of festivities. More details will be announced soon.

“Secretariat Racing Into History,” by renowned sculptor Jocelyn Russell, is the first and only monument of the legendary Triple Crown champion in Virginia.  At 21 feet long and 11.5 feet tall, it is also the largest one in existence, weighing in at 3,500 pounds. The monument garnered national publicity last summer during its 5,000-mile tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown.

SECVA, the Ashland Museum, and many supporters, including Ashlanders, have raised the money to purchase the monument. Ownership will be officially conveyed to the town at a ceremony at the Town Council meeting on February 6.