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Colonial Downs Track News



Colonial Downs’ Harness Season To Begin September 17th

September 7, 2010
Colonial Downs will open its barn area this Thursday September 9th to begin ushering in some 700 horses expected to compete at the track’s 13th annual harness race season, which will kick off Friday September 17th.


Colonial Downs closes out the 2010 Thoroughbred Meet

July 21, 2010
The Colonial Downs 2010 Thoroughbred racing season came to an end Wednesday night as jockey Rosemary Homeister, Jr. and trainer Hamilton Smith captured the leading titles for the 40-day summer meet.


Written in Stone Sets Track Record in Chesapeake

July 20, 2010
Leading owner David Ross’ Written in Stone made his mark at Colonial Downs as he broke the track record under a hand ride in the $50,000 Chesapeake Stakes on Tuesday.


Seven Juveniles to Compete in Jamestown Stakes

July 19, 2010
A field of seven promising two year olds are set to go to post in the $50,000 Jamestown Stakes for Virginia-breds on Wednesday, the final day of Colonial Downs’ Thoroughbred summer meet.


Leading Trainers and Jockeys Win Big on Sunday

July 18, 2010
With the summer race meet coming to an end, leading trainers A. Ferris Allen and Hamilton Smith had big days along with leading jockeys Horacio Karamanos, Rosemary Homeister, Jr. and Eric Comacho on the card Sunday at Colonial Downs.


Paddy O’Prado Rolls to Virginia Derby Victory

July 17, 2010
Paddy O’Prado returned victorious to Colonial Downs when he scored a 1 ½ length come from behind win in the $600,000 Virginia Derby (Gr. II) on Saturday, his first start since winning the Grade II Colonial Turf Cup last month.


Check the Label Wins Virginia Oaks in Last to First Fashion

July 17, 2010
Heavy favorite Check the Label endured a well-ridden last-to-first trip under jockey Ramon Dominguez to take the $150,000 Virginia Oaks (Gr. III) on Saturday at Colonial Downs.


Ten Fillies Set to Go in the Virginia Oaks

July 12, 2010
A field of ten three year old fillies drew in to the $150,000 Virginia Oaks (Gr. III) to be run on Saturday, July 17 at Colonial Downs.


Paddy O’Prado is Favored in Saturday’s Virginia Derby

July 12, 2010
Paddy O’Prado, recent winner of the Colonial Turf Cup and third place finisher in this year’s Kentucky Derby, is the 7-5 favorite in Saturday’s thirteenth running of the $600,000 Virginia Derby (Gr. II) at Colonial Downs.


Class Bopper Displays Class in Ten-Length Zeke Ferguson Triumph

July 11, 2010
Class Bopper took the lead quickly and ran away with it in the fourteenth running of the $50,000 Zeke Ferguson Memorial (NSA-GIII) on Sunday at Colonial Downs.



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BloodHorse Featured News



Here Comes Ben Pulls Forego Upset

Sat, 04 Sep 2010 22:57:02 GMT
In a star-studded field that included some of the biggest name sprinters on the East Coast, it was little-known Here Comes Ben that came from off the pace to spring a 9-1 upset in the $250,000 Forego Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 4.


Breeder/Owner George Steinbrenner Dies

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:25:57 GMT
New York Yankees' owner George Steinbrenner, a major breeder/owner, died the morning of July 13 in Tampa following a heart attack.


Uptowncharlybrown Owners Appeal Belmont DQ

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:03:20 GMT
Fantasy Lane Stable has filed an appeal regarding the disqualification of Uptowncharlybrown.


Oak Tree Eyes Del Mar as Future Home

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:46:54 GMT
A day after the Oak Tree Racing Association received a one-year reprieve from its landlord at Santa Anita Park, its executive vice president said he's working on a long-term lease arrangement for the autumn meet at Del Mar.


NJ Breeders Simply Hoping Monmouth Plan Works

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:23:17 GMT
Thoroughbred breeders and owners in New Jersey hope a new summer format at Monmouth Park is successful, but they also are concerned about whether it will have a long-term positive effect.


Major Hurdle Coming Up For Kip Deville

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:36:00 GMT
Kip Deville, who has been battling laminitis at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital near Lexington, will have to pass a critical stage in the next two weeks if he is to have much chance of surviving.


Feb. 1 Deadline to Make Attempt to Name Foals

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:55:32 GMT
The Jockey Club announced Dec. 23 that it has published on the registry's Web site a list of 40,263 names released from active use to aid owners and breeders make a a valid attempt to name foals of 2008 by Feb. 1.


Five Questions: Al Stall Jr.

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:56:26 GMT
We caught up with trainer Al Stall Jr. Dec. 14 as his last training set of the day went out and asked him five questions.


Prominent Sire El Prado Dead

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:04:51 GMT
Irish-bred El Prado, the horse that inspired Frank Stronach to get involved in the stallion business, died of an apparent heart attack in his paddock at Adena Springs near Paris, Ky. the morning of Sept. 21.


Major Sire Gone West Euthanized

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:01:43 GMT
Gone West, who carved out a successful branch of the Mr. Prospector sire line all his own as the sire of 98 stakes winners, was euthanized the night of Sept. 7 because of complications following colic surgery.


Icon Project Runs Smasher in Personal Ensign

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:37:53 GMT
Favored Icon Project, ridden by Julien Leparoux, demolished her rivals with a Rachel Alexandra-type performance Aug. 30 in the $400,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race course.


Summer Bird Takes Flight in Travers Victory

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:03:48 GMT
Summer Bird continued his meteoric rise to the top of the nation's 3-year-old ranks, as he rolled through the slop for an easy 3 1/2-length score in the $1-million Shadwell Travers (gr. I) Aug. 29 at Saratoga.


Gulfstream Trying to Attract Rachel, Others

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:00:08 GMT
Gulfstream Park has waved the nomination fees for grade I winners Mine That Bird, Rachel Alexandra, Summer Bird, and Quality Road to next year's Donn Handicap.


Bullsbay Scores Huge Upset in Whitney

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 22:05:03 GMT
The longest shot in a field of six, 18-1 Bullsbay pulled a shocking upset in the $750,000 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) Aug. 8 at Saratoga, splitting horses on the turn and pulling away for a 1 1/2-length score under Jeremy Rose.


Gio Ponti Much the Best in Arlington Million

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 21:59:36 GMT
Castleton Lyons' Gio Ponti notched his fourth consecutive grade I victory Aug. 8 at Arlington Park, as he rolled to a 1 1/4-length win in the Arlington Million (gr. IT) under Ramon Dominguez.


Secretariat: Take the Points Earns the Money

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 20:23:06 GMT
Starlight Partners' Take the Points, locked in a stirring stretch duel with Black Bear Island, got up in the final strides under Kent Desormeaux to earn his first graded stakes win in the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) Aug. 8 on the Arlington Park turf.


Graded Winner Finallymadeit Euthanized

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:24:53 GMT
Finallymadeit, a graded stakes winner and millionaire, was euthanized after fracturing his left front cannon bone during a workout Aug. 4 at Saratoga.


Derby Museum Closed Due to Heavy Rains

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:44:26 GMT
Items at the Kentucky Derby Museum, located on the grounds of Churchill Downs, suffered damage due to heavy rains Aug. 4 and the facility will be closed until further notice, museum officials said.


Rainstorm Causes Severe Flooding at Churchill

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:06:22 GMT
A torrential rainstorm in the Louisville area Aug. 4 has wreaked havoc at Churchill Downs. Flooding caused several horses to be removed from the barn area, both the main track and infield are completely underwater, and employees at the racetrack were unable to get off the property for hours due to severe flooding in the parking lot and on many area roads.


Sam-Son a New Saratoga Consignor

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:43:42 GMT
Sam-Son Farm, one of Canada's most successful Thoroughbred breeding and racing operations, will have a consignment at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling auction, Aug. 10 and 11, in New York. The five horses cataloged include an A.P. Indy colt that is a full brother to Canadian champion Catch the Thrill and a Giant's Causeway filly that is from the family of Eclipse Award winner and Canadian Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner Dance Smartly.


Rachel Alexandra Gets Her Own Vintage

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:35:42 GMT
Superstar Rachel Alexandra will be honored with her own line of limited wines, which will be available during the holiday season.


Ellis Gets OK on Dates, Keeneland on Purses

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:29:18 GMT
Ellis Park got the official OK to add five days of racing to its current meet, and Keeneland will be permitted to change the way it divvies up purses in each race.


Auerbach Launching Racing Venture

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:16:31 GMT
California owner Madeline Auerbach announced a new racing venture in which she is syndicating offspring by major California stallion Unusual Heat.


Breeders Nominate Record Number to BC Program

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:26:09 GMT
Thoroughbred breeders worldwide saved nearly $1 million and nominated a record 9,630 foals to the Breeders' Cup program before Aug. 1 as part of an incentive program that exceeded expectations, Breeders' Cup officials announced Aug. 4.


Arlington Accredited by NTRA Safety Alliance

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:15:33 GMT
The NTRA announced Aug. 4 that Arlington Park has been fully accredited by the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance following a complete review of all racing operations at the facility.





Rusty Tank comes from off the pace to score

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:34:00 GMT
Rusty Tank, with Mike Simons in the sulky, came from off the pace to win the featured race of the 16-strong harness racing card Wednesday night (September 8) at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.


Inter-Dom workshops scheduled for Australia

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:47:00 GMT
A range of Inter-Dominion workshops that will be held across Australia has Harness Racing Australia Chief Executive Andrew Kelly confident the future is bright for the Southern Hemisphere's most prestigious harness racing event.


Nevele R Stud comes up trumps yet again

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:27:00 GMT
Nevele R Stud has grown into one of Australasia's foremost standardbred breeding farms. In the 2010/11 harness racing season the Canterbury based breeding stronghold on the outskirts of Prebbleton township has come up trumps again, standing nine highly credentialed stallions as well as offering breeders access to a wide range of top quality stallions via frozen Semen.


Cardmaster Hanover to stand in Tasmania

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:27:00 GMT
With the sons of Cam's Card Shark now firmly entrenched on the 'Down Under' sires lists, Cardmaster Hanover, who is standing his first season in Tasmania, is destined to distinguish himself as a harness racing sire - as to be expected of one of his racetrack record and royal pedigree.


First success for Jaime-Lee King

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:23:00 GMT
Concessional harness racing driver Jaime-Lee King (originally from Tasmania) would have been all smiles after piloting her first winner at her 43rd race drive, when victorious aboard Korweinguboora trainer Michael Watt's former Kiwi 7-Y-0 gelding Sakwi in the Sixty Five Roses Pace for C1 class over 2195 metres at Ararat on Wednesday September 8.


How are they ever going to topple Dexter?

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:05:00 GMT
Surprise, surprise - 40 days into the New Zealand 2010-2011 harness racing season, and guess who is leading the national driving premiership? It doesn't take rocket science to work it out - it's that man Dexter Dunn of course.


Kiwi trainers to eye up Cranbourne Cup?

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:13:00 GMT
Harness Racing Australia recently announced that the 2010 Decron Cranbourne Pacing Cup has been officially elevated to Group 1 status This follows a move by the Cranbourne HRC to increase stake money for the event to $100,000 and coincides with a restructuring of Harness Racing Victoria's iconic Victoria Cup Carnival.


Largest seasonal earnings - Buck I St Pat

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:00:00 GMT
Buck I St Pat defends her 2009 track record victory in the $150,000 Conway Hall Stake on Saturday night (Sept. 11) at Vernon Downs. It will be the 87th lifetime start for the 7-year-old trotting mare, who has already compiled her largest seasonal earnings to date this year, besting her 2008 harness racing earnings, by precisely one dollar, to $411,725.


Trio of Peaceful Way eliminations on tap

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:45:00 GMT
Three eliminations for the C$475,000 Peaceful Way for 2-year-old filly trotters are on tap Thursday (Sept. 9) at Mohawk Racetrack. Brilliant harness racing trainer Jimmy Takter's Thatsnotmyname, who won the $437,000 Merrie Annabelle at the Meadowlands on August 7, is among the top hopefuls.


Smedshammer after success in $1m classic

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:58:00 GMT
Harness racing trainer Trond Smedshammer knows about late blooming 3-year-old trotters. He hopes Break The Bank K and Pilgrims Taj fit the category. Break The Bank K and Pilgrims Taj are among the 10 horses in Saturday's single elimination for the million-dollar Canadian Trotting Classic at Mohawk Racetrack.


Pastor's namesake enjoying his notoriety

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:49:00 GMT
The Rev. Stephen Heinzel - Nelson now has an answer for those who say he works only one day a week. 'Now I can tell people that when I'm not preaching I'm out at the track, training harness racing horses,' the Rev. Heinzel-Nelson said, laughing. 'It gives me a good excuse.'


Kentucky approves out-of-competition testing

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:44:00 GMT
A determined Kentucky Horse Racing Commission yesterday unanimously voted to adopt tough out-of-competition testing, in the face of Thoroughbred horsemen's opposition.


World champion leads eight in Conway Hall

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:32:00 GMT
World Champion Buck I St Pat will lead eight harness racing rivals into battle on Friday night at Vernon Downs in the $150,000 Conway Hall. The 7-year old trotting sensation will look to repeat in the Conway Hall as she captured the 2009 edition in track record time for aged trotting mares in 1:54.3.


Brandon Simpson reins two stake winners

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:08:00 GMT
Brandon Simpson reined two winners in the NY Sire Stakes late closers for 2-year-old harness racing pacing fillies at Monticello Raceway on Tuesday afternoon, September 7 but the fastest split was captured by Haze's Zure Bet when Chris Lems reined the daughter of Bettor's Delight to a 1:58:4 triumph.


Hope springs eternal for Hope Tu Place

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:56:00 GMT
It took Hope Tu Place a couple of starts following the vacation to get back to form, but she's certainly there now with back-to-back scores for harness racing owner Maurice Sigmon and trainer Kennedy Lindsey.


Melpark Major all set for a new campaign

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 07:20:00 GMT
Friday night (September 10) might represent the final time Melpark Major will grace the track before relinquishing his crown as the incumbent King of the sport in this state, but in truth, his campaign to reclaim that harness racing title has already begun.


Summit at the Meadowlands looms - Friday

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 05:20:00 GMT
For several months horsemen and harness racing fans have been asking what can they do to save horse racing in New Jersey? The answer is "be there" on Friday, September 10,at 10 a.m. in the Pegasus at Meadowlands Racetrack.


Bucksta fires with local cup in his sights

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:57:00 GMT
Touchwood Bucksta gave Fingal harness racing trainer Clinton Woods plenty to smile about after the gelding powered home to defeat the equal favourite Barooga Billy in the win Balmoral On York Stakes over 2200 metres in Launceston on Sunday night.


Reduction in class rule changes showing up

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:52:00 GMT
This week the Albion Park Harness Racing Club is promoting the BOTRA Queensland's Harness Racing Festival through its race names. The event to be held at Parklands at Southport on the Gold Coast this Sunday proudly supports the Bravehearts Highway Thunder Convoy for Kids.


On The Cusp poised for Grassroots success

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:41:00 GMT
After a two month break, Ontario Sires Stakes excitement sweeps back into Innisfil on Friday, Sept. 10 with seven $24,000 Grassroots harness racing divisions for the province's talented three-year-old pacing fillies.