Colonial Downs opens longest racing season since reopening

When last seen by the betting public, Colonial Downs was basking in the success of its first spring meet, designed to qualify the winner of the Virginia Derby for the best-known, most prestigious Thoroughbred competition of them all, the Kentucky Derby.

Before a crowd of 8,000, the largest by far since the New Kent County track reopened in 2019 after going dark for five years, American Promise gave Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lucas what turned out to be his last major victory. The 89-year-old died recently of a blood disorder.

Now, with “The Sport of Kings” coming on hard times just about everywhere but here, Colonial Downs attempts to build on the overall achievement of its three days in March with a 41-day summer meet that gets underway Wednesday and runs through September 15.

Racing will be held four days a week (for the first time at Colonial under ownership of Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby) Wednesday through Saturday, with the only exception Labor Day, Sept.1 which is Labor Day. Post-time is 12:30 p.m., except for Friday (4 p.m.) Also, there will be steeplechase races starting at 10:45 a.m. on select Thursdays.

This will be the longest meet at Colonial since Churchill (CDI) took ownership of the track and the Rosie’s betting parlors throughout the state for $3 billion four years ago. Rosie’s historical racing machines have provided a monetary windfall that  has been most influential in raising daily purses to an all-time high of $700,000 here.

For the second year in a row, highlighting the schedule will be the August 9 Festival of Racing that includes the Grade 1 Arlington Million, Gr. 2 Beverly D and Gr. 2 Secretariat Stakes. The opening weekend will feature camel, ostrich and zebra races on Friday.

Back to defend his 2024 jockey title will be Ben Curtis, as well as leading trainer Michael Trombetta. Curtis won 24 races last summer, finishing runner up in money won (almost $1.4 million). He was scheduled to ride 19 horses opening weekend, seven on Wednesday.

With more days, up from 27 of the past two years, there was a natural concern about having enough entrants to make as many as 12 races a day competitive. That became the least of racing director Frank Hopf’s worries with a full barn area.

Now, if only the weatherman will cooperate, unlike a year ago when rain plagued the meet from the outset.

“Good weather … and we’ll be OK,” said Colonial’s racing secretary Dan Bork.

It was hot, with considerable humidity, Tuesday at the track. Wednesday’s forecast calls for a high of 88.

Finally, there will be two changes. One has to do with dirt racing, the other with a welcomed gesture from Maryland.

Although Colonial Downs, which opened in 1997, is known for its Secretariat Turf Course and has, over the years, conducted most of its primary races on grass, its dirt track will be used more than ever. For example, 14 of the first 38 races are scheduled to be held on the second largest dirt course (1 ¼ miles) in the country.

“It is what it is,” Bork said. “You’ve got more days, you’ve got to have more on dirt. It’s that simple.”

In other words, the side-by-side turf courses tend to become worn in the heat of summer and have drawn some complaints for overuse.

As for Maryland, which has undergone leadership changes (to go with the much-needed renovation of eye-sore Pimlico, home of the Preakness) … there will be no racing except for a brief end of August meet at Timomium while Colonial is in session. That can only help Hopf, Bork and friends … for it will mean more horses and jockeys who otherwise wouldn’t come here.