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TUNE IN TO “OFF TO THE RACES” ON THE VIRGINIA RACEHORSE NETWORK SATURDAY MORNINGS AT 11 AM.
NORTHERN VIRGINIA “SPORTSTALK 610” AM 610—WTFX FOX SPORTSRADIO
VIRGINIA BEACH* “THE GAME” FM 102.1—WXTG FOX SPORTSRADIO
HAMPTON* “THE GAME” AM 1490—WXTG FOX SPORTSRADIO
RICHMOND “ESPN RADIO AM 950” AM 950—WXGI ESPN SPORTSRADIO
CHARLOTTESVILLE “ESPN RADIO AM 840” AM 840—WTKR ESPN SPORTSRADIO
MARTINSVILLE “ESPN RADIO AM 1160” AM 1160—WODY ESPN SPORTSRADIO
ROANOKE “NEWS TALK RADIO” AM 810—WPIN NEWSTALK RADIO
BLACKSBURG “ESPN RADIO AM 1430” AM 1430—WKEX ESPN SPORTSRADIO
*In Tidewater, “Off to the Races” airs on a one-hour delay at Noon. |
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EMAIL NICK HAHN AT nick@virginiaracehorse.com |
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“OPTIMISM IS A HORSE IN THE STARTING GATE” |
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THE VIRGINIA RACEHORSE NETWORK |
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COLONIAL PREPARES FOR A WARM RECEPTION OPENING DAY By Nick Hahn
During a cool spring morning in April, Iain Woolnaugh updated the Virginia Racing Commission about the status of the Secretariat turf course at Colonial Downs for the upcoming meet. The General Manager explained that there had been plenty of rain, plenty fertilizer had been applied and he just needed some warmer temperatures to spurt the growth of the Bermuda grass.
His request was granted….and then some. With temperature forecasted to hover in the triple digits until Wednesday, Colonial is making preparation for a warm opening to its summer meet. Thoroughbred racing fans in Virginia, after waiting 307 days for live racing to return to Virginia, will have to wait an extra hour as Colonial has moved their post time back an hour to 6:00 pm for the first two days of its meet. Forecasters claim that relief is on the way by mid-week for Colonial’s first full weekend this weekend with temperatures expected to top out in the lower eighties by Friday.
“The outside turf course is fine. By Friday it will be perfect,” stated Woolnaugh. We had some overnight temperatures last week that were in the 40’s so it went back a bit into dormant mode. We will only be using the outside turf for today, Tuesday and Wednesday. This inside turf just needs a couple more days.”
Heavy late spring rains had more of an effect on Colonial’s inner turf course. Surface drainage on the banked turf flows from the outside in.
Colonial will race Friday through Tuesday from June 9th to August 7th with a special Wednesday day of racing during the opening week of the meet.
Woolnaugh added that he was pleased with the early nominations for Colonial twin turf signature races for three-year olds, the $600,000 Colonial Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) on June 21st and the $750,000 Virginia Derby (gr. IIT) on July 19th. In the future, he would like to have the purse of the $60,000 Kitten’s Joy (July 19th) raised to bring top performers back to Colonial.
“I’d like to get the Kitten’s Joy increased to at least $200,000 to get the three-year old horses back as older horses,” added Woolnaugh. “I want to give the owners and trainers an opportunity to bring them back.”
In regard to the heat, Woolnaugh said that Colonial will have extra hoses and ice buckets available, have shortened post parades, and added staff to help washing the horses down. The Virginia Racing Commission test barn crew usually stationed in the air conditioned test barn has volunteered to be in the paddock to assist with the horses after racing.
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JOCKEY LOPEZ OPENS COLONIAL WITH THREE WINS By Nick Hahn
While many likened the conditions at a steamy Colonial Downs opening night to a tropical rain forest, jockey James Lopez found the conditions similar to an island paradise in collecting three wins. Two of Lopez’s wins were for trainer Daniel Smithwick (Elchase and Jib) and one for trainer Julie Luhr (Frankie W) in the closer.
Lopez, whose father Joe and grandfather Santos were also jockeys, won the riding title at Oaklawn Park in 2002 and recently has been exercise riding horses like Curlin and Denis of Cork.
Colonial opened the meet on the dirt, perhaps for the first time since their grand opening in Fall of 1997. Chris “Chip” Van Hassel returned to the winner’s circle with Sweetest Sin for trainer/owner Richard Taylor.
Owner David Ross won the second race with Tux n’ Tales but lost his horse when it was claimed for $7500 by Linda Harding who’ll turn over the reigns to trainer Ferris Allen.
The most impressive outing of the evening may have been by Get a Lil In who was ridden to a 7 length victory by Sheldon Russell for trainer Joseph Hennessy for owner Sarah Whitman in a maiden claimer on the dirt.
The inside wasn’t favorable in many races including the opener when Scrub Island appeared to check when the rail disappeared coming out of the chute. Ala Moana brushed the rail in the stretch of the third race and Rostebaron in the 6th race checked several times during a mile and quarter turf race in a very troubled trip.
Post time for Colonial Downs is Tuesday has been moved to 6:00 PM due to excessive heat. A cold front is expected to provide relief by Wednesday’s card that remains slated for 5:00 PM. |
