Colonial Downs

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Gypsy Woman at Del Mar this past weekend.   Cotai Glory Filly Comes Good In California Fresh off siring a 'TDN Rising Star' on Sunday, Cotai Glory (GB) is also the sire of Del Mar allowance heroine Gypsy Woman (Ire), who won over a mile later that day for trainer Mark Glatt (video). Raced by Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners and Rancho Temescal, LLC,...

NEW KENT COUNTY, VA -- After sending out the beaten favorites in both the GI FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap and GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes at Saratoga, the Godolphin's Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) struck for chalk players hundreds of miles to the south as he quickened up beautifully in the stretch to take out Sunday's GI Arlington Million Stakes at Colonial Downs. Scheduled first post for Sunday's big card was 1 p.m. ET, but satellite issues meant that the race did not jump until 1:52 p.m. A visit from Virginia...

NEW KENT COUNTY, VA -- For the second consecutive year, the trophy for the GII Beverly D. Stakes will go back to Canada after the country's 2022 Horse of the Year Moira (Ghostzapper) got just the better of an entertaining final-furlong tussle with defending champion and reigning HOTY Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}). The Tracy Farmer runner left there running and although she had a bit of pesky early pressure from Libban (Laoban), Fev Rover was a clear leader turning up the backside as Moira set up camp three deep...

NEW KENT COUNTY, VA -- It would have been no surprise had trainer Graham Motion elected to run Amerman Racing's Trikari (Oscar Performance) in Sunday's rescheduled GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes as opposed to the GII Secretariat Stakes at Colonial Downs. After all, the long-barreled bay was exiting a victory in the GI Belmont Derby over a mile and three-sixteenths, but Trikari proved more than capable of handling the step back down in trip with a powerful victory in the eight-furlong Secretariat. The second betting choice when all was said...

NEW KENT COUNTY, VA -- Prior to the running of Sunday's third race on the Colonial Downs 'Festival of Racing' program, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that the track, which has run summer dates since its return to the racing calendar five years ago, would be conducting a 'spring' meeting at the New Kent County track. Youngkin also told the crowd on hand that the Virginia Derby, previously held on the turf, would be contested during the new meeting and that it is to become a points-earning race on the...

Colonial Downs Racetrack has pushed its Festival of Racing, which includes the GI Arlington Million, back a day after it was originally scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 10, the track said in a Wednesday release. The decision to switch the card to Sunday, Aug. 11 was made after confirmation from weather experts that heavy rain caused by Tropical Storm Debby would hit the Tidewater by the end of the week. While most of the conditions are expected to clear the area by Saturday, safety is the highest priority. Gates will open...

Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent, VA has rescheduled their Thursday and Friday racing cards to dates next week due to impending weather in the area from Tropical Storm Debby. The Thursday, Aug. 8 card will move to Monday, Aug. 12 while the Friday, Aug. 9 card will be held as drawn Tuesday, Aug. 13. Officials are still monitoring the weather as it relates to the Colonial Downs Festival of Racing card Saturday which includes the GI Arlington Million and the Breeders' Cup WAYI GII Beverly D. Stakes. A decision...

Monmouth Park has cancelled its eight-race card scheduled for Friday, Aug. 2 due to excessive heat, the track said in a release Friday morning. Racing is scheduled to resume on Saturday, with the Tyro Stakes for 2-year-olds at five furlongs on the grass headlining the card. Earlier in the day, Colonial Downs said via X that they would be pushing back their start time because of the temperatures. First post was rescheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET.

In conjunction with BES Studios, the Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) was awarded a Telly Award in recognition of a sixty second TV commercial titled "Virginia Wins With Horses" that was submitted in the annual competition which honors excellence in video and television across all screens. The BES Studios and the VEA  received a "Silver" in the Travel & Tourism Regional TV category--the highest achievement awarded by the Telly awards judging panel, a body of over 200 executives from television networks, production companies, global agencies, immersive content studios, and streaming platforms....

Colonial Downs has added an extra day of live racing Sept. 4 to its meet to make up for the nine-race card which was cancelled July 12 due to severe weather and excessive rain fall in the New Kent area. The added card on Sept. 4 will kick off a four-day race week to close the 2024 meet, which wraps up with the New Kent County Virginia Derby Day Sept. 7. The GIII New Kent County Virginia Derby headlines a card with $1.3 million in stakes purses, including five other...

11th-Colonial Downs, $60,000, Msw, 7-18, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:03.91, gd, 6 lengths. CURAHEE (g, 2, War of Will--Blameitonthemusic, by Blame) graduated with a professional six-length tally over the Colonial turf course Thursday. The even-money favorite, looking to become the fourth winner for his freshman sire (by War Front), broke sharply and was on the lead in the early strides. He sat a pressing second as Lazio (Bucchero) had the lead through an opening quarter in :22.17. Curahee stuck a head in front at the top of the lane and skipped...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Godolphin's Cinderella's Dream in the Belmont Oaks.   Slipper Fits For Godolphin Miss Flawless in her first four starts in England and Dubai prior to a seventh in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas, Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal) handed breeder Godolphin and Charlie Appleby a victory in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes during the final days of the Belmont at the Big A meeting...