Colonial Downs has 27 stakes on its summer meet schedule

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, Sept. 7.

The Colonial Downs festival of racing, slated for Saturday, August 10 is highlighted by the Grade 1 Arlington Million, the $500,000 Beverly D. (G2) and the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes (G20, the traditional weekend for the renowned trio. The Million will be run at 1 1/4 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 turf course.

Once again, the Beverly D. has been selected as a win-and-you’re-in race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf to be held at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

Festival day is being expanded for 2024 to include four 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 and up at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf and its distaff companion event, the $150,000 Andy Guest.

The $500,000 New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3), Colonial’s longtime signature event, will be raced on closing day, Saturday, Sept. 7. The 1 1/8-mile 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 5 1/2 furlongs; the $150,000 Colonial Cup, a 1 1/2-mile marathon for 3-year-olds and up; the $125,000 Rosie’s Stakes for 2-year-olds sprinting 5 1/2 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 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita; Fev Rover, who took the Beverly D., added the E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1) at Woodbine to her already impressive resume; and Virginia Derby hero Integration later scored in the Hill Prince (G2) at Aqueduct. More recently, 2023 Virginia Derby runner-up Program Trading captured the Turf Classic (G1) 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 5 1/2 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, Aug. 3, program. Both races have been lengthened to 5 1/2 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 5 1/2 furlongs, and the remaining four events are for Virginia-restricted horses, the $150,000 Meadow Stable for older horses at 5 1/2 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, Aug. 8, and the Life’s Illusion on Thursday, Sept. 5.