Thoroughbred horse trainer Woodberry Payne’s lifelong interest in steeplechase racing — as a trainer initially — led him to switch gears 17 years ago and attend stewards school at the request of the National Steeplechase Association (NSA). He embraced the coursework, got certified and from that point, gave up training jumpers and became a racing official instead. That’s why he is so excited about this Thursday’s (July 10) opening week card at Colonial Downs — which features a trio of jump races beginning at 10:45 AM. Purses range from between $40,000 – $60,000 and all the races will be available to wager at the track and via simulcast.

“The purse structure is top level especially with maiden races at a $60,000 level,” he said. “The first three races all filled and the maidens overfilled. It has created interest and enthusiasm. Combine that with the great stakes program for fillies and it fills a certain spot in the market that Colonial holds uniquely, just like the Turf Festival that includes the Arlington Million and the spring Virginia Derby card.”

As the summer thoroughbred meet in New Kent continues, six other Thursday jump days are scheduled. In all, there will be 18 NSA races over jumps, one flat race featuring jumpers — which was very popular last year — and a pair of $100,000 steeplechase stakes for fillies & mares.

“We’ve got a great program going,” said Payne. “We’re complementing the Saratoga program which has six races and meshes together with ours nicely to create a very productive summer. The Colonial races now provide a near year-round steeplechase program in Virginia. Previously, a trainer had a hard time making it work because things shut down over summer.”

This time of year, Payne’s schedule can get quite hectic. In addition to running his 80-horse Ingleside Training Center in Montpelier Station — where many of his New York & New Jersey clients ship babies in to become Virginia-Certified — he has a 12-horse stable at Rosie’s Gaming and Colonial Downs, travels to Saratoga to work their Wednesday jump race, then takes a flight back to Richmond in time for Colonial’s Thursday morning jump races.

“It keeps my itinerary full,” he said. “I feel like I live in a triangle sometimes between the farm — which is a 90-minute drive from Colonial, the track itself in New Kent, then Saratoga. I make a living by training flat horses. The Virginia Certified residency program has benefitted us all. I’m getting calls from New York clients to run their horses here now. But I have a love of jumpers too — I’ve been around them in some form my whole life. They are two different worlds but I’m equally attached to both.”

Payne is optimistic about the way jump racing has rebounded from Covid. “It certainly was a terrible setback to the program,” he noted. “Funding from hunt meets comes from attendance and corporate sponsorship and that has made a nice comeback. The crowds are back. It was refreshing to see the Gold Cup return to where they used to be this past May with thousands of fans in attendance.”

Meet new Colonial Downs Seasonal Dirt Track Superintendent Roy Smith — who was coaxed of retirement after he and his wife relocated to Providence Forge, VA — of all places ironically — from Indiana. Yes, that Providence Forge which is just four miles down the road from Colonial Downs. “The world works in strange ways,” Smith said.

Smith, whose father was a trainer, was born in Massachusetts but didn’t want to train horses. After befriending the track superintendent at Suffolk Downs, Smith was hired as his assistant and after he passed, took over that job. Three years later, he took the track superintendent’s job at Philadelphia Park where he spent 31 years, then finished his career at Indiana Grand for the final ten.

“I’ve been blessed my whole life just to be in this industry, 46 or 47 years now,” he said. “My wife and I often vacationed in Williamsburg and always enjoyed it so when it came time to retire, we looked for a place there and other neighboring areas but always got outbid. This went on for 1 1/2 years. My wife finally saw this property in Providence Forge, came out, looked at and bought it. We moved in late February and someone told Frank Hopf (Colonial Downs Sr. Director of Racing Operations) I was here. He ended up calling me three weeks later. News travels fast,” he added.

“After Frank Hopf called and offered me the job, I no sooner hung up the phone and my wife said ‘take the job, take the job’ — she didn’t care if I went back to work. I missed it in retirement and am glad to be here.”

Smith’s mentor was Joe King who built Indiana Grand and together with John Passero, built Colonial in the mid 90’s. “It feels good to be here,” he said. “Anytime I got an opportunity, I’d visit a track including this one. Both track surfaces here are great. It’s a gorgeous place and a beautiful plant.”

The 10-week, 41-day summer season in New Kent begins July 9 and continues thru September 13. Post time every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday is at 12:30 PM with Friday’s twilight cards beginning at 4 PM. A number of Thursday programs will be preceded by three steeplechase races at 10:45 AM — which will now feature pari-mutuel wagering.