Nominations have been released for the six turf stakes set for Old Dominion Derby Day on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Colonial Downs. Featuring $1.3 million in total purses, the Grade 3, $500,000 Old Dominion Derby headlines the card, alongside the $250,000 Old Dominion Oaks (Listed), $150,000 Colonial Cup, $150,000 Da Hoss, $125,000 Exacta Systems Rosie’s Stakes, and $125,000 Kitten’s Joy.

The 1 1/8-mile Old Dominion Derby drew 32 3-year-olds, led by Rocker O Ranch’s Giocoso. Trained by Keith Desormeaux, Giocoso captured the local Secretariat Stakes (G2) and has $514,971 in career earnings. Stablemate Optical, owned by Don’t Tell My Wife Stables, also was nominated.

Pin Oak Stud’s World Beater, trained by Riley Mott, also was nominated. He gave Mott his first Grade 1 victory in the Saratoga Derby and previously won the Audubon Stakes at Churchill Downs in May. He was runner-up in the Belmont Derby (G1).

Trainer Graham Motion has four nominees, including Shamrock Farm’s three-time winner End of Romance, an Irish-bred who finished seventh behind Giocoso in the one-mile Secretariat.

Among the 34 3-year-old fillies nominated to the 1 1/8-mile Old Dominion Oaks are three trained by Brad Cox: George Messina and Michael Lee’s Belmont Oaks (G1) winner Fionn; Steve Landers Racing’s Pucker Up Stakes (G3) winner Destino d’Oro; and Full of Run Racing’s well-bred filly Yes It Tiz.

Likewise, Rusty Arnold nominated three classy fillies, led by Bregman Family Racing’s P.G. Johnson winner Totally Justified, who boasts two graded stakes placings.

Mark Grier’s Evershed was nominated to the Old Dominion Oaks. The Arnaud Delacour trainee followed up her local opening day allowance win with a second in the Saratoga Oaks (G2).

Jonathan Thomas leads all trainers with four of the 26 older horses nominated to the $150,000 Colonial Cup, including last year’s champion, Truly Quality, owned by Augustin Stables. The 5-year-old has since won the Singspiel Stakes (G3) and Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G2) and would be making his second start of the season.

JAL Racing’s Doncho tops the 35 older horses nominated to the 5½-furlong, $150,000 Da Hoss Stakes. In his most recent start, the 4-year-old, trained by Michelle Lovell, set a world record for the distance — covering 5½ furlongs on turf in 59.75 seconds — in his allowance win at Ellis Park.

The 5½-furlong Exacta Systems Rosie’s Stakes drew 38 2-year-old nominees, led by Arindel’s Monster, who finished second in the Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga. The colt is trained by Jose D’Angelo.

George Weaver leads all trainers with seven nominees, including Medallion Racing, Swinbank Stables, Joey Platts and Mark Stanton’s filly Cy Fair, and Thomas Brockley, Daryn Brockley, Dew Sweepers and R.A. Hill Stable’s colt Tough Critic.

The 1 1/16-mile Kitten’s Joy Stakes drew 34 2-year-olds, led by Proton. Owned by Stone Farm, Clyde Linwood Miles Jr., Ken Wheeler Jr., Lynwood Napier and Debbie Easter, the Graham Motion trainee was an impressive local debut winner.

First post for the Old Dominion Derby Day program is set for noon ET. General Admission is $5 and tickets can be purchased online at www.colonialdowns.com.

About Colonial Downs

Colonial Downs Racetrack, in New Kent, Virginia, hosts live thoroughbred racing on two nationally renowned surfaces – the Secretariat Turf Course, the widest turf course in North America at 180 feet wide and on a 1 1/4-mile dirt track. The Colonial Downs Group, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums® throughout the commonwealth, which offer innovative historic horseracing (HHR) gaming and full card simulcasting as well as Rosie’s Game Room in Collinsville, and The Rose Gaming Resort® in Dumfries which offers 1,650 HHR gaming terminals, full-card simulcasting, eight bars and restaurants and more than 100 hotel rooms.

 The Estate of R. Larry Johnson sends out the defending champions of Saturday’s $100,000 Meadow Stable and $100,000 Camptown, as trainer Mike Trombetta’s runners Determined Kingdom and Hollywood Walk headline the sibling 5½-furlong turf sprint handicaps for older Virginia-bred, -sired or -certified Thoroughbreds at Colonial Downs.

With nine races on tap, the Camptown is slated as Race 7, immediately followed by the Meadow Stable. Post time is set for 12:30 p.m. ET.

Determined Kingdom will take on 11 older males in the Meadow Stable, including last year’s runner-up Whenigettoheaven. The two met again in June and Whenigettoheaventurned the tables  on Determined Kingdom in the Ben’s Cat Stakes at Laurel Park.

Determined Kingdom exits an impressive effort in the Troy (G2) at Saratoga, finishing a game third behind Bring Theband Home. Boasting six local wins, the 2024 Virginia-Bred Horse of the Year was previously trained by Phil Schoenthal but joined Trombetta ahead of his 6-year-old campaign. Drawing post 8, Determined Kingdom will be piloted by Mychel Sanchez.

Ken Ramsey’s Whenigettoheaven earned back-to-back Ben’s Cat titles, edging Determined Kingdom in the final strides. The 6-year-old son of Street Magician, trained by Nolan Ramsey, comes into the Meadow Stable off that victory. J.G. Torrealba takes the call and the pair from the rail.

Set to defend her Camptown title against nine older fillies and mares, Hollywood Walk exits the most prestigious stakes win of her career. Receiving a perfect rail-skimming trip from Mychel Sanchez, the Virginia-bred scored an upset in the Andy Guest Stakes on the Arlington Million (G1) undercard. With lifetime earnings of $482,731, the 6-year-old Animal Kingdom mare is a half-sibling to Mindframe, one of the sport’s top older dirt routers.

Chief among her competition is stablemate and fellow Johnson homebred Noquestionaboutit. The 3-year-old Great Notion filly moved up in class to win the Glenn Petty in her first stakes try. Noquestionaboutit drew post 8 and will be reunited with Jorge Ruiz.

The complete fields for both the Meadow Stable and the Camptown Handicap can be found on Equibase: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CNL083025USA-EQB.html

Live racing resumes Wednesday at Colonial Downs with first post at 12:30 p.m. ET. Along with the regular Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule, a special Labor Day program is set for Monday, Sept. 1, with first post at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Tickets for the entire meet can be purchased online at www.colonialdowns.com.

Racing fans who can’t make it to Colonial can wager at any of the Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums throughout the state, The Rose Gaming Resort in Dumfries or VA-Horseplay locations in Chesapeake and Henrico. Bettors also can wager on racing from ColonialDowns via www.TwinSpires.com, the official advance-deposit wagering service for Churchill Downs Incorporated and its family of racetracks. TwinSpires.com boasts an improved wagering experience and mobile app combining the latest technology with the ability to wager on virtually every quarter, harness and thoroughbred horse race from venues around the globe. TwinSpires.com also offers access to unmatched insight and analysis from horse racing experts, handicappers, insiders, educators and Bloodstock Research Information Services (Brisnet).

About Colonial Downs

Colonial Downs Racetrack, in New Kent, Virginia, hosts live thoroughbred racing on two nationally renowned surfaces – the Secretariat Turf Course, the widest turf course in North America at 180 feet wide and on a 1 1/4-mile dirt track. The Colonial Downs Group, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums® throughout the commonwealth, which offer innovative historic horseracing (HHR) gaming and full card simulcasting as well as Rosie’s Game Room in Collinsville, and The Rose Gaming Resort® in Dumfries which offers 1,650 HHR gaming terminals, full-card simulcasting, eight bars and restaurants and more than 100 hotel rooms.

Trainer Mike Trombetta swept Saturday’s pair of juvenile turf sprints at Colonial Downs, as both the Estate of Larry Johnson’s colt Doubting Thomas and Red White and Blue Racing and London Reid Thoroughbreds’ filly Just Philtored wired their respective Virginia-bred, -sired or -certified fields in the $125,000 Jamestown and $125,000 Dolley Madison.

With Jorge Ruiz aboard, Doubting Thomas covered 5½ furlongs in 1:02.39, defeating Karate Island by 1¾ lengths. Sometime finished third.

“I was loaded at the top of the stretch and waited until they made a run at him before opening him up,” Ruiz said. “Today he broke spiritedly from the gate, so I said, let’s go to the lead. I like this horse — he is maturing nicely.”

The odds-on favorite Doubting Thomas paid $3.00, $2.10 and $2.10.

Along with his off-the-pace debut win, the Virginia-bred Caravaggio colt is 2-for-2 on turf with a career bankroll of $127,500.

Going 5½ furlongs under jockey Mychel Sanchez, Just Philtored stopped the clock in 1:03.21 while winning the Dolley Madison by 4½ lengths over Slewperstitus. Karina Anna ran third.

“You can do anything with her,” Sanchez said. “I didn’t see a lot of speed in the race, so I took advantage of that and went to the lead. Although we put up a good time, I feel like she went a little slow for what she wanted to do. I can rate her more, I can send her more. Bodywise, she is strong. When you get on her, you can feel the power.”

Sent off as the 7-5 favorite, Just Philtored returned $4.80, $2.60 and $2.10.

Perfect in three career starts, including the Keswick, the Maryland-bred daughter of Great Notion has earned $167,430.

Live racing resumes Wednesday at Colonial Downs with a 12:30 p.m. ET first post. Along with the regular Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule, a special Labor Day program is set for Monday, Sept. 1, with first post at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Tickets for the entire meet can be purchased online at www.colonialdowns.com.

Racing fans who can’t make it to Colonial can wager at any of the Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums throughout the state, The Rose Gaming Resort in Dumfries or VA-Horseplay locations in Chesapeake and Henrico. Bettors also can wager on racing from ColonialDowns via www.TwinSpires.com, the official advance-deposit wagering service for Churchill Downs Incorporated and its family of racetracks. TwinSpires.com boasts an improved wagering experience and mobile app combining the latest technology with the ability to wager on virtually every quarter, harness and thoroughbred horse race from venues around the globe. TwinSpires.com also offers access to unmatched insight and analysis from horse racing experts, handicappers, insiders, educators and Bloodstock Research Information Services (Brisnet).

About Colonial Downs

Colonial Downs Racetrack, in New Kent, Virginia, hosts live thoroughbred racing on two nationally renowned surfaces – the Secretariat Turf Course, the widest turf course in North America at 180 feet wide and on a 1 1/4-mile dirt track. The Colonial Downs Group, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums® throughout the commonwealth, which offer innovative historic horseracing (HHR) gaming and full card simulcasting as well as Rosie’s Game Room in Collinsville, and The Rose Gaming Resort® in Dumfries which offers 1,650 HHR gaming terminals, full-card simulcasting, eight bars and restaurants and more than 100 hotel rooms.

KENWOOD RACING, BREEN AND LOPEZ SWEEPCLAIMING CROWN PREVIEW DAY HEADLINERS

Kenwood Racing and trainer Kelly Breen swept the headliners on Claiming Crown Preview Day at Colonial Downs with Cadet Corps in the $100,000 Jewel Qualifier and One Time Willard in the $87,500 Emerald Qualifier. Paco Lopez was aboard for both victories as the jockey won four races and finished second in three of the eight Claiming Crown Preview events. Lopez added a fifth winner in the day’s nightcap.

The top two finishers in each Claiming Crown Preview race earned an automatic berth in the corresponding Claiming Crown championships on Nov. 15 at Churchill Downs.

Cadet Corps rallied down the center of the track to beat front-runner Bernin Hot by two lengths in the Jewel Qualifier, finishing in 1:48.19 for 1 1/8 miles.

Cadet Corps returned $10.20, $4.00 and $2.20. Bernin Hot paid $4.60 and $2.40.

Claimed for $35,000 on Feb. 1 at Gulfstream Park, Cadet Corps has since won three races for his new connections. The 6-year-old Will Take Charge gelding has a career record of 40-15-3-6 with $410,126 in earnings.

In the Emerald Qualifier, One Time Willard saved ground in third, tipped out at the top of the stretch and held off Kitodan to win by a length, covering 1 1/16 miles over a firm turf course in 1:41.96.

One Time Willard paid $9.40, $4.80 and $3.80. Kitodan returned $5 and $3.60.

Claimed for $25,000 on Jan. 31 at Gulfstream Park, One Time Willard has won three times for Breen. The 6-year-old Micromanage gelding owns a career record of 29-7-7-4 with $422,434 in earnings.

The Claiming Card Preview portion of Thursday’s card opened with the $50,000 Glass Slipper Qualifier.

Going 1 mile on dirt, WWCD LLC’s Next Girl showed grit, running down the 4-5 favorite Mercy Warren in the stretch to win by a neck. Trained by Robert Bailes and ridden by Denis Arujao, Next Girl returned $9.20, $3.60 and $2.10. Mercy Warren paid $2.80 and $2.10.

In the $75,000 Canterbury Qualifier, Madison Avenue Racing Stable, Morris Kernan Jr. and Jagger Inc.’s Quick Tempo went to the front and outdueled Sosua Summer by a neck in a 5½-furlong turf sprint. Trained by Jamie Ness and ridden by Lopez, Quick Tempo paid $6.00, $4.00 and $2.80 as the 2-1 favorite. Sosua Summer returned $5.00 and $4.20.

Cutting back from nine furlongs, Jeanine Cumiskey’s Gilmore rallied from last to first in the $62,500 Rapid Transit Qualifier at seven furlongs on dirt. The Joe Sharp trainee beat J D Factor by a length under jockey Ben Curtis. Dispatched as the 3-2 favorite, Gilmore paid $5.00, $2.80 and $2.40. J D Factor returned $3.60 and $2.80.

At 1 1/16 miles on dirt, Cumiskey’s Curlin’s Malibu closed late to win the $50,000 Kent Stirling Memorial Iron Horse Qualifier by a length over Santos to Wilson. It was the second winner of the day for Cumiskey and Sharp, with Lopez again in the irons. The 6-5 favorite paid $4.60, $3.00 and $2.20. Santos to Wilson returned $4.00 and $3.20.

The $50,000 Ready’s Rocket Express was decided late as Jim Tichenor’s Busk surged past Silver Slugger by a half-length at six furlongs on dirt. The victory marked his seventh straight since being claimed by Manuel Chavez. Jockey Carlos Barbosa has been aboard in each win. Busk paid $4.80, $2.60 and $2.10. Silver Slugger returned $2.40 and $2.10.

With a rail-skimming ride from Forest Boyce, Liberty House Racing, Team Gaudet and Penwood Racing’s Cairo Street pulled the upset in the $75,000 Tiara Qualifier for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Trained by Lacey Gaudet, Cairo Street held off favorite Notable Exchange by a length and paid $16.60, $7.00 and $4.40. Notable Exchange returned $3.40 and $2.80.

With two live racing days left this week, first post on Friday is 4 p.m. ET. Saturday’s program includes the $125,000 Dolley Madison, slated as Race 3, followed by the $125,000 Jamestown. First post for the nine-race card is 12:30 p.m. ET.

The second annual Wiener Dog Races at Colonial Downs are set for Saturday, with dachshund heats between the Thoroughbred races. General admission is $5, with free entry for children 5 and younger. Festivities include a petting zoo, pony rides, a face painter and other family activities.

Tickets for the entire meet can be purchased online at www.colonialdowns.com.

The 24th Virginia Breeders Fund Yearling Futurity will be held this Sunday August 24 at the Warrenton Horse Show Grounds in Warrenton, Virginia with $40,000 in prize money at stake from four divisional classes. Renowned thoroughbred trainer and pinhooker Cary Frommer, who recently relocated back to Virginia from Aiken, South Carolina, will serve as Futurity Judge.

Frommer will select top yearlings from classes that include Virginia-Bred/Sired Fillies, Virginia-Bred/Sired Colts & Geldings, Virginia-Certified Fillies and Virginia-Certified Colts & Geldings. Each class has a prize pool of $7,500 and the top two finishers from each class will advance to a final round where a Grand Champion and Reserve Champion will be crowned. Groom awards totaling $600 will be given out to the best turned out horse in each class. Spectators can also participate by entering a judging contest with a $100 prize on the line per class.  

All yearlings in the Futurity are automatically eligible to share in a percent of a $5,000 bonus which is awarded to top performers at the completion of their three-year-old years, based on total earnings. Two bonuses are distributed — one for Virginia-Bred/Sired entrants and another for Virginia-Certified ones.    

Futurity judging is based on conformation, quality, substance and suitability of entries to become racehorses. Frommer also bases her judgment on overall appearance. “I like a nice topline on a horse and sometimes horses grow into their toplines, so babies may not be there quite yet. I like to think I can see beyond that a little. I like them to be correct too but they don’t have to be flawless. As long as they can run through any conformation flaws and they have fluidity, that’s okay with me too.”

Frommer lived in Virginia for ten years after high school graduation working at various horse farms in the state before relocating to Aiken, South Carolina where she spent several decades. She recently came full circle and returned to Virginia in May.

“I left to go to Aiken for one winter, to get away from the Northern Virginia winter, and never came back,” she joked. “It just took me 45 years to return. I always planned on coming back. I’ve never been happier since I’ve returned. I live in a lovely place in Bluemont and I keep my horses at the Middleburg training track. I’m very, very happy. I love it here.” 

Sunday’s Futurity begins at 9 AM and is free for spectators to attend. Festivities normally wrap up around 12 Noon. Frommer has judged the Maryland Futurity but this will be her first judging Virginia yearlings. “I’m looking forward to it,” she said. I enjoyed judging Maryland’s before and I’m sure I will like Virginia’s. It’s what I do for a living — judging yearlings in order to buy them. I’m very comfortable doing it.”

Colonial Downs will host Claiming Crown Preview Day on Thursday, Aug. 21, and trainer Brendan Walsh will participate with eyes on earning a spot in the 27th Annual Claiming Crown, as Kitodan ships to New Kent for the $87,500 Claiming Crown Emerald Qualifier.

Run under starter allowance conditions, the eight Preview Day races will offer a combined $550,000 in purses. The top two finishers in each race earn automatic berths in the Claiming Crown Championships, set for Nov. 15 at Churchill Downs. Winners also receive a travel stipend of up to $2,000 from the Virginia HBPA, provided they start in the championship races in Louisville.

The Emerald Qualifier, scheduled as Race 11, is run at 1 1/16 miles on turf and drew an oversubscribed field of 16 older males who have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2024-25. The 3-1 morning-line favorite is defending champion Echo Lane.

Pocket Racing’s graded stakes winner Kitodan has changed barns four times—from Jorge Delgado to Mike Maker to Eric Foster to Larry Rivelli—most recently in February when he was claimed for $12,500 at Turfway Park. The 6-year-old gelding won that race and both of his starts for Walsh, entering Preview Day on a three-race win streak.

“Marc Wampler, who does Pocket Aces, picked him out,” Walsh said. “(Kitodan) has got plenty of mileage on the clock. We’ve just been keeping him fresh and happy. He’s got a great zest for racing. He seems to love it.”

Despite being far back at the stretch call in his last two starts at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Kitodan rallied to win both.

“He’s needed every single inch he’s gotten,” Walsh said. “I don’t know how he won the last one. He’s a game horse.”

In a starter allowance at 1 1/16 miles in mid-July, Kitodan displayed a sharp turn of foot to catch Moogie Son, Gewurztraminer, and Underdressed – the last of which sits on the also-eligibles list for the Emerald Qualifier.

A graded stakes veteran, Kitodan owns nine career wins and $938,178 in earnings, including the 2022 Dueling Grounds Derby (G3), the Audubon at Churchill Downs, and the Rushaway at Turfway Park.

“He’s the type of horse you want to claim,” Walsh said. “When I trained for David Ross, he always looked for horses with a bit of potential—borderline graded stakes class—that just needed a change.”

Walsh, among the sport’s top trainers, has 60 graded stakes victories and a barn full of well-bred horses, many either developed from the start or imported from Europe. But his resume also includes major claiming game success stories, even winning the 2015 Claiming Crown Emerald with Key to Power.

“We claimed Key to Power out of Mike Tomlinson’s barn,” Walsh said. “He was bred out the wazoo. (Bill) Mott had him initially. He was a funny horse. He’d go in the gate screaming like a stallion and frighten all the gate guys.”

After winning the Emerald, Key to Power added the Teleprompter Stakes at Arlington Park, the Cliff Guilliams Handicap at Ellis Park, and was beaten only 2 1/2 lengths in the Fort Lauderdale (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

“That’s the only horse I’ve ever run in the Claiming Crown,” Walsh said. “They took it off the grass just before the race. A heavy storm rolled in, and as we were about to saddle, they said they were moving the races off the turf. They asked if we wanted to put toe grabs on, and I said no. I was confident he’d handle it. He was a cool horse.”

Before Key to Power, there was Cary Street, a $10,000 claim who went on to win the Greenwood Cup (G3) and Las Vegas Marathon (G2). More recently, there was Extravagant Kid, claimed by David Ross for $75,000 in 2018. Under Walsh’s care, he won seven stakes, including the 2021 Al Quoz Sprint (G1) in Dubai, and competed in the 2020 and 2021 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

Kitodan’s current form, back class, and connections suggest he’s well-positioned to have success on Preview Day and bring Walsh back to the Claiming Crown for round two.

Thursday’s 12-race card begins at 10:45 a.m. Eastern, starting with three steeplechase events. The $50,000 Glass Slipper Qualifier is Race 4, kicking off eight consecutive Claiming Crown Preview races.

Michael G. Motion was a renowned international bloodstock agent and a pioneering figure in the thoroughbred horse racing industry. The father of top U.S. trainer Graham Motion, he passed away peacefully on August 14, 2025, at the age of 95.

A British native, Motion and his wife Josephine (Jo), who herself was a trailblazer in the sport, were well-known on both sides of the Atlantic. In the 1960s, they established their own operation, Herringswell Manor Stud, near Newmarket, England, a name which their son, Graham, later adopted for his successful American stable.

Throughout his career, Michael G. Motion served as a farm manager, bloodstock agent, and the North American representative for Tattersalls, one of the world’s leading bloodstock auctioneers. He was widely respected for his eye for a horse and his influential role in bridging the American and European racing markets, representing some of the biggest names in racing. His legacy continues through his children, including trainer Graham Motion and bloodstock agent Andrew Motion.

Reference full article HERE

Meet 24-year-old Tanner Reisman and 31-year-old Timothy Schmidt, the youthful brains behind a new company called Next Gen Thoroughbreds, whose goal is to introduce horse racing to a younger generation via tools like a weekly podcast and social media network. Their passion is to not just create new racing fans, but to open the eyes of young people to potential career opportunities in the industry — and ensure a future for the sport they love.

The two were at Colonial Downs August 9 for the Arlington Million and entire “Festival of Racing” card, to experience the New Kent track first hand and compile fresh content for their weekly podcast and website.   

“Its a crazy story how this all got started and how quickly it is developing,” said Reisman, who is a full time yearling groom at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky but travels to tracks on weekends as part of Next Gen’s mission. “Six months ago I had no idea we’d be here doing something like this and supporting the industry in the way that we are supporting it. We aspire to inspire the next generation of thoroughbred workers and fans and everything beyond and in between that.”

Interestingly, neither Reisman or Schmidt grew up in the business.  “We attended a seminar in April that featured Jason Werth and other well known personalities and how they came up in the industry,” said Schmidt. “Someone asked about how to get the younger generation interested in horse racing and if we don’t, the industry is going to disappear. We got in our car afterwards, brainstormed ways on how we could be part of that process and thought a weekly podcast geared toward a younger demographic might be a good start. Here we are just a few months later and the podcast is our foundation and we are branching out beyond that. We have our first merchandise drop in the next few weeks and now have a photography section on our website. We travel track to track, take photos and capture moments in the winners circle, the horses and people involved in every aspect of the industry.”

Reisman stays busy at his main job and is currently helping prep 53 yearlings for the fall sales. “It’s a grind but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than Claiborne and Next Gen,” he said. “It’s a great to experience the hands on work it takes to raise these horses then to go to the track to see them perform. Those full circle moments are what it’s all about. It really brings everything together and it’s beautiful to see. We try to capture these moments and showcase them. Most people don’t understand or get to see the amount of hard work goes into horse development.”       

“If people could connect with horses the way we have connected with horses, it would be easy to get new folks involved,” added Schmidt, who is working to obtain his real estate license, but was also a yearling groom at Claiborne and still helps out there. “Horses know what you’re feeling and how to make your life better. You see grooms in the backside working day in and day out to make sure horses are fed and well kept. Everybody knows about the three Triple Crown races, but that kind of hard work is daily life. From the outside looking in, people don’t see that part.” 

Despite only being around for a handful of months, Next Gen is getting a lot of support from the industry. Stable Recovery has just signed on as their first sponsor. They also established a relationship with First Rodeo Racing, a modern horse racing partnership where 90% of the partners are under 30 years of age according to Reisman. “We love to help each other out and promote each other on social media. First Rodeo flew a kid out from Arizona to Saratoga, brought him to the backside of the track and showed him everything about racing from that perspective. Afterwards, the kid said, ‘I have to be in this sport. I’m so far outside of it now and didn’t realize how many layers there are. From what I saw today, this is something I’d really like to get into’. It’s a heartwarming feeling to hear these kind of stories. It’s not just about winning races. There’s so much more to it.”   

Reisman and Schmidt’s early body of work can be seen at nextgenthoroughbredpodcast.com — and they have ambitious goals moving forward. “Inspiring and connecting with people” is how Reisman summed it up. “There is so much more to do and so many more people to connect with.”   

Poised for repeat titles, jockey Ben Curtis and trainer Mike Trombetta lead their respective standings halfway through the summer meet at Colonial Downs.

Through 20 days of the 41-day meet, Curtis leads all riders with 24 wins from 90 mounts, a 27% win rate. He capped a six-win week by giving Giocoso a perfect trip to win the Grade 2 $500,000 Secretariat Stakes on Festival of Racing Day. Curtis, who moved his tack from England less than two years ago, surpassed $10 million in North American earnings on Saturday.

Last year’s leading rider, Curtis holds a seven-win advantage over Paco Lopez going into Wednesday’s card.

Seeking his third consecutive Colonial Downs title, Trombetta tops all trainers with 17 wins, three more than Brittany Russell. Since the end of July, his barn has been hot, winning 10 of its last 25 starts, including saddling Hollywood Walk, winner of the Andy Guest Stakes on Festival of Racing Day.

“We have a lot of turf horses, and Colonial does more turf than most, so that’s a big part of it,” Trombetta said. “It’s a good program; there’s a lot of variety. Your 2-year-olds get to run on the grass. I think each year it’s getting a little more difficult to get it done. All in all, it’s a good place to run in the summer.”

Claiming Crown Preview Day Entries Taken Thursday

Entries will be taken Thursday for Claiming Crown Preview Day at Colonial Downs. Serving as qualifying races for the Claiming Crown, the top two finishers in each race automatically earn a spot in the corresponding race at Churchill Downs.

Purses will total $550,000 for the eight Claiming Crown Preview races, run under starter-allowance conditions. The Colonial Downs qualifiers will carry purses ranging from $50,000 up to $100,000 for the signature Claiming Crown Jewel, run at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds and up. Winners will also receive a travel stipend of up to $2,000 from the Virginia HBPA, provided the horse starts in the championship races in Louisville.

Festival of Racing Day Wrap-Up

Trainer of the first- and third-place finishers in Saturday’s Grade 1 Arlington Million, Shug McCaughey said Fort Washington and Integration shipped back to Saratoga and are doing well.

McCaughey said Fort Washington is under consideration for a start at Kentucky Downs, while Integration, after a steady campaign, will likely get a rest.

In his first turf start, Mystik Dan finished fourth in the Arlington Million. Trainer Kenny McPeek said the Kentucky Derby 150 winner could return to the turf in his next start.

“I thought he ran OK,” McPeek said. “Could I have worked him harder? Did he get tired? We’ll look at all that. It was a respectable run. He jumped into deep waters. We’ll have to see what’s out there. The way he ran today, maybe a flat mile on the grass at Kentucky Downs in a month. Maybe one mile back on dirt. We’ll find a good spot for him.”

Ed Moger Jr,. said Saturday’s Grade 2 Beverly D. Stakes winner Charlene’s Dream came out of the race in good shape. With 12 points on the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Divisional Leaderboard, she is under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup Filly &Mare Turf (G1).

After running seventh in the Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes (G2), trainer Graham Motion said End of Romance is being considered for the 1 1/8-mile Grade 3 Old Dominion Derby on turf at Colonial Downs on Sept. 6. Barn mate and multiple graded-stakes winner Test Score could also start in the Old Dominion Derby.

Gigante Returns for Saturday’s $125,000 Find Stakes

Two sibling stakes are scheduled for Saturday, August 16 at Colonial Downs, headlined by the return of L and N Racing and Clark Brewster’s millionaire Gigante for the $125,000 Find Stakes. Along with the $125,000 All Brandy Stakes, which drew eight older fillies and mares, both races are restricted to Virginia- and Maryland-bred or -sired Thoroughbreds and will be run at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Saturday’s stakes begin with the Find Stakes in Race 5, the first leg of the Old Dominion 6, and conclude with the All Brandy Stakes in Race 9. First post for the 10-race card is 12:30 p.m. ET.

A pair of sibling stakes are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 16 at Colonial Downs, headlined by the return of L and N Racing and Clark Brewster’s millionaire Gigante to New Kent for the $125,000 Find. He will face five older male foes. Along with the $125,000 All Brandy, which drew eight older fillies and mares, both added-money events are restricted to Virginia- and Maryland-bred or -sired Thoroughbreds and will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Saturday’s stakes action starts in Race 5 with the Find, the first leg of the 50-cent Old Dominion 6 wager and concludes with the All Brandy in Race 9. First post for the 10-race program is 12:30 p.m. ET.

With more than $1.2 million in career earnings, Gigante enters Saturday’s Find Stakes seeking a seventh stakes title. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the 2023 Grade 2 Secretariat winner is the 6-5 morning line favorite. Over the winter, Gigante won back-to-back listed stakes at Fair Grounds but has not returned to the winner’s circle in five starts since. From four local starts, the Virginia-bred son of Not This Time has three wins, including the 2023 Kitten’s Joy. Paco Lopez rides the 5-year-old horse, who drew post 6.

A main challenger is Starlight Racing and Mark Grier’s Fulmineo, who scored back-to-back stakes wins last year in the James W. Murphy at Pimlico and the Boston at Colonial Downs. Trainer Arnaud Delacour will run the 4-year-old Bolt d’Oro colt without blinkers in the Find. Listed at 4-1 in the morning line, Fulmineo will be reunited with jockey Victor Carrasco.

Here is the complete field for the $125,000 Find Stakes from the rail out, with jockey, trainer and morning-line: Hunter Joe (Daniel Centeno, Hamilton Smith, 15-1); Fulmineo (Carrasco, Delacour, 4-1); Mission North (Forest Boyce, Jack Fisher, 7-2); Hardspun Reason (Jevian Toledo, Graham Motion, 3-1); Crabs N Beer (Jorge Ruiz, James Lawrence II, 12-1); and Gigante (Lopez, Asmussen, 6-5).

The All Brandy features three sharp, last-out stakes winners, led by The Elkstone Group’s Lifelovenlaughter, the 9-5 morning-line favorite. Trained by current meet-leading conditioner Mike Trombetta, Lifelovenlaughter comes off a win in the six-furlong Jameela at Laurel Park. The 5-year-old Lemon Drop Kid mare has earned three of her five wins at the All Brandy distance.

Her main competition includes two fillies exiting local stakes wins: Timbercreek Racing’s Brookmeade winner Thursday Girl and Dream Big Racing’s Miss Disco victress Winfinity.

Here is the complete field for the $125,000 All Brandy Stakes from the rail out, with jockey, trainer and morning-line: Cut From Class (Jevian Toledo, Caitlin Keil, 10-1); Winfinity (Ben Curtis, John Ortiz, 3-1); Lifelovenlaughter (Jorge Ruiz, Trombetta, 8-5); Krone (Paco Lopez, Mark Shuman, 8-1); Thursday Girl (Sheldon Russell, Brittany Russell, 6-1); Atlas Strong (Mychel Sanchez, Tim Woolley, 5-1); Juniper Juice (Forest Boyce, Kevin Boniface, 15-1); and She Is Wisky (Carlos Lopez, Phillip Capuano, 15-1).

Live racing resumes at Colonial Downs on Wednesday, Aug. 13. First post for the eight-race card is 12:30 p.m. ET.  Colonial’s races will be prominently featured on FanDuel TV all season long.

Racing fans who can’t make it to Colonial can wager at any of the Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums throughout the state, The Rose Gaming Resort in Dumfries or VA-Horseplay locations in Chesapeake and Henrico. Bettors also can wager on racing from Colonial Downs via www.TwinSpires.com, the official advance-deposit wagering service for Churchill Downs Incorporated and its family of racetracks. TwinSpires.com boasts an improved wagering experience and mobile app combining the latest technology with the ability to wager on virtually every quarter, harness and thoroughbred horse race from venues around the globe. TwinSpires.com also offers access to unmatched insight and analysis from horse racing experts, handicappers, insiders, educators and Bloodstock Research Information Services (Brisnet).

About Colonial Downs

Colonial Downs Racetrack, in New Kent, Virginia, hosts live thoroughbred racing on two nationally renowned surfaces – the Secretariat Turf Course, the widest turf course in North America at 180 feet wide and on a 1 1/4-mile dirt track. The Colonial Downs Group, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums® throughout the commonwealth, which offer innovative historic horseracing (HHR) gaming and full card simulcasting as well as Rosie’s Game Room in Collinsville, and The Rose Gaming Resort® in Dumfries which offers 1,650 HHR gaming terminals, full-card simulcasting, eight bars and restaurants and more than 100 hotel rooms.