Jump racing continues this week at Colonial, Saratoga

By Tod Marks

A trio of National Steeplechase Association contests are on tap this week as the summer season continues at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., and Saratoga Springs in upstate New York.

At Colonial, a field of nine is expected for the opener, at 12:15 p.m., a $40,000 maiden hurdle for four-year-olds. The second race, with a post time of 12:50 p.m., is a $35,000 handicap for horses rated at 115 or less. Five have been entered. Both events are at 2 1/4 miles. 

Click here for full entries: https://nationalsteeplechase.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Colonial-August8-WedEntries.pdf. You can watch the races via live stream from the National Steeplechase Association home page, www.nationalsteeplechase.com.

There’s also a hurdle race on Wednesday’s card at Saratoga. A field of seven is expected to go postward in a $70,000 non-winners of two allowance hurdle at the Spa. The race is the first on the card, with a 1:05 p.m. post time. Click here for full entries: https://nationalsteeplechase.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Saratoga-August10-Entries.pdf

NYRA races are broadcast live on Fox2 TV, with replays available on NYRA website, https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/replays. You can also live stream via the NSA website, www.nationalsteeplechase.com.

If you’re keeping score, jockey jockey Parker Hendriks has four wins at Colonial. Mark Watts has a pair. Barry Foley and Tom Garner each have one victory. Among trainers, Keri Brion has four wins to Arch Kingsley’s two. Leslie Young, and Kathy Neilson have one. At Saratoga, Hendriks, Foley, and Bernie Dalton have had their pictures taken in the winner’s circle. Brion trained two of them and Kate Dalton, one. The Daltons have secured the summer season’s biggest prize to date: the $150,000 Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick with their magnificent mare Down Royal.