Leading Riders and Fresh Faces Stack Colonial Downs

The leading riders of each of the past five years will return to Colonial Downs for what appears to be an ultra-competitive 2024 season of racing. At 23% and with $1,527,937 in purse earnings, Antonio Gallardo raised the 2023 trophy with 34 wins in his debut local meet. Gallardo will be lining up in the gates against Colonial’s seven-time title holder and all-time winningest jockey, Horacio Karamanos. Jevian Toledo, leading rider in 2022, is confirmed for this year’s colony. Leading rider in both 2019 and 2020, Trevor McCarthy will bring his tack back to New Kent from the New York circuit. 

Winning two closing day stakes in 2003, piloting Thirty Thou Kelvin in the $250,000 Virginia Oaks and Starting Over in the $150,000 Colonial Cup, McCarthy was reminded of his local successes, prompting a return.

“It has always been a really lucky track for me,” McCarthy said. “I have had so much great success there since they reopened. I like the environment. It is very friendly and everyone is always happy to be there each summer. The racing is great and only getting better each and every year. I’m so lucky to be a part of it.”

Approaching 1,900 career wins, McCarthy’s success at Colonial Downs has come from riding for a variety of different barns. 

“There are some new people who are going to be stabled there and it is a big ship-in meet,” McCarthy said. “I hope I can ride a little bit for everybody and regain a Colonial title. Is not an easy task but becoming the leading rider is the ultimate goal. I am going to do whatever I can and my agent Kevin Meyocks will be doing everything he can to try and achieve that. Also to have a safe meet is a big goal as well for everybody, horses and jockeys.”

Adding to the list of riders expected to compete at Colonial Downs are newcomers Ben Curtis and Chris Landeros. 

Exiting a successful debut North American meet at Fair Grounds, Irish-born journeyman Curtis rode Honor Marie in Kentucky Derby 150. Agent Ron Faucheux confirmed that Curtis is ready to ride at Colonial, returning from a broken collarbone suffered in late May.

“Ben’s doctor gave him the green light to start riding and he is back working horses in the mornings,” Faucheux said. “He is ready to go for Colonial.”

Before moving to the U.S., Curtis had been one of the top riders in England and was crowned the All-Weather Champion jockey in 2021. He finished fourth in the standings at Fair Grounds with 43 wins. 

Nineteen years into his career, Landeros has had successful trips to Colonial Downs for big racing days, but agent Jose Sanchez confirmed this will be his first full meet. Landeros has won over 1,600 races and racked up over $50 million in earnings.

Two apprentice jockeys have been confirmed: Gabriel Maldonado and Melissa Iorio. Through June 26, Iorio and Maldonado both rank ninth in the standings at Monmouth Park, tied with six wins.  

Other confirmed jockeys include Sheldon Russell, Vincent Cheminaud, Gavin Ashton, Jean Alvelo, Jeiron Barbosa, and Jose Batista. 

Wagering Options

Wagering options for the 2024 season are essentially unchanged from a year ago with one significant exception – this year, there will be wagering on the National Steeplechase Association (NSA) races which will be held on selected Thursdays including the opening day card on July 11.

Presented as the first three races on those dates, each steeplechase race will offer the standard $2 Win, Place and Show; $1 Exacta, 50-cent Trifecta, and 10-cent Superfecta wagering. Additionally, there will be a $1 Pick 3 starting on Race 1 to cover the NSA races plus $1 Daily Doubles coupling Races 1-2 and Races 2-3.

New for 2024, when there is a carryover in either 50-cent Pick 5 – whether Early or Late – that money will be carried into the following day’s Late Pick 5. The Early Pick 5 will cover the first five flat races on the card and the Late Pick 5 will cover the final four races each day.

As has been the case in recent years, there will be Rolling $1 Daily Doubles and $1 Pick 3’s on all flat races, plus two Pick 4 bets – one on the first four flat races and the other on the final four events.

Stakes Closings

Nominations for the first three stakes races of the season – the $125,000 Million Preview, $125,000 Beverly D. Preview and $125,000 Boston close Thursday, June 27. All three races, which will be run Saturday, July 13, will be run over Colonial’s renowned Secretariat Turf Course.

The Million Preview is for older horses at 1-1/8 miles; the Beverly D. preview is for older fillies and mares at 1-1/16 miles; and the Boston, which serves as a prep for the G2 Secretariat Stakes, is for 3yo’s traveling one mile.

Opening Weekend Highlights

Live racing gets underway Thursday, July 11 with an 11:45 a.m. post time. The first three races will be NSA steeplechase events which include wagering. The flat racing portion of the card will start at approximately 1:30 p.m. It will be the first Thirsty Thursday of the season with $3 draft beer refills every Thursday all season long with the purchase of a souvenir cup.

Friday, July 12 will be Party at the Downs featuring happy hour beer and wine specials from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and live entertainment in the Trackside Tent. Post time every Friday is 4:30 p.m.

In addition to the inaugural editions of the $125,000 Million Preview, $125,000 Beverly D. Preview, and the $125,000 Boston, Saturday, July 13 features a giveaway of an 18-month calendar loaded with photos of the stars of the 2023 season at Colonial Downs.

Colonial’s races will be prominently featured on FanDuel TV all season long. Additionally, FanDuel TV will be on-site for coverage of the Festival of Racing on August 10.

Racing fans are encouraged to 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 our horse racing experts, handicappers, insiders, educators and Bloodstock Research Information Services (Brisnet).

This press release has not been edited by BloodHorse. If there are any questions please contact the organization that produced the release.