'Jump': We are Back: Jump Racing Kicks Off at Colonial Downs, McDynamo to be honored with stakes at Far Hills + Today's Entries!
'Jump': We are Back: Jump Racing Kicks Off at Colonial Downs, McDynamo to be honored with stakes at Far Hills + Today's Entries!
Thursday July 11th, Edition #40
In Case You Missed It: This Weeks Top 6 USA Jump Racing Stories
Contents
Summer Racing - Jump Racing Kicks Off at Colonial Downs!
Racing Today - Colonial Entries
Far Hills - McDynamo to be honored with stakes at Far Hills
Summer Grade 1’s - A. P. Smithwick Memorial
Saratoga - Swinton Hurdle Winner Pickanumber will make U.S. Debut in Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick at Saratoga
NSA Standings - Leslie Young and Leipers Fork dominate
“The ‘Jump newsletter’ is an absolute boon to me. Now domiciled in the UK, it keeps me updated on US jump racing. Thank you.” - Barbara Shaw (Facebook)
Summer Racing:
Today kickoff of the $1.4 million National Steeplechase Association summer season at the major tracks.
The first of 11 steeplechase racing dates at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., and upstate Saratoga Springs, N.Y. begin today with a trio of events, with a post time of 11:45 a.m.
In all, Colonial will host 19 races worth $950,000 on Thursdays through Sept. 6, while Saratoga stages four on Wednesdays beginning on July 17: the A.P. Smithwick and Jonathan Sheppard, both Grade 1s with a $150,000 purse, and two $75,000 novice stakes, the Jonathan Kiser and Michael G. Walsh. Post time at Saratoga is 1:10 p.m.
NYRA races are broadcast live on Fox2 TV, with replays available on NYRA website, https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/replays.
Colonial is bringing back another popular event, a $50,000 flat race for horses who competed but didn’t win a jump race at the track during the meet. It’ll take place on the track’s closing Friday, Sept. 6.
Read the full article on Tod Marks facebook
Colonial Downs:
Today’s entries
A pair of $50,000 maiden special weights hurdles, one exclusively for fillies and mares, and a $55,000 non-winners-of-two allowance contest. The races will be run as the first three on the card, with a first race post time of 11:45 a.m.
An important note: The races will not be streamed via the NSA web site, as previously reported. Live streaming for Colonial Downs steeplechase races will be available on Twinspires.com or on TV through the TVG racing channel. Unfortunately due to being part of the pari-mutuel card this, the NSA is unable to provide live streaming through the website.
Here's the link to the entries
Far Hills:
McDynamo to be honored with stakes at Far Hills
Photo Credit - McDynamo © Tod Marks
Steeplechase racing’s seminal day on Oct. 19 has a significant change that honors the legendary “King of Far Hills.”
The crown jewel of American steeplechasing will again feature a seven race, all-stakes card, this year worth $700,000. But along with the familiar contests, anchored by the Grade 1 $250,000 American Grand National, the meet will showcase a unique new event named after Hall of Fame great McDynamo, a seven-time winner over the Moorland Farm course.
The McDynamo stakes for maiden hurdlers four-years-old and up will be contested at 2 ⅛ miles, and has the potential to carry a total purse of $70,000, making it the richest contest for non-winners on the National Steeplechase Association circuit. A “sweepstakes ante” of $1,000 per horse will be added to the $50,000 guaranteed purse. As an added incentive, the Moran family, who campaigned the five-time Grand National winner who retired in 2007 as the sport’s earnings leader, will match the “sweepstakes ante” amount. Therefore, if there are 10 starters (the maximum limit), the total purse will be $70,000.
Read the full article on the NSA Website
Summer Grade 1’s:
A. P. Smithwick Memorial
Chelsea Durand - Photo Credit
The 27th Running will take place on Wednesday, July 17, 2024
First run in 1980, the A.P. Smithwick Memorial did not attain stakes status until 1996. The race is named in memory of Alfred Patrick “Paddy” Smithwick, who died in 1973 at the age of 46. One of steeplechase racing’s brightest stars, he rode 398 winners during a career than began in 1945 as an amateur and ended in 1966 after a fall. He won the Temple Gwathmey four times, the New York Turf Writers’ Cup three times, and the American Grand National three times. Smithwick was inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame in 1973, a few months before his death from lung cancer.
Watch Belfast Banter win the 2023 edition
Saratoga:
Swinton Hurdle Winner Pickanumber will make U.S. Debut in Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick at Saratoga
It's a small but talented field nominated for the first Grade 1 of the summer. The very talented Abaan and L'Imperator, winner of the inaugural Beverly R. Steinman, head the field. Leslie Young’s import Pickanumber is an interesting runner, having last been spotted winning the Swinton Hurdle by 15 lengths in the UK when trained by Olly Murphy
NSA STANDINGS
As we enter the summer months, Leslie Young holds a commanding 10-win lead over her nearest rival, Jack Fisher, in the trainer standings. In the owners' standing, Leipers Fork Steeplechasers has a 5-win advantage. However, the riders' title is wide open, with Jamie Bargary, Graham Watters, Harrison Beswick, Bernard Dalton, and Teddy Davies all in contention.
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Steve
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