New Kent track features record

New Kent track features record

handle at summer turf festival meet

Colonial Downs’ 2006 thoroughbred season posted record

highs in total handle and import handle. Tbtal handle for

the 2006 meet was $51,585,925, a 15 percent increase over 2005 and a 34 percent increase over 2004’s total handle. Average daily total handle also set a record at $1,258,193, a 13 percent increase over last season.

For the second straight year import handle was the strongest area of growth. Ibtal import handle rose 20 percent to an all-time high of $43,828,004. The average daily import handle of $1,068,975 is a 17 percent increase from 2005 and another new standard for the New Kent track.

Tbtal attendance fell nine percent from 2005 to 73,975. Average attendance similarly dropped 11 percent to 1,804. Ontrack handle featured a similar decline, dropping nine percent to $6,172,826.

Colonial averaged 8.7 starters per race for the third straight year. The 180-foot wide Secretariat Turf Course hosted 76 percent of the tracks races in 2006. Turf races featured 9.1 starters per race.

Hurdle races were held every weekend, a popular “family” aspect of the pari-mutuel track.

The first two legs of the $5 million Jacobs Investments Grand Slam of Grass were the twin highlights of the meet. Lael Stable’s Showing Up set a new course record with his overpowering win in the $1 million Colonial Turf Cup on June 24. Showing Up ran the 1 3/16 miles in 1:52.98 in his turf debut. The Strategic Mission colts win in the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes (grade I) the thud leg of the Grand Slam of Grass, gave the Colonial Turf Cup its second grade I winner in just its second year.

P®^r Vegso’s Go Between won the $1 million Virginia Derby (Gr. II) on July 15. Go Between broke the course record for 1 XAV\ imles with his 1:59.74 clocking. The Point Given colt gave the team of Vegso and trainer Bill Mott their record third Virginia Derby win. 6

See COLONIAL, Page 13