Betting The Horses

On Saturday, June 19th, Colonial Downs in New Kent, Virginia will once again play host to the Colonial Turf Cup. While this event does not have the allure of a race like the Kentucky Derby, it is quickly becoming an important race. The purse is at $750,000 for this year’s race. It is also unique in that it is the first race in the “Grand Slam of Grass,” which encompasses four races. Any horse that is able to win all four races wins a bonus of $5 million.

The first Colonial Turf Cup was held in 2005. Last year, the race was upgraded from a Grade III race to a Grade II. The race distance is 9.5 furlongs, which is equal to 1 and 3/16 of a mile.

While there are only seven horses in the Colonial Turf Cup this year, there are several notable entries. Dean’s Kitten and Paddy O’Prado, both horse racing favorites, ran in the Kentucky Derby and are entered for the race Saturday. While these two horses have the name recognition, one of the biggest sleepers in the field is Kindergarten Kid, who has a record of 3-2 but has recently impressed.

Despite the lack of name recognition, anyone who enjoys horse racing should tune in to the Colonial Turf Cup this weekend. While the “Grand Slam of Grass” may not have the same allure that the Triple Crown does, it is still important and a $5 million bonus is a huge incentive for every jockey and owner entered.

Tags: Colonial Downs, Horse Racing, Kentucky Derby