Join now & win money today! Get Started

Colonial Downs Hosts Inaugural Autism-Friendly Day at the Races

---

In a joint effort between Colonial Park and the Autism Society of Central Virginia, the New Kent oval hosted its first Autism-inclusive ‘Summer Shindig’ on Sunday, July 26. Approximately 200 families attended where organizers provided sensory games, community activities and an inclusive environment for attendees.

“Everyone’s welcome at Colonial Downs,” said Colonial Downs Racing Marketing Manager Bella Hodge when asked about the day’s mission. “We love having all different types of groups out to the track and showing everybody that there is a place at the track for everyone.”

Attendees also enjoyed access to complimentary Jockey Club dining accommodations, stick horse races, a petting zoo in addition to having a race named for organization. Additionally, the group had the opportunity to meet racetrack announcer Jason Beem as well as receiving an impromptu tour of the TV control room.

“Jason explained his whole process–his colored pencils, coloring the silks before the race and the binoculars were a highlight for those members that got to come up,” Hodge explained. Then the camera guys and the TV crew invited them into the studio. They gave them a closer look at the cameras and let them see the TV control room, which was probably the highlight of the day, for me at least. It was cool.

According to Hodge, the U.K.’s Autism In Racing’s vast experience at hosting Autism-friendly events at racecourses proved invaluable in organizing its inaugural event stateside.

“Autism In Racing gave me a lot of good ideas,” said Hodge. “They filtered information to us on what’s worked in the past and helped us with how the event could function and be beneficial to everyone.”

She continued, “And then the Autism Society of Central Virginia kind of spearheaded the event, bringing their members out and creating a member event that would work for them and function well for their group.”

Hodge explained that several adjustments were made for the day, including adjusting the volume in the dining area in an effort to make the environment comfortable for its participants.

Hodge indicated the afternoon’s success underscored the fundamental philosophy at Colonial Downs.

“It’s a good way [for the Autistic community] to be introduced into a new environment where the kids may really enjoy spending the day and seeing there’s an opportunity to come out to the racetrack,” said Hodge. “Even if we’re not hosting a big event, they can come out on any day and have a great time.”

The post Colonial Downs Hosts Inaugural Autism-Friendly Day at the Races appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Knightsbridge Will Go Next in the Pacific Classic

---

Coming off a sensational performance in the GIII Monmouth Cup in which he earned a 122 Beyer figure, Knightsbridge (Nyquist), will head west to contest the Aug. 22 GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar for his next start.

The 1 1/4-mile race will be another test for a horse who, before the nine-furlong Monmouth Cup, had never gone beyond a mile.

“We’d love to try to win a Grade I with him,” trainer Bill Mott said. “He’s done a lot and proven that he’s a talented horse. Naturally, with his being a a stallion prospect, winning a Grade I would go a long way toward enhancing his value.”

Mott kept Knightsbridge at shorter distances for the first 10 starts of his career and was rewarded with wins in the GIII Gulfstream Park Mile, the GIII Fred Hooper and the GIII Mr. Prospector Stakes. After a poor effort in the GI Churchilll Downs Stakes, he ran second in the GI Metropolitan Handicap at a mile.

“If you ask the question why did we keep him at a mile and seven eighths, we had never been in a situation where we had him fit enough to run longer because his races were spread apart,” Mott said. “He had some big gaps between his races. When we went to Florida in the wintertime, they had that group of one-mile races that we ran in. Once you look at it, it’s pretty self-explanatory.”

With his winning the Monmouth Cup by 10 1/4 lengths and earning the fastest Beyer any horse has posted this year, it may be that what Knightsbridge wanted all along was to go two turns and a longer distance. But Mott realizes that there is no guarantee that the 1 1/4 miles will be a good fit. He will also have to prove that he can beat Nysos (Nyquist), who is also pointing for the Pacific Classic and defeated Knightsbridge in the Met Mile.

“If there was a 1 1/8-mile race out there other than the Whitney, we’d probably go for that rather than the mile and a quarter,” Mott said. “There are a lot of unknowns about this. They say never bet on a horse that hasn’t proven they can do it before. He’s never done it before. We will be in a learning process. This will be a fact-finding mission. There are a lot of unknowns about what we are doing.”

Should Knightsbridge pass the test in the Pacific Classic, that could set him up for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. Mott also has Classic contenders in 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and Baeza (McKinzie). Mott understands that a lot has to go right for Knightsbridge to make the Classic, but he also knows that he has a very talented horse on his hands.

“You saw what he did at Monmouth,” the Hall of Fame trainer said. “He ran a 122 Beyer. Those numbers have to mean something. He’s able to go fast. We know that. It will be a matter of whether he can replicate that against horses like Sovereignty, Baeza, White Abarrio, Magnitude. You never know.  Class comes into play. He beat a nice horse at Monmouth in Skippylongstocking, but maybe it wasn’t Skippy’s best day. I’m trying to be realistic about it.”

So far as having so many top older horses, Mott remains cautiously optimistic.

“We want to do the best we can with each one and it’s a big challenge because there are some nice horses out there,” he said. “If you think you’ve got the measure of the older horses, then you still have to deal with the good 3-year-olds. It’s always challenging. This seems to be a very good group.”

The post Knightsbridge Will Go Next in the Pacific Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Colonial Downs Hosts Inaugural Autism-Friendly Day at the Races

---

In a joint effort between Colonial Park and the Autism Society of Central Virginia, the New Kent oval hosted its first Autism-inclusive ‘Summer Shindig’ on Sunday, July 26. Approximately 200 families attended where organizers provided sensory games, community activities and an inclusive environment for attendees.

“Everyone’s welcome at Colonial Downs,” said Colonial Downs Racing Marketing Manager Bella Hodge when asked about the day’s mission. “We love having all different types of groups out to the track and showing everybody that there is a place at the track for everyone.”

Attendees also enjoyed access to complimentary Jockey Club dining accommodations, stick horse races, a petting zoo in addition to having a race named for organization. Additionally, the group had the opportunity to meet racetrack announcer Jason Beem as well as receiving an impromptu tour of the TV control room.

“Jason explained his whole process–his colored pencils, coloring the silks before the race and the binoculars were a highlight for those members that got to come up,” Hodge explained. Then the camera guys and the TV crew invited them into the studio. They gave them a closer look at the cameras and let them see the TV control room, which was probably the highlight of the day, for me at least. It was cool.

According to Hodge, the U.K.’s Autism In Racing’s vast experience at hosting Autism-friendly events at racecourses proved invaluable in organizing its inaugural event stateside.

“Autism In Racing gave me a lot of good ideas,” said Hodge. “They filtered information to us on what’s worked in the past and helped us with how the event could function and be beneficial to everyone.”

She continued, “And then the Autism Society of Central Virginia kind of spearheaded the event, bringing their members out and creating a member event that would work for them and function well for their group.”

Hodge explained that several adjustments were made for the day, including adjusting the volume in the dining area in an effort to make the environment comfortable for its participants.

Hodge indicated the afternoon’s success underscored the fundamental philosophy at Colonial Downs.

“It’s a good way [for the Autistic community] to be introduced into a new environment where the kids may really enjoy spending the day and seeing there’s an opportunity to come out to the racetrack,” said Hodge. “Even if we’re not hosting a big event, they can come out on any day and have a great time.”

The post Colonial Downs Hosts Inaugural Autism-Friendly Day at the Races appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Knightsbridge Will Go Next in the Pacific Classic

---

Coming off a sensational performance in the GIII Monmouth Cup in which he earned a 122 Beyer figure, Knightsbridge (Nyquist), will head west to contest the Aug. 22 GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar for his next start.

The 1 1/4-mile race will be another test for a horse who, before the nine-furlong Monmouth Cup, had never gone beyond a mile.

“We’d love to try to win a Grade I with him,” trainer Bill Mott said. “He’s done a lot and proven that he’s a talented horse. Naturally, with his being a a stallion prospect, winning a Grade I would go a long way toward enhancing his value.”

Mott kept Knightsbridge at shorter distances for the first 10 starts of his career and was rewarded with wins in the GIII Gulfstream Park Mile, the GIII Fred Hooper and the GIII Mr. Prospector Stakes. After a poor effort in the GI Churchilll Downs Stakes, he ran second in the GI Metropolitan Handicap at a mile.

“If you ask the question why did we keep him at a mile and seven eighths, we had never been in a situation where we had him fit enough to run longer because his races were spread apart,” Mott said. “He had some big gaps between his races. When we went to Florida in the wintertime, they had that group of one-mile races that we ran in. Once you look at it, it’s pretty self-explanatory.”

With his winning the Monmouth Cup by 10 1/4 lengths and earning the fastest Beyer any horse has posted this year, it may be that what Knightsbridge wanted all along was to go two turns and a longer distance. But Mott realizes that there is no guarantee that the 1 1/4 miles will be a good fit. He will also have to prove that he can beat Nysos (Nyquist), who is also pointing for the Pacific Classic and defeated Knightsbridge in the Met Mile.

“If there was a 1 1/8-mile race out there other than the Whitney, we’d probably go for that rather than the mile and a quarter,” Mott said. “There are a lot of unknowns about this. They say never bet on a horse that hasn’t proven they can do it before. He’s never done it before. We will be in a learning process. This will be a fact-finding mission. There are a lot of unknowns about what we are doing.”

Should Knightsbridge pass the test in the Pacific Classic, that could set him up for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. Mott also has Classic contenders in 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and Baeza (McKinzie). Mott understands that a lot has to go right for Knightsbridge to make the Classic, but he also knows that he has a very talented horse on his hands.

“You saw what he did at Monmouth,” the Hall of Fame trainer said. “He ran a 122 Beyer. Those numbers have to mean something. He’s able to go fast. We know that. It will be a matter of whether he can replicate that against horses like Sovereignty, Baeza, White Abarrio, Magnitude. You never know.  Class comes into play. He beat a nice horse at Monmouth in Skippylongstocking, but maybe it wasn’t Skippy’s best day. I’m trying to be realistic about it.”

So far as having so many top older horses, Mott remains cautiously optimistic.

“We want to do the best we can with each one and it’s a big challenge because there are some nice horses out there,” he said. “If you think you’ve got the measure of the older horses, then you still have to deal with the good 3-year-olds. It’s always challenging. This seems to be a very good group.”

The post Knightsbridge Will Go Next in the Pacific Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.