jill byrne | Horse Racing Free Tips

Retired Trainer Peter Howe Dies at 83

Retired trainer Peter Howe, one of just four people to train an American champion over jumps and on the flat, and the father of Colonial Downs Vice President of Racing Jill Byrne, died Thursday night in Charlottesville, Va. He was 83.

Howe was born in Hartford, Conn., and became an accomplished rider of show horses–competing at Madison Square Garden, the Washington International Horse Show and other top venues–before transitioning to racehorses.

Training mainly for Marion du Pont Scott's Montpelier Stable, Howe conditioned a small but quality stable of flat and steeplechase horses.

The Howe-trained Soothsayer won an Eclipse Award as champion steeplechaser in 1972, and in 1976, Howe conditioned Montpelier's Proud Delta to the older filly/mare divisional championship.

Soothsayer and Proud Delta put Howe in rare company–with Jonathan Sheppard, Sidney Watters Jr. and Jim Ryan–as the only trainers to prepare American champions on the flat and over jumps.

Howe, whose father Walter was an American diplomat and the U.S. Ambassador to Chile under President Dwight Eisenhower, lived at Red Horse Farm near the Montpelier property in Barboursville, Va. Survivors include Byrne, son Jeffrey Howe and his wife Christy, daughter Debby Howe and grandchildren Devon Byrne, William Vanderlinde and Emma and Owen Howe.

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Colonial Downs, Virginia HBPA Present $66,000 Check to TAA

Colonial Downs and the Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) presented a check for $66,000 to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) on Virginia Derby Day, which was held Sept. 6.

“Colonial Downs is once again proud to support the TAA during our record-breaking 2022 racing season,” said Jill Byrne, vice-president of racing operations at Colonial Downs. “The care of horses, both during and after their racing careers, is of the utmost importance and the TAA does such a great job to make sure this is accomplished. We were delighted to have TAA on site at the Virginia Derby and happy to present an even larger check than in past years.”

Since 2019, Colonial Downs and the Virginia HBPA have each pledged $15 per start at the Colonial Downs meet to the TAA.

The TAA also hosted the Best Turned Out Horse Awards on Virginia Derby Day, sponsored by the Virginia HBPA, providing a cash prize and gift bag to the winning groom of the Best Turned Out Horse for each of the six stakes races on the card.

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Colonials Downs Daily All-Sources Wagering Up 30% Through First Five Weeks

Spearheaded by competitive fields on both of its racing surfaces and continued high interest in its Pick 5 wager, officials at Colonial Downs revealed Monday that the average all-sources wagering through the first five weeks of the 27-day Colonial Downs presented by Woodford Reserve race meeting is up 30.7% over the same corresponding time period of the 2021 meet; the $2,625,248 through the first 15 days of the meeting, compared to $2,008,092 through the first 15 days last year.

A total of $1,113,614 was bet into the sixth race Aug. 9 at Colonial Downs, which is the highest non-Virginia Derby single race pool in the history of the track and contributed to a meet-high daily handle of $4,158,874.

“We are delighted with the response thus far from fans from around the country who are enthusiastically wagering on our high-quality racing product, featuring horses from some of racing's most familiar trainers and competition among top jockeys,” said Jill Byrne, Colonial Downs Vice President of Racing Operations. “Our Pick 5 has been wildly successful since we reduced takeout to 12% on the bet this year. We look forward to continued success for the second half of the meet resuming on August 15.”

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Colonial Downs Announces $3.5-Million Stakes Schedule

Colonial Downs Racing presented by Woodford Reserve, which kicks off its 27-day “More Racing, More Money and More Fun” Thoroughbred racing season July 11, has unveiled a $3.5-million stakes schedule highlighted by the 19th running of the GIII Virginia Derby.

In all, 24 stakes will be contested over the nine-week campaign, 20 of which are scheduled for the Secretariat Turf Course, the widest grass racing surface in the country. Purses for the 2022 stakes program will increase by $850,000 over 2021 totaling over $3.5 million in stakes dollars up for grabs. Racing will take place every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. (EDT) through Sep. 7.

Daily average purse monies will rise to $600,000 for the summer from $522,000 in 2021. Maiden special weight races will carry a $60,000 purse. The highly successful 2021 meet awarded a total of $10.4 million in purse monies and average field size was a healthy 8.36 starters per race.

“With increased purses, an expanded stakes schedule and more race days, we are looking forward to hosting horsemen and women, players and patrons from across the country again this season,” said Jill Byrne, Vice President Racing Operations. “Colonial Downs offers a fantastic facility for horses and staff and two of the best surfaces known for safety and sound returns to the barn.”

The $300,000 Virginia Derby headlines a showcase day on Tuesday, Sept. 6 which also includes four undercard turf stakes. The Mid Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship (MATCH) Series returns for a second straight year Aug. 16 with a quartet of stakes worth a combined $600,000.

“Our horsemen are chomping at the bit for more summer racing with great purses at Colonial,” said Frank Petramalo, Virginia HBPA Executive Director. “To help horsemen get good stable help, the VHBPA is sponsoring formal training programs for hot walkers and grooms. The VHBPA will also offer its usual benevolence programs, including medical/dental benefits, recreational programs, and our chaplaincy.”

The complete stakes schedule, along with stall applications for the upcoming meet, can be found at www.colonialdowns.com/horsemen.

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