Jockey and Trainer Titles To Be Decided Closing Week at Colonial Downs
Posted on September 4th, 2024
New Kent, Va (Sept. 4, 2024) – The race for the 2024 champion jockey and trainer titles at Colonial Downs will come down to the final four days of the season, running from Wednesday through Saturday. Jockey Ben Curtis holds a narrow lead over Antonio Gallardo 22 to 20, while trainers Mike Stidham and Mike Trombetta are knotted at the top with 12 apiece.
In his first local meet, Curtis has achieved a strike rate of 19% and $1,192,688 in earnings. The native of Ireland is not only a newcomer to Colonial Downs, but also to the United States. The 2021 British All-Weather Champion with more than 1,000 wins in England moved his tack across the pond in the fall of 2023. After racking up 43 wins at Fair Grounds, finishing fourth in the standings, Curtis earned a coveted mount in the Kentucky Derby aboard Honor Marie after piloting him to a second-place finish in the Louisiana Derby.
Curtis has mounts in 26 of the final 42 races, but Gallardo, last year’s top jock is named to ride in 30 local races this week. With their closest competitors at 16 wins, it would take a very hot hand to surpass Curtis and Gallardo at the top.
In the trainer standings, Stidham and Trombetta are tied, but Trombetta has more chances with entries in 11 races between Wednesday and Saturday. Stidham has entries in nine affairs and Curtis is named to ride all of them.
Trombetta’s first local title came last year. Stidham is on the hunt for his fourth. With 10 wins and runners in 14 races, conditioner Brittany Russell should not be counted out.
Wednesday will kick-off a four-day race week to close the 2024 meet. Post time for Friday’s card has been moved up to 3:00 p.m. ET. New Kent County Virginia Derby Day is Saturday, September 7. Six stakes will be on the 12-race program led by the Grade 3 $500,000 New Kent County Virginia Derby. First post on Saturday is 1:00 p.m. ET.
