Thoroughbred horse trainer Woodberry Payne’s lifelong interest in steeplechase racing — as a trainer initially — led him to switch gears 17 years ago and attend stewards school at the request of the National Steeplechase Association (NSA). He embraced the coursework, got certified and from that point, gave up training jumpers and became a racing official instead. That’s why he is so excited about this Thursday’s (July 10) opening week card at Colonial Downs — which features a trio of jump races beginning at 10:45 AM. Purses range from between $40,000 – $60,000 and all the races will be available to wager at the track and via simulcast.
“The purse structure is top level especially with maiden races at a $60,000 level,” he said. “The first three races all filled and the maidens overfilled. It has created interest and enthusiasm. Combine that with the great stakes program for fillies and it fills a certain spot in the market that Colonial holds uniquely, just like the Turf Festival that includes the Arlington Million and the spring Virginia Derby card.”
As the summer thoroughbred meet in New Kent continues, six other Thursday jump days are scheduled. In all, there will be 18 NSA races over jumps, one flat race featuring jumpers — which was very popular last year — and a pair of $100,000 steeplechase stakes for fillies & mares.
“We’ve got a great program going,” said Payne. “We’re complementing the Saratoga program which has six races and meshes together with ours nicely to create a very productive summer. The Colonial races now provide a near year-round steeplechase program in Virginia. Previously, a trainer had a hard time making it work because things shut down over summer.”
This time of year, Payne’s schedule can get quite hectic. In addition to running his 80-horse Ingleside Training Center in Montpelier Station — where many of his New York & New Jersey clients ship babies in to become Virginia-Certified — he has a 12-horse stable at Rosie’s Gaming and Colonial Downs, travels to Saratoga to work their Wednesday jump race, then takes a flight back to Richmond in time for Colonial’s Thursday morning jump races.
“It keeps my itinerary full,” he said. “I feel like I live in a triangle sometimes between the farm — which is a 90-minute drive from Colonial, the track itself in New Kent, then Saratoga. I make a living by training flat horses. The Virginia Certified residency program has benefitted us all. I’m getting calls from New York clients to run their horses here now. But I have a love of jumpers too — I’ve been around them in some form my whole life. They are two different worlds but I’m equally attached to both.”
Payne is optimistic about the way jump racing has rebounded from Covid. “It certainly was a terrible setback to the program,” he noted. “Funding from hunt meets comes from attendance and corporate sponsorship and that has made a nice comeback. The crowds are back. It was refreshing to see the Gold Cup return to where they used to be this past May with thousands of fans in attendance.”
