Colonial $2M bonus approved

Colonial Downs in Virginia has received approval from horsemen and the state racing commission for a bonus linked to four turf races that would award more than $2 million to any horse that wins all four stakes, Colonial's general manager, John Mooney, said Thursday.

The series would link the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup on June 25 at Colonial; the $750,000 Virginia Derby on July 16, also at Colonial; the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes on Aug. 13 at Arlington Park; and the $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf. All of the races are restricted to 3-year-olds, with the exception of the Breeders' Cup Turf.

The bonus would be structured so that the winning horse's connections would get $5 million total in purses and bonuses. The winner's purse share for the four races would total approximately $2.2 million, making the bonus approximately $2.8 million.

Jacobs Investments, a company owned by Colonial's chief executive, Jeff Jacobs, will fund a portion of the bonus, according to Mooney. An insurance policy will cover the remainder.