La Rinconada Races Wrap Up First Meeting of 2026 with Record Payouts and Surprise Winners

CARACAS — The first meeting of Venezuela’s 2026 thoroughbred season closed in dramatic fashion at Hipódromo La Rinconada on Sunday, April 26, with a 10-race card that delivered a record-breaking payout for bettors and a career-defining victory for one of the track’s rising stars.

Princesa Fina, a three-year-old filly trained by Humberto Correia Jr., stole the show in the Copa Negresco—the fifth race of the day and the opening leg of the lucrative 5-and-6 wager—by outdueling a field of colts to secure her first major stakes win. The victory not only cemented her status as a contender for the season but also triggered a historic payout for the national betting pool.

The Day’s Highlights: Standout Performances and Record Payouts

The 18th meeting of the year at La Rinconada, held under clear skies and fast track conditions, drew a capacity crowd to the Coche oval, where fans witnessed a mix of tactical brilliance and unexpected upsets. Here’s how the day unfolded:

Princesa Fina’s Breakthrough in the Copa Negresco

Ridden by jockey Robert Capriles, Princesa Fina dominated the Copa Negresco, a 1,600-meter race for three-year-olds and up. The filly’s victory was particularly notable given the competition: she bested a field that included several colts, a rarity in Venezuelan racing where fillies are often reserved for sex-restricted events. Her win marked her second stakes victory of the season and her first in a mixed-gender field, a feat that has drawn comparisons to past champions like Gran Estefanía, who famously won the 2018 Clásico Internacional Presidenta de la República against male rivals.

“This was a tactical race from the start,” said Correia Jr. In a post-race interview with Meridiano.net. “Princesa Fina has the speed to close hard, and Robert [Capriles] knew exactly when to produce his move. She’s a special filly.”

The 5-and-6 Wager: A Record-Breaking Pool

The Copa Negresco served as the first leg of the day’s 5-and-6 wager, a pari-mutuel betting system that requires bettors to correctly pick the winners of five or six consecutive races. The pool for Sunday’s 5-and-6 reached a staggering Bs. 365,778,440 (approximately $10.2 million USD at the official exchange rate), the largest in La Rinconada’s history for a single meeting. Of that total, Bs. 51,208,981.60 was distributed to bettors who correctly picked five winners, even as those who hit all six took home Bs. 197,520,357.60—a life-changing sum for the handful of lucky winners.

The 5-and-6 wager is a cornerstone of Venezuelan racing, often drawing bettors from across the country and even neighboring nations. Its popularity stems from the high payouts and the strategic depth required to pick winners across multiple races, where factors like track conditions, jockey changes, and late scratches can dramatically alter outcomes.

Jockeys and Trainers Shine

While Princesa Fina’s victory was the headline, other riders and trainers also left their mark on the day:

• Jaime Lugo was the day’s most successful jockey, securing three wins aboard Queen Dragons (third race), El Gran Barlovento (fourth race), and the imported mare Dance To Remember (USA) (sixth race). Lugo’s versatility was on full display, as he guided horses with varying running styles to victory.
• David Palencia and Riccardo D’Angelo tied as the top trainers of the day, each notching two wins. Palencia’s victories came with Reina Fabricia and Queen Dragons, while D’Angelo’s horses, El Gran Barlovento and Dance To Remember, both delivered under pressure in high-stakes races.
• Oliver Medina, a rising apprentice jockey, and Riccardo D’Angelo were crowned the champions of the first meeting of the 2026 season, a title that carries prestige and often leads to increased mounts for the remainder of the year.

The Clásico Internacional Presidenta de la República: Tango and Glory

The feature race of the day, the Clásico Internacional Presidenta de la República (Grade I), lived up to its billing as the most prestigious event of the meeting. The 2,000-meter race for three-year-olds and up attracted a deep field of local and imported talent, including the Argentine-bred Preposition, who entered the race as the favorite after a dominant win in the Clásico Simón Bolívar earlier this month.

Jockey Paoloni and Preposition delivered a masterclass in race tactics, executing a perfect late surge to overtake the front-running Tango D’Amor in the final 200 meters. The victory was Paoloni’s third in the Clásico Internacional Presidenta de la República, tying him with legendary Venezuelan jockey Juan Vicente Tovar for the most wins in the race’s modern era.

“Preposition is a horse that thrives under pressure,” Paoloni said after the race. “He knows when to turn it on, and today he showed why he’s one of the best in South America.”

What’s Next for La Rinconada and Venezuela’s Racing Season

Sunday’s meeting marked the conclusion of the first meeting of the 2026 season, but the action at La Rinconada is far from over. The track will now transition into its second meeting, which is scheduled to begin on May 10, 2026, with a new set of stakes races and betting opportunities. Among the most anticipated events is the Clásico República de Venezuela, a Grade I race that serves as a key prep for the Clásico Simón Bolívar, Venezuela’s most prestigious thoroughbred race.

For Princesa Fina, the next step is likely the Clásico Hipódromo La Rinconada, a 1,800-meter race for fillies and mares that could set her up for a tilt at the Clásico Criadores later in the year. Her victory in the Copa Negresco has made her a favorite among bettors, and her connections will be looking to capitalize on her momentum.

As for the 5-and-6 wager, bettors can expect similarly high stakes in the coming weeks, with the pool’s size often swelling as the season progresses and more fans engage with the sport. The next 5-and-6 wager will begin with the fifth race of the May 10 meeting, and early indications suggest that the track’s management is already preparing for another record-breaking turnout.

Key Takeaways from Sunday’s Meeting

• Princesa Fina’s Historic Win: The three-year-old filly became the first female horse to win the Copa Negresco against a field of colts, marking a career-defining victory for her and her connections.
• Record-Breaking Payouts: The 5-and-6 wager pool reached Bs. 365,778,440, with Bs. 197,520,357.60 distributed to bettors who correctly picked all six winners.
• Jockey and Trainer Dominance: Jaime Lugo led all jockeys with three wins, while David Palencia and Riccardo D’Angelo tied for the most wins among trainers with two apiece.
• Clásico Internacional Presidenta de la República: Paoloni and Preposition delivered a flawless performance to win the day’s feature race, further solidifying their status as one of Venezuela’s top jockey-horse duos.
• First Meeting Champions: Apprentice jockey Oliver Medina and trainer Riccardo D’Angelo were crowned the champions of the first meeting of the 2026 season.

How to Follow the Action

For fans looking to stay updated on the latest from La Rinconada and Venezuela’s thoroughbred racing scene, here are the best resources:

• Official Race Results: Hipódromo La Rinconada’s official website provides real-time results, race replays, and betting information.
• Betting and Odds: MeridianoBet, the track’s official betting partner, offers live odds, race analysis, and the ability to place bets online.
• News and Analysis: Meridiano.net covers Venezuelan racing with in-depth articles, jockey interviews, and expert predictions.

The next meeting at La Rinconada begins on May 10, 2026, with the first race post time scheduled for 2:00 PM local time (6:30 PM UTC). Don’t miss the chance to witness the next chapter of Venezuela’s thrilling thoroughbred season.

What was your favorite moment from Sunday’s races? Did you have a bet on the 5-and-6 wager? Share your thoughts in the comments below or on social media using #LaRinconada2026.