The $600,000 Virginia Derby (Gr. II) is the richest and most important race on the Virginia racing calendar. In addition to being one of the largest social events in Virginia it also annually attracts the best 3-year-old turf horses, jockeys and trainers in the nation, including two champions and three Breeders' Cup winners in just the last five years! Nearly 8,000 racing fans packed the track for the 2009 Virginia Derby!
Two Great Party Options: |
|
Only $30 if you order in advance!
1 table with 4 chairs $200, price includes 4 Party Zone tickets and table. Only a few umbrella tables left! Call 804-966-7223, ext 1032, for more info or to reserve one. |
 
Party with Hooters and the Richmond Ski Club in a BYOB Derby Day Bash in the track's first turn area! Bring your own alcoholic beverages, cooler, food, grill, tent & chairs and set up your own party in Colonial’s first turn picnic area for only $10! Purchase your tickets by June 1st for only $5 and save 50%! The first turn area includes betting windows, television monitors and a mini jumbotron. Enjoy a Hooters chicken wing eating contest & the Virginia Lottery Fancy Hat Contest on the first turn stage. Purchase your ticket before June 1st for only $5 per ticket. Price will go up to $10 on June 1st and tickets purchased on Derby Day will cost you $20. Get yours early and SAVE BIG!!! $5 Before June 1st
Or purchase at any Richmond Hooters restaurant, or any of these other locations: Peter Glenn Ski & Sport Ski Center Cafe Diem Classic Sandwiches & Subs |
| You may also call (804) 966-7223 ext 1032 to purchase tickets above or from the Online Store | |
Join thousands of your friends for the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs and celebrate Derby Day with food, drinks and plenty of fun! The Virginia Derby Party Zone is an all inclusive trackside ticket to the seasons biggest day.
Enjoy all the trackside perks along with a reserved umbrella table and 4 chairs!! You will be as close to the track as you can get without getting dirt on your shoes!
General Admission
Access to the first floor grandstand and trackside areas. | Reserved Grandstand Seats
Covered grandstand seating to the left & right of the box seats only steps away from bars and betting windows! | Box Seats
Covered seating overlooking the finish line, with betting windows and a bar steps from your seat, along with limited food service! |
Jockey Club Dining Room
Reserved table seating on the third level. Enjoy great food and simulcasting on your party's personal TV or on any of the over 50 other public TV's placed throughout the Jockey Club! | Jockey Club Lounge
Bar / Lounge seating available on a first-come first-serve basis on Derby Day ONLY. | Turf Club
Reserved table or bar seating on the fourth level. Watch the races from the Turf Club's outdoor balcony overlooking the finish line! This year enjoy our Turf Club Buffet included with admission. |
| Call (804) 966-7223 ext 1032 to purchase tickets above. |
Derby Week Events
Monday, July 12th - Virginia Post Position Draw at Hooters Restaurant - 7912 Broad Street in Richmond (between Glenside & Parham Roads), 1:30 PM. Come see the actual draw take place for the 13th running of the $600,000 Virginia Derby, scheduled for July 17th at Colonial Downs. Prize giveaways & more!
Tuesday, July 13th - Virginia Derby "Steal The Glass Night" at Capital Ale House locations from 4-8 PM. Buy a pint of the featured beer and take home the souvenir Colonial Downs-Virginia Derby pint glass it is served in! Colonial Downs will have staff at all 4 sites to conduct prize giveaways & give out souvenirs.
Wednesday, July 14th - Innsbrook After Hours with Blake Shelton. Stop by the Colonial Downs booth and register to win Virginia Derby tickets and other great prizes!
Thursday, July 15 - Sixth annual Shannon Campbell/Disabled Jockeys' Fund Benefit Golf Tournament at Royal New Kent Golf Course. An official Virginia Derby week event, get a foursome together for a great time and most importantly, to support a great cause! Click here for details.
Special Derby Day Events:
Virginia Lottery Fancy Hat Contest
| 11:00 AM | Registration begins. Choose one of 7 categories:
|
| 2:00 PM | Registration for Hat Contest closes (after 4th race). |
| 2:25 PM | (after 5th race) - Judging of Best Home-made & Most Outrageous on winners circle stage. Top 3 in each category will win $100 in Virginia Lottery tickets. Bill Bevins, Shelley Perkins & Miss Virginia will be judges |
| 2:55 PM | (after 6th race) - Judging of The Southern Belle & The True Couture on winners circle stage. Top 3 in each category will win $100 in tickets. |
| 3:23 PM | (after 7th race) - Judging of The Derby Male & Most Eco-Friendly on winners circle stage. Top 3 in each category will win $100 in tix. |
| 3:51 PM | (after 8th race) - Judging of Best Virginia Themed Hat on winners circle stage. Top 3 win $100 in tix. |
| 6:00 PM | Virginia Derby race! |
| 7:00 PM | Racing ends. |
Schedule Changes:
The Virginia Derby 5K Running Race & Fun Run, scheduled for July 10th at the New Kent Winery, has been cancelled. The race will return in 2011.
Stay tuned as schedules are being finalized and details become available.
Sponsored by:
2009 Viginia Derby / Turf Cup Recap
Battle of Hastings Wins BOTH the 2009 Colonial Turf Cup AND the 2009 Virginia Derby! Congrats.
Virginia Derby Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Time | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
| 2010 | Paddy O'Prado | 2:02.58 | Kent J. Desormeaux | Dale Romans | Donegal Racing |
| 2009 | Battle of Hastings | 2:03.10 | Tyler Baze | Jeff Mullins | Mike House |
| 2008 | Gio Ponti | 2:02.22 | Garrett K. Gomez | Christophe Clement | Castleton Lyons |
| 2007 | Red Giant | 1:59.62 | Horacio Karamanos | Todd Pletcher | Peachtree Stables |
| 2006 | Go Between | 1:59.74 | Garret Gomez | Bill Mott | Peter Vegso |
| 2005 | English Channel | 2:02.57 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | James Scatuorchio |
| 2004 | Kitten’s Joy | 2:01.22 | Edgar Prado | Dale Romans | Ken and Sarah Ramsey |
| 2003 | Silver Tree | 2:01.11 | Edgar Prado | Bill Mott | Peter Vegso |
| 2002 | Orchard Park | 2:03.10 | Edgar Prado | Bill Mott | Peter Vegso |
| 2001 | Potaro | 2:02.18 | Brent Bartram | Jonathan Sheppard | Augustin Stable |
| 2000 | Lightning Paces | 2:02.18 | Greg Hutton | John Robb | Tulip Hill Farm |
| 1999 | Phi Beta Doc | 1:59.97 | Ramon Dominguez | Robert W. Leonard | Dennis Foster and Robert Leonard |
| 1998 | Crowd Pleaser | 2:00.28 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Jonathan Sheppard | Augustin Stable |
Virginia Derby Records
| Stakes Record: | Largest Winning Margin: | Best Winning Beyer: |
| 1:59.62 – Red Giant | 3¼ lengths – English Channel | 108 – Kitten’s Joy |
| Most Wins, Jockey: | Most Wins, Trainer: | Most Wins, Owner: |
| 3 – Edgar Prado | 3 – Bill Mott | 3 – Peter Vegso |
| Largest Win Mutuel: | Largest Attendance: | Largest On-track Handle: |
| $76.00 – Red Giant | 9,061 – 2008 | $753,681 - 2007 |
| Largest Total Handle: | ||
| $4,546,755.66 – 2008 |
RSS | 
Facebook Fan Page | 
Flickr | 
YouTube| 
Twitter© Colonial Downs 2010