Virginia Derby

July 13, 2013

Virginia Derby 2013About

The $500,000 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!

Parties start at 3 PM — Post time is 5 PM

Xfinity Home Party Zone

Enjoy the 16th running of the $500,000 Virginia Derby in Colonial Downs' all-inclusive Xfinity Home Trackside Party Zone.

$30 Trackside Party Zone ticket
Includes Derby Day admission, program, tip sheet, a delicious North Carolina barbecue dinner, live party music with Groove Train, a Virginia Derby soft sided beverage cooler & a Virginia Derby baseball cap!

Click here to purchase tickets.

$200 Trackside Xfinity Home Party Zone Reserved Table (Seated)
Purchase a reserved trackside table for 4 and get all the same Party Zone benefits with your own umbrella table and chairs waiting for you!

Click here to purchase tickets.

Thrill on the Hill

Enjoy the 16th running of the $500,000 Virginia Derby in Colonial Downs' first turn BYOB Party Area – sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings & the Richmond Ski Club

"Thrill on the Hill" ticket
Includes track admission & access to the first turn BYOB area. Bring your own pop up tents, portable chairs, grills, coolers, food & alcoholic beverages! We'll have a giant betting tent set up, port-a-johns and a mini-jumbotron to see racing action.

Buffalo Wild Wings will be on site selling chicken wings & other great food in case you don’t want to bring your own. They’ll also host a Chicken Wing Eating Contest – register at the event.

*New Fan Education program set up called “Night School”, where 3 top handicappers from around the country will be based near the wagering tent providing guidance to new & experience bettors alike!

Advance Tickets - $10; Day of -$20; Kids 12 & under are free. Click here to purchase tickets.

Tailgate in the Turn
The Tailgate in the Turn takes place adjacent to “Thrill on the Hill” and allows cars to park & tailgate (in what Nascar fans would refer to as the “Turn 2” area).

Tickets are $50 per car & includes Derby Day & “Thrill” admission for all passengers. Click here to purchase tickets.

*No glass containers allowed

Richmond Ski Club

 



Other Happenings

Virginia Derby Fancy Hat Contest

Wear your favorite, most unique or most outrageous and compete for prizes! Hosted by Bill Bevins & Shelly Perkins of Lite 98, and Miss Virginia!

 

2012 Virginia Derby Recap

Silver Max Wins 6th Straight Race in Saturday's Virginia Derby

July 21, 2012

(NEW KENT, VA) — Silver Max continued his string of impressive turf outings with a one length victory over Lucky Chappy in Saturday’s $600,000 Virginia Derby (Gr. II) for three year olds at soggy Colonial Downs.

The 3 year old Badge of Silver colt had won five straight turf races in gate to wire fashion, each at a different track and each with a different jockey. Robby Albarado guided Silver Max in the second of those in the Grade III Transylvania Stakes at Churchill and he returned to the irons at Colonial Saturday.

He broke from post six and nearly led all the way except for a brief period at the three-quarter mark when Two Months Rent stuck a head in front. Silver Max shook that off, opened a two length margin at the top of the stretch over stablemate Finnegan’s Wake then held on for the win over fast closing Lucky Chappy.

Silver Max, who had not run at a distance longer than 1 1/6th miles prior to Saturday, covered the 1 ¼ mile stakes in 2:04.05 over a yielding turf course. The winner, co-owned Mark Bacon and Dana Wells, returned $3.80 and completed an All Stakes Pick-5 wager.

With the win, trainer Dale Romans captured his third Virginia Derby tying Bill Mott for the most Derby triumphs. Romans previously scored with Paddy O’ Prado in 2010 and Kitten’s Joy in 2004. Nearing the end of a whirlwind day, Romans started in Saratoga and caught a plane to Delaware Park after the third race with jockeys Ramon Dominguez and Alan Garcia. After a pair of races at Delaware, the trio flew into the New Kent, Virginia airport in time for the 8:38 PM (EDT) Derby. Romans was slated to fly back to Saratoga where he noted, “I have champagne on ice waiting.”

Albarado also connected in the Grade III $150,000 Virginia Oaks atop Volcat, the evening’s other graded stakes race. Fresh off a pair of impressive turf allowance efforts at Churchill, Volcat bobbled at the break Saturday but rebounded quickly into second behind Boastful Dancer. The After Market filly took control at three-quarters and held on for a half length win over Filare I’Oro in 1:52.18.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

Virginia Derby Past Winners

Year Winner Time Jockey Trainer Owner
2011 Air Support 2:00.80 Alex Solis Claude McGaughey Stuart Janney
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 10,150 – 2011 $753,681 - 2007
     
Largest Total Handle:    
$4,546,755.66 – 2008