Racing News | Colonial Downs Racetrack

New Kent County Virginia Derby Attracts 47 Nominations and Fasig-Tipton Virginia Oaks Gets 34 Nominations As Outstanding August 31 Stakes Program Takes Shape at Colonial Downs

Topped by horses from nationally prominent trainers like multiple Eclipse Award winner Todd Pletcher, Dale Romans, Graham Motion, Mike Maker, Dallas Stewart, Ian Wilkes and Joe Sharp, the return of the Grade III $250,000 New Kent County Virginia Derby attracted 47 three-year-olds. It’s sister race, the listed $150,000 Fasig-Tipton Virginia Oaks boasts 34 sophomore fillies […]

Colonial Downs Broadcasting in High Definition for 2019 Meet

Colonial Downs, which opened on August 8 for its first live race meet since 2013, is broadcasting races this year in high definition. The signal upgrade was assisted through The Jockey Club High Definition (HD) Grant Fund. Stuart S. Janney III, chairman of The Jockey Club, announced the creation of the HD Grant Fund at […]

Extravagant Kid and Mr. Jagermeister Take Down Saturday Stakes at Colonial Downs

“It’s just wonderful to see a great horse win a great race,” Ross said. “We actually had a horse years ago win this race when it was written at a mile called Pass Play. This horse has not won only here but he’s won at Churchill, he’s won at Woodbine and he won at Saratoga […]

Dirt And Turf Sprint Stakes Headline Saturday’s (Aug. 17th) Ten Race Card At Colonial Downs

Saturday’s card at Colonial Downs is topped by a pair of open stakes – the $100,000 Chesapeake Stakes for older runners on the main track and its turf counterpart, the $75,000 Da Hoss at 5 ½ furlongs on turf. The 10-race program kicks off at 5 PM. The Chesapeake, carded as race 5, is first […]

VIRGINIA-BREDS TAKE THE SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT AT COLONIAL DOWNS

Eagle Point Farm’s homebred filly What the Beep overtook longshot Big Lick Farm’s English Heiress in deep stretch to win the $100,000 M. Tyson Gilpin Stakes by a length, the first of four six-figure stakes races restricted to Virginia-breds highlighting the first Saturday card at Colonial Downs. Forest Boyce rode the Karen Godsey-trained 4-year-old who […]

COLONIAL DOWNS OFFICIALS ENTHUSED WITH FIRST WEEK’S RESULTS FOLLOWING RETURN OF THOROUGHBRED RACING

Spearheaded by large fields, an influx of nationally-rated horsemen and strong reviews for both the dirt and turf courses, Colonial Downs officials are very encouraged by the overall results of the first week of Thoroughbred racing at the track in six years. The “Racing Revival” at Colonial was launched last Thursday with a 10-race card, […]

COLONIAL DOWNS RETURNS WITH SUCCESSFUL FIRST PROGRAM OF THOROUGHBRED RACING IN SIX YEARS

With the call of “Riders Up” from Kate Tweedy Chenery, daughter of Secretariat’s owner, Penny Chenery, Thoroughbred racing in Virginia began a new era Thursday evening as Colonial Downs opened racing for the first time in six years to enthusiastic crowds, racing luminaries and top flight racing from horsemen and jockeys throughout the mid-Atlantic and […]

LIVE THOROUGHBRED HORSE RACING RETURNS TO VIRGINIA

Colonial Downs Opens Under New Ownership, Bringing the Sport Back to the Commonwealth for the First Time in Five Years Thoroughbred horse racing is back in Virginia. Colonial Downs, which originally opened on September 1, 1997 and then closed on October 14, 2014, is once again open for business with the newly named Secretariat Turf […]

VIRGINIA-BRED STAKES ACTION HIGHLIGHTS FIRST SATURDAY CARD AT COLONIAL DOWNS

Virginia-bred runners are featured Saturday night at Colonial Downs in four $100,000 stakes races, all to be contested over the Secretariat Turf Course and are the first such races to be run in the Commonwealth since 2013. Under new ownership of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment and renovated facilities, this meeting marks the re-birth of racing in […]

TVG TO TELEVISE COLONIAL DOWNS RACE MEETING

America’s Leading Horse Racing Network Also to Present On-Site Coverage of Virginia Racing Festival, Aug. 30-31 Officials of Colonial Downs Group and Television Games Network (TVG) today announced that TVG, America’s leading Thoroughbred racing network and advance deposit wagering (ADW) platform, will televise races for the 2019 Colonial Downs meeting, beginning with opening day this […]

COLONIAL DOWNS ANNOUNCES HORSE SAFETY AND WELFARE PROTOCOLS FOR UPCOMING RACE MEETING

In restoring Thoroughbred racing in Virginia after a six-year hiatus, Colonial Downs, in conjunction with the Virginia Racing Commission, today announced a comprehensive set of elevated safety and horse welfare procedures and protocols for its upcoming race meeting, which opens on August 8. These broad-based protocols will encompass Pre-Race Examinations, Medication, Test Barn Procedures and […]

Colonial Downs Opening Day Card On Thursday Features 10 races, 107 Horses, $515,000 In Purse Monies

With new ownership, renovated facilities, and a $300 million investment into Virginia racing in progress, Colonial Downs is set to usher in a new era of thoroughbred racing this coming Thursday August 8th with a ten race program beginning at 5 PM. Thoroughbred horses last ran at Colonial in the summer of 2013. A total […]

VIRGINIA DERBY NEWLY NAMED FOR HOME LOCATION

The “New Kent County Virginia Derby” Debuts on August 31 Colonial Downs and New Kent County, home county of the track, announced a new joint partnership today with horse racing’s revival in the Commonwealth that includes sponsorship of the Grade 3 Virginia Derby. The $250,000 stakes race, which highlights a “Racing Revival Weekend” on August […]

Nominations Set For Four-Pack Of $100,000 Virginia-Bred/Sired Stakes August 10th At Colonial Downs

The top three finishers from the 2018 Meadow Stable Stakes for Virginia-Bred/Sired horses all nominated to the 2019 edition, which will be a co-featured event on the Saturday August 10th program at Colonial Downs. The New Kent oval will usher in its first thoroughbred racing season since 2013 on Thursday August 8th at 5 PM. […]

COLONIAL DOWNS OFFERING AMONG INDUSTRY’S LOWEST TAKEOUT RATES FOR UPCOMING RACE MEETING, AUGUST 8-SEPTEMBER 7

12% Rate on Pick Five Following approval today from the Virginia Racing Commission (VRC), Colonial Downs, in conjunction with the Virginia Horse Racing Benevolent and Protective Association (VHPBA), is proud to announce among the lowest industry takeout rates on all wagers for the upcoming Colonial Downs race meeting scheduled to open on August 8. The […]

COLONIAL DOWNS OPENS BARN AREA JULY 25 ATTRACTING HORSEMEN WITH $500,000 DAILY PURSE STRUCTURE, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND RACING INCENTIVES

With the barn area opening just one week from today, July 25, anticipation is running high for 2019 Colonial Downs race meeting after a six-year hiatus of flat racing in Virginia, highlighted by the enthusiastic arrival of trainers across the Middle Atlantic, Northeast and Midwestern regions, and attracted by a strong purse structure of $500,000 […]

Long Time Employee Jeff Wingrove Works To Create Top Notch Experience For Both Horsemen And Fans

In the time that thoroughbred racing last took place at Colonial Downs in 2013 to the time a new era will be ushered in six years later on August 8th, one constant has remained through the regime change and down time. Jeff Wingrove started working at Colonial in 2005 and after serving in various positions […]

FASIG-TIPTON AND COLONIAL DOWNS FORGE PARTNERSHIP

Fasig-Tipton has reached an agreement with Colonial Downs to sponsor the Virginia Oaks at the racetrack’s upcoming meet. The $150,000 Fasig-Tipton Virginia Oaks will be run on August 31, along with the $250,000 Virginia Derby (G3). These races are part of a 17-race stakes schedule totaling $1.8 million that will be conducted during the 15-day […]

Behind The Scenes Work Continues At Colonial In Preparation For August 8th Opening Day

With less than five weeks to go until live thoroughbred racing returns to Virginia, things are ramping up at the New Kent oval. Behind the scenes work continues in anticipation of the stable area opening July 25th and the first race going to post on August 8th. Dan Waits, Executive Director of the Racetrack Chaplaincy […]

COLONIAL DOWNS NAMES TURF COURSE AFTER SECRETARIAT

Partners with Tweedy Family to Spotlight Virginia Native Son, 1973 Triple Crown Winner and Racing Champion Colonial Downs Group announced today plans to name its turf course for 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat. A name synonymous with the sport of Thoroughbred racing, Secretariat was born at Meadow Stable in Doswell, Va., in 1970. He became […]