Category Archives: Horse Racing

Virginia Derby @ Colonial Downs in New Kent this weekend

. Horse Racing

The $500,000 Virginia Derby  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

The top three finishers from the June 1st Penn Mile will square off again and clash with seven other three year olds in Saturday’s $500,000 Virginia Derby  at Colonial Downs.

The $500,000 Virginia Derby 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!

The first race on Saturday, July 13, 2013 is scheduled for 5:00 PM. The Derby has been carded as the seventh, and will go off at 8:12 PM.

Cost: See website for tickets and Party Zone options
Phone: (804) 966-7223
www.colonialdowns.com/grandslam/vaderby

Colonial Downs Racetrack

10515 Colonial Downs Pkwy, New Kent, VA (map)

Dogwood Classic to be held April 2013 @ Colonial Downs

. Horse Racing

imageSteeplechase horses will compete at Colonial Downs in New Kent and tailgaters will party on the country’s second largest dirt oval as Central Virginia’s new spring racing event will kick off with an early April date.

The first ever “Dogwood Classic” will be held the afternoon of Saturday April 6th, 2013. Colonial Downs will produce the new event and oversee all operational aspects. A number of National Steeplechase Association (NSA) races are expected to take place on the Secretariat turf course and tailgating will be available on the track’s 1 ¼ mile dirt track.

The name “Dogwood Classic” was obtained thru a contest and promoted by Cox Radio stations in Richmond. Of all potential names submitted, five were chosen by a panel and posted for on line voting. Dogwood Classic received 33% of the votes while Commonwealth Spring Classic was second with 20%. The next three in order were Colonial Downs Spring Fling, Kentland Races and Brick House Races.

“We want to kick off the inaugural Dogwood Classic with an immediate vibrancy,” said Colonial Downs President Ian Stewart. “We’re excited to offer this event at the beginning of the spring festival season when nice weather has arrived and everyone is ready to shake off winter and enjoy terrific racing in a great party atmosphere.”

More event details and tailgating information will be available in the coming days at dogwoodclassic.com and via facebook.

A  “launch party” is being planned for November 15th. For more information, call 804-966-7223.

Colonial Downs

. Horse Racing, Other

 

Colonial Downs Arial PhotographColonial Downs is Virginia’s only pari-mutual horse racetrack, and it’s located in New Kent County at Exit 214 off I-64. The track features a summer thoroughbred racing season, a fall harness racing season, and an ever growing year-round slate of special events.

Eighty percent of the summer thoroughbred races are held over the Secretariat Turf Course, which at 180 feet wide, is the widest grass surface of any track in North America. The 1¼ mile dirt track is the country’s second largest, next to Belmont’s. The large dirt track enables harness horses to pace or trot a one mile distance while encountering just one turn, the only track anywhere to offer this unique configuration.