Casse, DeVaux, Stidham, McCaughey, Trombetta and more enter multiple runners Opening Day of the 2024 Colonial Downs live racing season is Thursday, July 11, and the card has been drawn. The 12-race program features an average field size of 10.4, as 125 entries were taken with six of those sitting on the also-eligible list. Beginning […]
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Tickets on sale now for Foxfield Fall Races – A Day for Families on Sunday, October 6
Portion of proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville Albemarle County’s signature steeplechase racing event, the Foxfield Races return with the second steeplechase race of the National Steeplechase Association’s 2024 series. The Fall Races are a tradition for friends and families, and will take place on Sunday, October 6. Tickets are on sale now at foxfieldraces.com. Foxfield […]
Colonial Down Announces Stakes Schedule for 2024 Summer Season
Festival of Racing Slated for August 10; Virginia Derby Scheduled for September 7 NEW KENT, VA (May 7, 2024) – Topped by a quartet of graded races, Colonial Downs unveiled its 2024 stakes program consisting of 27 races worth $5.7 million for the 27-day season which runs from Thursday, July 11 through Saturday, September 7. The […]
Kentucky Derby Prep Races leading to the Virginia Derby
In 2025, for the first time ever the road to the Kentucky Derby runs through Virginia and Colonial Downs. The March 15th Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks marks the first time the Commonwealth has ever hosted a Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks Prep race. The horse that crosses the wire first will be eligible for […]
Virginia’s 2025 Racing Calendar Takes Shape
Horse racing dates and events for the 2025 calendar year in Virginia are set and include a healthy combination of thoroughbred, standardbred and steeplechase competitions that will be held at venues across the Commonwealth. The season kicks off March 1 with the Rappahannock Hunt Point-to-Point (PTP) meet at The Hill in Boston, Virginia and concludes […]
Steeplechase Helping Hurricane Relief Efforts
Story originally published by the Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation, written by Betsy Burke Parker When Hurricane Helene blew across western North Carolina and southern Virginia farmland in late September, few realized the storm would have such a far reach. Almost three months later, some residents remain without power or roads, and farmers are recognizing the […]
Virginia-Bred Gigante Continues Love Affair with Fair Grounds Turf, Takes Buddy Diliberto Memorial
The following appeared in the Daily Racing Form and was written by Marcus Hersh Million-dollar Virginia- bred earner Gigante returned $3.80 in winning the Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds on Saturday December 21. Even chasing a loose leader who set a slow pace, Fair Grounds-turf-loving Gigante proved too much for the opposition in the […]
Virginia Horse Owner Adam Ainspan’s Pair of $500,000 Stakes Wins Came with a Thoroughbred and a Standardbred
When retired Virginia small animal veterinarian Adam Ainspan purchased his first racehorse 22 years ago, he most likely had a dream — as any new owner would — to someday win a stakes race say, with a $500,000 purse. That dream turned into reality for Ainspan on August 31, 2023 when his thoroughbred horse Harlan […]
For New Kent, Virginia Derby’s impact will be long-lasting
*Originally posted on www.pilotonline.com on 12/7/2024, written by Lindsay Hurt* Since joining New Kent County as the director of economic development and tourism, I’ve been asked a lot what I love about it here and what makes this community so special. The answer is easy. It’s the people who choose to live, work and play […]
Virginia Jump Meets Help National Steeplechase Association Achieve Banner Year in 2024
Based on the recent success of running several National Steeplechase Association (NSA) sanctioned races at Virginia’s spring Point-to-Point meets the past couple years, that strategy will continue and even expand in 2025 according to NSA Director of Racing Bill Gallo. “We’ve had a good experience at the Old Dominion and Blue Ridge meets and will […]
Five Star General Stallion to Stand at Covilar’s Owl Hollow Farm in Virginia
*Originally posted on covilar.com on 12/9/2024* Floyd, Virginia — December 9, 2024 — Covilar LLC (“Covilar”) is pleased to announce acquisition of 50% ownership in Five Star General through a strategic partnership with existing owner Kenny Alhadeff. Five Star General, whose nickname is “Ike,” after U.S. President and five-star general Dwight D. Eisenhower, will stand […]
Boston, Virginia-Bred Hall of Fame Thoroughbred Horse, Recognized with Historical Highway Marker in Henrico County
Boston, a Hall of Fame Virginia-bred thoroughbred horse, was feted December 1 at Historic Tuckahoe in Henrico County with a historical highway marker dedication that recognizes his prominence in the racing world. The marker was recently installed near his foaling location in the county along the westbound lanes of Route 6, at 10400-10402 Patterson Avenue. The […]
Ken Brown Retires as Track Superintendent for Maryland Jockey Club
Danny Finke Named Interim Track Superintendent In addition to working at the Maryland Jockey Club, Ken Brown played a big role in Virginia horse racing as well. Most recently, he was a dirt track consultant at the New Kent track from 2019-2023 and back in the late ’90’s, worked on construction of the 1 1/4-miles […]
