Courtesy of The Racing Biz, written by Frank Vespe A pair of promising 2-year-olds kept their records spotless Saturday (August 2) at Colonial Downs with stakes wins in Virginia-restricted company, as Just Philtored held off a determined challenger in the $100,000 Keswick Stakes for fillies and Trendsetter came flying late to capture the $100,000 Hickory […]
Author: Darrell Wood
Trainer Danielle Hodsdon, with 14 Wins in 19 Years, Wins Twice Within Five Minutes
Meet horse trainer Danielle Hodsdon who has saddled horses on and off for 19 years and has reached the winner’s circle 14 times. Her history at Colonial Downs goes back decades though. She rode in her first sanctioned steeplechase race there — and broke her collarbone in that event — during the infamous Strawberry Hill […]
Meet Longtime Colonial Downs Valet Rich Ramkhelawan
Meet horse racing valet Rich Ramkhelawan, one of the unsung, passionate staff members that help ensure race days at Colonial Downs roll along seamlessly. A native of Trinidad and Tobago, Rich has worked at the New Kent track from day one, going back to September, 1997. In Rich’s world, the word ‘valet’ is pronounced with […]
Colonial Downs Prepares for Biggest Day of Racing in History this Saturday
~ 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and other high-profile horses will compete for more than $2.5 million in prize money over twelve races during 2025 Festival of Racing; Festival day to feature live music and family-friendly activities because The Race is Just the Start ~ NEW KENT, Va. (August 4, 2025)—Colonial Downs Racetrack is […]
Gil Short Comes Full Circle in Virginia, From Initial Colonial Downs Constuction Manager to New Standardbred Horse Farm Builder
Meet Gil Short, a key figure in the development, launch and early operation of Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent, who is back in the area building another equine facility — though this one isn’t geared to accommodate hundreds of horses and thousands of fans. Short was responsible for Colonial’s planning and impressive design back […]
In Shockingly Rare Result, Colonial Downs Has a Double Dead Heat Finish
~ Friday’s first race featured a dead heat tie for first and dead heat tie for third ~ NEW KENT, Va. (July 28, 2025)—One of horse racing’s rarest results occurred on Friday at Colonial Downs Racetrack as the day’s first race featured a “double dead heat” with a tie for first and a tie for […]
Shenandoah Downs Announces Special $5,000 “Own a Horse for a Day’ Promotion for Sports Fans
This past spring, Shenandoah Downs gave eight lucky female racing fans a chance to “Own a Horse for a Day” and compete for a $5,000 purse on Mother’s Day. With the fall racing season just around the corner, the track announced that eight male sports-oriented fans will get that same lucrative opportunity on Saturday September […]
After Strong Start to Season, Exciting Racing & Entertainment Continues All Summer at Colonial Downs
~ Tickets now on sale for notable racing and entertainment days include the Festival of Racing (August 9), Wiener Dog Racing (August 23), and Old Dominion Derby Day (September 9) ~ Following the successful start to a season that has already seen thousands of fans visit Virginia’s premier thoroughbred racetrack, Colonial Downs’ summer meet rolls […]
Meet Some of Horse Racing’s Personalities Based at Colonial Downs
Summer is a busy time for people affiliated with thoroughbred and steeplechase racing in Virginia. Colonial Downs is in the midst of a 10-week thoroughbred meet in historic New Kent and plays host to race programs every Wednesday thru Saturday until September 13. Here’s a wide-ranging look at some of the participants involved in the […]
Track Chaplain Jay Hurley Arranges Hygiene Bag Giveaway for Colonial Downs Backstretch Workers
-Parishioners at Hurley’s Samaria Baptist Church in Providence Forge, VA Purchase & Bag Hygiene Items for the Initiative (NEW KENT, VA — 7/14/2025) —- Racetrack Chaplain Jay Hurley, who is a pastor at the Samaria Baptist Church in Providence Forge, Virginia, recently began his seventh season at Colonial Downs sharing the love of Christ by ministering […]
