Colonial Downs

Colonial Downs is Virginia’s only pari-mutuel thoroughbred track and is located in historic New Kent halfway between Richmond and Williamsburg off I-64 at Exit 214. The track opened in September, 1997 and ran continuously through 2013. After five dormant years, a new owner (Peninsula Pacific) purchased the track and reopened it in 2019 and it is flourishing now like never before under the stewardship of Churchill Downs who bought the track in 2022.

A total of 27 days race days will be contested in summer 2024 with average daily purses of $700,000 making Colonial Downs one of the marquee tracks in the country. Top horses, trainers and jockeys will compete every Thursday (1:30 PM), Friday (4:30 PM) and Saturday (1:30 PM) from July 11 – September 7.

Two showcase programs are featured annually. The Festival of Racing, slated for Saturday August 10, features seven stakes races including the Grade 1 Arlington Million and a pair $500,000 Grade 2 events — the Beverly D and Secretariat Stakes. The 21st running of the $500,000 Grade 3 New Kent County Virginia Derby highlights the closing day card. Among the day’s five other stakes is the $250,000 Virginia Oaks. Past Derby winners include English Channel, Gio Ponti and Kitten’s Joy.

Colonial Downs is known for its racing surfaces which are second to none. The Secretariat Turf Course is the country’s widest grass racing surface at 180 feet across. As a result, about 80% of the track’s races are contested over turf. Colonial’s underrated dirt course is 1 1/4 miles around and is the second largest oval in the country next to Belmont’s 1 1/2 miles oval.

From a fan perspective, Colonial’s five-story grandstand facility includes a temperature controlled tiered Jockey Club dining room, the 1609 Turf Club dining room with balcony access, ten fourth floor Sky Suites, and grandstand/box seats overlooking the track. Reserved tickets for these areas can be purchased at colonialdowns.com. General admission, which provides access to all the trackside viewing areas is free.

Shenandoah Downs

Shenandoah Downs has been home to Virginia’s harness racing scene since 2016. The charming half mile oval is located in the heart of Virginia’s scenic Shenandoah Valley in Woodstock, halfway between Harrisonburg and Winchester at I-81, Exit 283. Pacers and trotters compete in a pair of 7-week pari-mutuel standardbred meets every spring and fall in addition to a four-day non-wagering meet during the Shenandoah County Fair in late summer.

Highlight of the fall meet is the Virginia Breeder’s Championships — held on the track’s closing day card. Over $650,000 in purse monies is distributed among eight divisional championship races that showcase freshman and sophomore pacers and trotters of both sexes. Purses for each of the eight races are $80,000-plus. The 27th “Day of Champions” will take place Sunday October 27, 2024.

The fall meet itself runs from September 14 – October 27 this year with racing every Saturday and Sunday at 1:05 PM. Parking and admission are free and the races are family friendly.

Shenandoah Downs offers a “throwback” type experience where fans gather in a grandstand close to action and cheer on their favorites. The scene provides an intimate experience for one and all — there is no simulcasting, no casino and no grand dining room. There is a 100-year history of County Fair harness racing in Woodstock so fans have an appreciation of the effort it takes to get a horse to the track. Often times the horse finishing last is cheered as much as the winner.

Prior to 2016, harness racing took place at Colonial Downs from 1998-2014 and at the Oak Ridge Estate in Nelson Cunty in 2015.

More event and racing details are at shenandoahdowns.com.

Steeplechase Courses

Virginia has deep ties to jump racing that continue to this day through a series of National Steeplechase Association (NSA) sanctioned races at venues across the state, including Colonial Downs, and spring Point-to-Point races which serve as prep race opportunities for those NSA meets.

Steeplechase meets are held at historic venues in the Commonwealth like James Madison’s Montpelier (for the Montpelier Hunt Races in early November), Great Meadow in The Plains (for the Spring & Fall Gold Cup Races), Glenwood Park in Middleburg (for the Spring & Fall Middleburg Races) and twice a year in Charlottesville for the Foxfield Spring & Fall Races). Tens, and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars, are distributed in purses at each event. And the Gold Cup offers pari-mutuel wagering on their cards — and on the Kentucky Derby during their May program.

The steeplechase race scene is much more though than just horses competing. Thousands of fans dress up for a daylong social event where tailgating is a time-honored tradition. These have become quintessential events to welcome spring to Virginia, synonymous with the blooming of daffodils and dogwoods. Fancy hat contests and terrier races are also part of the fun.

Colonial Downs will offer 18 pari-mutuel steeplechase races during their summer thoroughbred meet in New Kent as well. A trio of jump races will be offered on six different Thursdays beginning at 11:45 AM — on July 11 & 18, August 1, 8 & 22, and on September 5.