Colonial Downs
Colonial Downs is a horse racing track in
New Kent, Virginia adjacent to
Interstate 64, halfway between
Richmond, Virginia and
Williamsburg, Virginia.
The track opened on
September 1,
1997. More than 13,000 attended the track on opening day. The track used several unconventional construction and business approaches. They constructed one of the largest tracks in size in the country but built a relatively small clubhouse. They also built
OTB's prior to the opening of the track. The track also struck a deal with Maryland to stop Maryland racing during Colonial Down's thoroughbred meet, although this later ended.
Until 2005, the track was managed by the Maryland Jockey Club under a complicated agreement with Virginia and Maryland regulators and the Maryland-Virginia Racing Circuit. The track has been fairly successful and has offered good summertime turf racing in the traditionally poor three-year-old turf division. In 2005, the track ran two legs of theJacobs Investment's
Grand Slam of Grass. This event consisted of the Colonial Turf Cup and the Virginia Derby from Colonial Downs, the Secretariat Stakes from
Arlington Park and the
Breeders' Cup Turf.
The track has a one and one-quarter mile dirt oval, a seven and one half furlong inner turf oval and a one and one-eighth mile outer turf oval.
Harness races start from a chute on the back stretch of the dirt oval.
The following graded stakes are run at Colonial Downs:
*Grade 2
Virginia Derby*Grade 3
All Along Breeders' Cup Stakes It is also the home of the Colonial Turf Cup and the Virginia Oaks. The Colonial Turf Cup and the Virginia Derby make up two legs of the Grand Slam of Grass.
The track features an autumn harness racing meet. Colonial Downs is the only 1 and 1/4 mile track in North America with harness racing and features a one turn mile. The horses start from a chute on the backstretch. Harness racing times at Colonial Downs are the fastest in racing.
*
Colonial Downs website
