News

Things are beginning to heat up in the horse racing world as equine action head into mid-January. This Saturday (Jan. 19), Gulfstream hosts its annual Sunshine Millions card while Fair Grounds plays host to a 14 race program featuring  the Lecomte Stakes — the first key Derby prep of 2019! The following Saturday (Jan. 26) … Continue reading Derby Prep Races Set To Begin; $9 Million Pegasus World Cup Up Next →

The following piece appeared in The Paulick Report January 11th. Colonial Downs Group (CDG) welcomes Jill Byrne home as she joins the team that will be returning Thoroughbred racing to the Commonwealth of Virginia through the resurgence of Colonial Downs. The Charlottesville native will be vice president of racing with the Colonial Downs Group. Ms. … Continue reading Jill Byrne Named Vice-President Of Racing At Colonial Downs →

The following appeared in The Paulick Report January 9th. The Colonial Downs Group today announced that it will donate $500,000 over the first five years of its active operations in the city of Richmond to Miles Jones Elementary School. The school is located near the soon to open Rosie’s Gaming Emporium on Midlothian Turnpike. As … Continue reading Colonial Downs To Donate $500,000 Over 5 Years To Richmond Elementary School →

The following appeared in www.dailypress.com January 9th and was written by Lisa Vernon Sparks.  A near 24-hour off-track betting facility is coming to Hampton as soon as late summer. Hampton City Council Wednesday evening approved a use permit, plus an amendment for extended hours, to allow Colonial Downs Group to build a satellite wagering facility, … Continue reading And They’re Off: Hampton Council Approves Off Track Betting Facility →

The following piece appeared on Fauquier.com  and was written by Besty Burke Parker. Virginia’s thoroughbred industry is embracing the 2019 reopening of Colonial Downs. Now the steeplechase community has an exciting development to fuel their sport. On Monday, the Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) unveiled plans to reward point-to-point and steeplechase owners and trainers with cash … Continue reading Extra Cash For Point To Points; New VEA Program Will Bolster Steeplechase Circuit →

Virginia business owner Kaleen Shah’s Bellafina scored a big Grade 2 win January 6th at Santa Anita. Her 2019 travels could now include the May 3rd Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. This piece was written by Kelly Reilley for Brisnet.com. Kaleem Shah’s Bellafina is back. Turning the page on her subpar effort in the Breeders’ … Continue reading Kaleem Shah’s Bellafina Back To Brilliant Best In January 6th Santa Ynez Stakes →

The 94th running of the Virginia Gold Cup races is set to take place at Great Meadow in The Plains on Saturday May 4th! A combination of pari-mutuel timber, hurdle and flat races will highlight an afternoon complemented by tailgate and fancy hat competitions, and the Kentucky Derby simulcast. On line tent and ticket sales … Continue reading Virginia Gold Cup Tickets & Tailgate Spots Are Now On Sale For 94th Running On Saturday May 4th →

The nominations for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Moment of the Year came out last week, and the choices pretty much serve as a microcosm of the events that made 2018 a special time for horse racing fans. The 12 choices involve a wide variety of events that range from great victories, to milestone events, … Continue reading Dozen Finalists For NTRA Moment Of The Year; Fan Voting Is Available →

The Virginia Racing Commission (VRC) approved a new license for Colonial Downs at its meeting December 13th which paves the way for a 600-unit historical horse racing (HHR) operation at the New Kent track and the return of thoroughbred horse racing in 2019. The last thoroughbred meet was held at Colonial in the summer of … Continue reading More Details About Colonial Downs Plans For 2019 →