News

by Tod Marks National Steeplechase Association horsemen will have the opportunity to compete for purse money with the addition of three sanctioned races worth $65,000 on the April 8 card in the eastern foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains. Located at Ben Venue Farm in Washington, Va., the Old Dominion Hounds Point-to-Point is one of … Continue reading NSA Sanctioned Jump Races Added to Old Dominion Point-to-Point on April 8 →

Racing applications for the inaugural spring harness racing season at Shenandoah Downs — which runs from April 1 – May 14 — are now available at vhha.net. All horsemen wishing to compete in the first of two pari-mutuel meets in Woodstock this year must fill out an application and return it to the Virginia Harness … Continue reading Racing Applications for First Ever Shenandoah Downs Spring Harness Season Now Available →

Montpelier Hunt Races is pleased to announce the appointment of David Perdue as the new Chairman. Perdue succeeds Charlie Seilheimer who served in the position for 25 years. Perdue is a native of Atlanta, GA, and a real estate developer and investor. His uncle George E. Chase, Sr., co-founded the Atlanta Steeplechase. Perdue and his … Continue reading Montpelier Hunt Races Announces New Chairman →

Congratulations to two longtime Virginia horse racing industry employees —- who both started working at the Colonial Downs Off Track Betting Center in Alberta in December, 1997 —- and are still working at Colonial Downs, some 25 years later!  Paulette Coleman and Karen Henson started work the same day that December and neither could have … Continue reading Two Colonial Downs OTB Managers Celebrate 25 Years of Working Together →

The Virginia Harness Horse Association (VHHA), which introduced a new Sired Stakes program last year, announced that the number of stallions standing in the state for the 2023 breeding season has risen to 20, up from 12 in 2022. Two years ago, prior to the introduction of this initiative, just four stallions stood in the … Continue reading Twenty Stallions to Stand in Virginia This Year as VHHA Sired Stakes Program Blossoms →

Now that the calendar has turned to 2023, prep race season for three-year-old horses that hope to secure a spot in the starting gate for the May 6 “Running of the Roses” at Churchill Downs is upon us. Nearly every weekend from now thru mid-April, key preps will take place at tracks around the country. … Continue reading Road to the May 6 Kentucky Derby Stakes Lineup →

Arlington Million, Beverly D. Stakes and Secretariat Stakes to Run at Colonial Downs RICHMOND, VA – After approval from the American Graded Stakes Committee, the Office of the Governor announced today that three internationally-renowned Thoroughbred stakes races will be moved to Virginia. Those turf races that will soon run at Colonial Downs in New Kent are … Continue reading Three Major Thoroughbred Stakes Races to Relocate to Virginia in 2023 →

(WOODSTOCK, VA — 12/19/2022) —- Dates for the first ever spring harness racing season at Shenandoah Downs were approved by the Virginia Racing Commission last week at its fall meeting. A seven-week meet will start April 1 and continue thru May 14 with racing every Saturday and Sunday at 1 PM. Holiday racing will take place … Continue reading Shenandoah Downs to Usher In its First Spring Harness Meet April 1 →

A slate of 2023 National Steeplechase Association (NSA) sanctioned jump meets and spring Point-to-Point (PTP) events was unveiled in early December. The season kicks off March 4 with the Rappahannock Hunt Point-to-Point at the Hill in Boston and extends through November 4 when the Montpelier Hunt Races take place at James Madison’s Montpelier. In all, there … Continue reading Virginia Steeplechase, Point-to-Point Meet Schedule Announced for 2023 →