About Colonial Downs

Having hosted both standardbred and thoroughbred racing from 1997 to 2014, Colonial Downs closed down but is due to reopen under new management very soon.

As part of the prep work at the site there was the unique view of a deliberate fire being set in May 2018 when the controlled burning of dormant Bermuda grass was supervised and later put out by the New Kent County Fire Department.

The exercise was to blacken the nutrients within the soil and burn away invasive fescue, something seen as crucial in reinvigorating the turf before racing recommences on the site in 2019.

Colonial sits 26 miles from Richmond, VA near the I-64 and only 20 miles from Richmond International Airport.

Colonial Downs History

The track opened for business on September 1, 1997 with 13,000-plus people in attendance and raced successfully initially under the management of the Maryland Jockey Club, a deal which initially led to racing in Maryland being stopped during Colonial’s meet though the deal was later rescinded.

After more than a decade of racing both harness and thoroughbred meets, the track asked for only 25 thoroughbred dates in 2009 instead of the usual 45 as things were showing some signs of beginning to wane.

This reached fever pitch in 2013 when thoroughbred racing ended at the track due to disagreements between management and various horsemen, though harness racing continued into 2014.

As legal ramblings continued through 2015, Colonial was denied any racing dates in 2016 by the Virginia Racing Commission who labelled the track “callous” in their apparent disregard for the horse racing industry, so with all avenues exhausted racing had finished at the track seemingly for good.

In early 2018 the site was purchased by Revolutionary Racing of Chicago for what could prove to be a bargain $20million and the new proprietors set about reinvigorating the facility with a view to reaching an agreement to bring racing back to Virginia in 2019.

Colonial Downs Track Details

It’s assumed the old size of the turf track (7½ furlongs) will remain inside a larger than normal 1¼ mile dirt oval. Harness races begin from a chute on the back stretch of the dirt track, while another chute was in existence on the home stretch too.

Biggest Races

Before the closure, the Grade 2 and Grade 3 Virginia Derby, Colonial Turf Cup, All Along Stakes and Virginia Oaks were staged at Colonial Downs but since 2015 have been run at Laurel Park. It’s unclear whether or not these races will return.

Place Your Colonial Bets With TVG!

Now you know all about Colonial Downs, don’t forget you can wager on races there with TVG. Head to our schedules page to check out the latest race times then bet and watch live!

Address

10515 Colonial Downs Parkway, New Kent, VA 23124, USA

Contact

info@colonialdowns.com