Colonial Downs

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Colonial Downs

Colonial Downs is a horse-racing track in New Kent County, Virginia, United States. It opened in 1997, at Colonial Downs Parkway.

History of Colonial Downs

1997 – On September 1, 1997, the track was attended by more than 13,000 people on its opening day. The track used several unconventional construction and business approaches.

2005 – The Maryland Jockey Club managed the track under a complicated agreement with Virginia and Maryland regulators and the Maryland-Virginia Racing Circuit.

2013 – Colonial Downs stopped scheduling thoroughbred racing due to a dispute between track management and equestrian groups. 

2014 – Harness racing ended.

2015 – All track-affiliated betting sites were closed in April 2015. The track filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, seeking clarity in recently amended state horse racing laws, but the case was dismissed in the District Court on November 24, 2015. Moreover, Colonial Downs was denied 2016 racing dates by the Virginia Racing Commission.

2018 – Virginia enacted a law to allow historical racing machines (similar to slot machines) at the track and off-track betting parlors in April 2018 to make it economically viable to reopen the track. Weeks later, the track was purchased by Revolutionary Racing (a Chicago-based group of investors and gaming executives) for over $20 million. Peninsula Pacific later bought out the other investors, taking full ownership of Colonial Downs. 

2019 – Colonial Downs held its first race since 2013 on August 8, 2019.

2022 – Peninsula Pacific sold the bulk of its assets, including Colonial Downs, to Churchill Downs, Incorporation.

Track Details and other Facilities​

Track Details

  • 🐎The Secretariat Turf Course
    • The widest grass racing surface and the only 1- and 1/4-mile track in North America
    • It is with harness racing and features a one-turn mile.
    • It is around 1 1/8 miles and is 180 feet wide.
    • The outer dirt oval is 1 1/4 miles long and is second in length only to Belmont Park’s, which is 1 1/2 miles around.
    • The track featured an autumn harness racing meet.
    • It is the only 1¼-mile track in North America with harness racing, featuring a one-turn-mile.
    • The horses start from a chute on the backstretch.

Other Facilities

Dining

  • Rosie’s Kitchen
    • Open Hours
      • Sunday to Thursday – 10 am to 11 pm
      • Friday to Saturday – 10 am to 1:30 am
      • The late-night food menu is available from Sunday to Thursday from 11 pm to 1:30 am.

 

  • The Playbook Sports Bar and Grill
    • It has 4,000 square feet of space.
    • It features 29 big-screen TVs and a 28′ projector screen.
    • It also hosts live entertainment on the 26-foot stage equipped with a Bose sound system.
    • It can be rented for private events and parties every Tuesday to Wednesday.
    • Open Hours
      • Sunday to Monday – 10 am to 11 pm
      • Thursday and Friday – 4 pm to Midnight
      • Saturday – Noon to Midnight
  • Whiskey Bar
  • 1609
    • It is located on the 4th floor of Colonial Downs Racetrack.

Group Events Venue

  • Sky Suites
    • It can accommodate up to 28 guests.
    • It includes daily Colonial Downs live racing programs.
  • Jockey Club
    • It has indoor seating.
    • Ticket pricing includes a buffet and a daily live racing program.
  • Jockey Club Social
    • It features lounge seating, cocktail tables, dining tables with racetrack views, multi-program television options, and access to Whiskey Bar and Rosie’s Gaming Emporium.
    • Capacity
      • Banquet: 40 per tier, 240 total
      • Reception: 60 per tier, 360 total
      • Theater: 40 per tier
      • Executive Meeting: 30 per tier
  • 1609 Turf Club
    • It has indoor seating.
    • Ticket pricing includes a premium view, balcony access, and daily Colonial Downs live racing program.
    • It offers an A la carte restaurant service, and a beverage menu will be provided for an additional fee.
  • Grandstand Reserved
    • It is the ticketed outdoor seating in the Grandstands.
    • Ticket pricing does not include food or beverage service but offers concessions.
  • Grandstand Boxes
    • It is a covered outdoor box in the Grandstands.
    • Ticket pricing includes a daily live racing program but does not include food or beverage service.
    • Only concessions are available.
  • Turf Club Sky Suites
    • It is located at the 4th-floor suites that overview the racetrack.
    • The suites can accommodate breakouts, executive board meetings, private parties, and receptions.
    • Capacity
      • Dimensions: 20’ x 35’
      • Footage: 700 sq. ft.
      • Banquet: 14 per suite
      • Reception: 30 per suite
      • Theater: 25 per suite
      • Executive Meeting: 14 per suite
  • Turf Club Ballroom
    • Capacity
      • Dimensions: 63’ x 57’
      • Footage: 3591 sq. ft.
      • Banquet: 250
      • Reception: 300
      • Theater: 150
      • Executive Meeting: 50
    • Capacity Pre-function
      • Dimensions: 30’ x 29’
      • Footage: 870 sq. ft.
      • Reception: 200
  • Unique Outdoor Space
    • Guests can request and create a customized atmosphere.
    • Install a tent, pull up a bus, and have a cocktail reception, a wedding ceremony, a cornhole tournament, or a barbecue competition.
    • The huge parking space can be utilized as well for space.
  • Party In The Paddock
    • Prime space for a reception, garden party, or hunt club outing.
    • It is located adjacent to the dirt and turf tracks and overlooks the electronic tote board
    • Capacity
      • Reception: 75

Major Events and Schedule

Colonial Downs Schedule

  • It featured an autumn harness racing meet.
  • Live racing is every Thursday to Saturday from July to September.
  • Post time: 1:30 pm EST
  • It hosts nine thoroughbred races daily (Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday) and runs about 30 minutes apart.

Graded Events

  • Grade I 
    • 🐴 Arlington Million
  • Grade II
    • 🐴 Secretariat Stakes
    • 🐴 Beverly D. Stakes
  • Grade III
    • 🐴 Virginia Derby

Location and Access to the Racecourse

  • It is located in New Kent County, Virginia, adjacent to Interstate 64, halfway between Richmond and Williamsburg.
  • General Admission offers apron access with track-side and paddock-side viewing.

Contact

Other racetracks are sorted and listed on the page “List of Racetracks”. To view the full list, hit the button below. You can also check the horse racing types and breeds to have a lot more in-depth knowledge about horse racing. 

Horse Racing Types
Horse Racing Breeds
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Colonial Downs

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