Racing at Colonial Downs

Colonial Downs in New Kent County, Virginia opened for thoroughbred flat racing

on Sept 1, 1997. It has one of the widest turf courses at 180 feet and its dirt track

is 1 ¼ miles which is the second biggest in the U.S. The dirt track can hold one-

turn races at up to 1 ⅛ miles and that makes it unique for harness racing as they

only have to handle one turn which leads to faster times.

The Colonial Downs grandstand can hold up to 10,000 fans. It has luxury suite

accommodations and simulcast theatres.

The two biggest races at Colonial Downs is the Grade 2 Virginia Derby and the

Grade 2 Colonial Turf Cup. The former is at 1 3/16 miles for 3-year-olds only while

the latter is at 1 ¼ miles for 3-year-old’s and up. English Channel, Battle Of

Hastings and Paddy O’Prado are winners of both of these big events. These two

races were included in the former Grand Slam of Grass which included the

Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park and the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Had one horse

been able to sweep all four races it was worth a $5 million bonus. It was

discontinued in 2011.

Secretariat turf course

The turf course is named after arguably the greatest Virginia-bred of all time:

Secretariat. The course can handle up to 14 horses and has eight rail settings

which allows for a majority of the carded races to be run over the turf. Even with

summer downpours which can make the dirt track unsafe, they will move the

races to the turf instead of cancelling the card. Two other Grade 3 events are

held over the course: The Virginia Oaks and the All Along Stakes. The course can

also handle steeplechase racing and the track annually holds the Grade 3 David

“Zeke” Ferguson Memorial at 2 ¼ miles.

In 2012, the turf course was set on fire in a planned and controlled burn. The fire

was started on the far turn, then down the stretch, around the clubhouse turn

and up the backstretch. Track Superintendent J.D. Thomas said “We’re basically

burning instead of cutting...as the burn actually drives the nutrients down into the

soil. If we were to cut and blow that leaf the way we normally do, it would take

ten days and we’d lose the nutrients.” 12,000 gallons of water was put down by

the track crew before the fire and the track went from burnt to growing within a

week.

Harness Racing

Enough Talk setting a world record for a trotter becoming the first to break the

1:50 mile mark.

Colonial Downs also holds a harness racing meet from September-November and

it is highlighted by the Patriot Invitation Trot. Another big event during the meet

is the Virginia Harness Day of Champions with eight Stakes races for both trotters

and pacers. In 1998, Colonial Downs hosted the Breeders’ Crown Championships

and all eight winners established track and world records.

Some might call it complicated... some might say it’s a piece of cake, but people

from the real horse racing world say it’s one of the most realistic 3D virtual

simulation horse racing game where players have the ability to practice and

challenge their jockey and betting skills at every major stakes taking place at

every North America racetrack and around the world.

Before you set sail into the real horse racing world and claim yourself to be a ‘pro’

in betting, before you win yourself some real money, try your hand at betting

virtually at the top racetracks of the horse racing industry. Be a jockey at the Del

Mar or break a record at Saratoga Race tracks – our virtual game gives you exact

track information with confirmed accurate measurements of the racetrack.

What’s more, if you want to master the sport, we also provide a bit of history

reads for the interested...for you to have a brief idea of the track you are about to

claim! Play Now!