The GIII Virginia Derby, the marquee event of the Colonial Downs season, highlights the New Kent oval's 2020 stakes schedule. The turf event for 3-year-olds anchors the 18-day meeting's closing day Saturday, Aug. 29. Also featured on Virginia Derby Day: the Virginia Oaks, Rosie's S. and Kitten's Joy S. The 2019 Rosie's winner Four Wheel Drive (American Pharoah) went on to win the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
The 2020 season kicks off July 23 with live racing days over a six-week period will run every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Post time has been moved back 30 minutes from last year, to 5:30 p.m. (EDT). An average of $500,000 in purses will be distributed daily.
Colonial Downs has been added to the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship (MATCH) Series lineup this summer. Seven participating tracks in the series will take turns hosting five stakes monthly between April and October.
The five-pack of $100,000 stakes at Colonial, scheduled for Aug. 15, include a trio of dirt contests–Victory Gallop S., Chesapeake and Seeking The Pearl–and the Da Hoss and Old Nelson on grass.
Virginia-bred/sired horses will again be showcased on two evening programs–opening night July 23 and closing weekend Aug. 28. A quartet of $100,000 stakes will be contested on each evening card: the Camptown S., Nellie Mae Cox S., Meadow Stable S. and Edward P. Evans S. (July 23) and the Tyson Gilpin S., Brookmeade S., Bert Allen S. and Punch Line S. (Aug. 28).
“Colonial Downs has expanded the stakes schedule for 2020 off a very successful return to live racing in 2019,” said Colonial VP of Racing Jill Byrne. “The addition of the lucrative MATCH Series is a wonderful fit to our program and our role in the Mid Atlantic. Add in Virginia Derby day and the increased opportunities for the Virginia-Bred and Certified program and it is a packed schedule to take advantage of our fantastic turf and dirt courses during our 18 day meet.”
A complete stakes schedule can be found at www.colonialdowns.com.
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