Colonial Downs

Rick Williams has been named Safety Officer for Colonial Downs, it was announced Tuesday. Williams will begin his role when the Colonial backside opens up July 5 ahead of its summer race meet, which kicks off July 19. Williams has a diverse racing background that includes stints as a groom, jockey agent, and in several front side departments including photo finish, mutuels and track maintenance. Before retiring in 2012, he spent his prior 15 years in a regulatory position with both the Ohio and Kentucky Racing Commissions and was involved...

Jessica Paquette, long-time handicapper at Suffolk Downs and most recently Sam Houston, will make her debut at Colonial Downs this summer. She replaces Merv Huber, who is unable to travel to Colonial Downs this season, but will stay on as morning line odds maker and provide guest analysis. "I've heard the Secretariat Turf Course is the best grass surface in the country, and it's my favorite kind of racing," Paquette said. "Being able to talk about beautiful pedigrees on a great grass course just lights my soul on fire. Turf...

A total of 25 stakes races worth more than $2.7 million will be offered at the upcoming seven-week Thoroughbred racing season at Colonial Downs--from July 19 through Sept. 1--featuring a minimum $500,000 in average daily purses and the GIII $250,000 New Kent County Virginia Derby Aug. 31. The 2021 meeting will be scheduled every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with daily first post time at 1:45 p.m. ET. All Colonial Downs races will be televised on TVG. Colonial Downs welcomes back fans to this year's 21-day meeting with free admission. "Since we...

The horse racing and breeding industry in Virginia generated an estimated economic impact of $542.1 million in the state in 2019, according to a study commissioned by the Virginia Equine Alliance. "What we're finding is that jobs are coming back, horse racing related expenditures are up, and tax revenue to the state is increasing," said John Hannum, Executive Director of the Virginia Equine Alliance. "These are all very positive signs that the racing industry is moving in the right direction and benefiting the Commonwealth's agribusiness and related businesses. Racing was...

The Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships (MATCH) Series, which was forced to go on hiatus in 2020 because of regional COVID-19 restrictions, will return this year under a two-state schedule put together by horsemen and racetracks in Maryland and Virginia to bridge the gap until the full Series is restored in 2022. The Series, the only one of its kind in racing, will run from May 14 at Pimlico Race Course through Dec. 26 at Laurel Park, and will feature 24 stakes--20 of them in Maryland and four at Colonial Downs in...

Virginia's Colonial Downs Racetrack will host live racing this summer from July 19-Sept. 1 with premium tickets going on sale Monday, Mar. 15. General admission is free. The seven-week meet will have racing every Monday-Wednesday with a daily first post of 1:45 p.m. Colonial will award approximately $500,000 in daily purses with more than $2.75 million devoted to the stakes schedule. Opening week will see over $400,000 dispersed to Virginia-bred and restricted stakes races. Closing week offers over $1.2 million in stakes, including the Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks, both...

Colonial Downs Group has opened a fifth Rosie's Gaming Emporium offering historic horseracing (HHR) gaming technology and full-card simulcasting. The new Rosie's is located in Dumfries, Va., and features 150 slots-like gaming machines and simulcasts, as well as a restaurant and bar. At the ceremonial ribbon cutting, $76,500 was donated by Rosie's to local charities. "The opening of this Rosie's adds to our tremendous success in Virginia and enters us into Northern Virginia," said Aaron Gomes, chief operating officer of Colonial Downs Group. "The Dumfries location builds on our commitment...

Dates for the 2021 Thoroughbred racing season at Colonial Downs were approved Wednesday by the Virginia Racing Commission at its quarterly meeting, which was held virtually. The seven-week campaign will run from July 19 to Sept. 1 with racing scheduled every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The meet will include a total of 21 race dates. The stable area and track will open for training July 5 and will close Sept. 8. "Purses are projected to average at least $500,000 per day absent any unforseen events like an increase of the...

The Maryland Jockey Club will require all jockeys who rode during the abbreviated meet at Colonial Downs to undergo a 14-day quarantine period beginning Aug. 13 and a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before returning to any MJC facility. The same protocols are in place for all dormitory residents who were at Colonial Downs. Colonial Downs announced it was ending its 2020 meeting Friday due to coronavirus concerns. "The MJC considers the health and safety of our team, horsemen and riders as our number one focus," MJC President...

Colonial Downs has canceled the remainder of its 2020 meeting due to COVID-19, it was announced Friday evening. Colonial Downs canceled racing Tuesday and Wednesday after leading jockey Trevor McCarthy tested positive for COVID-19, per a report in Daily Racing Form. "Colonial Downs Group places the health and safety of our team, partners and visitors as our top priority," a statement from Colonial Downs read. "We established thorough protocols prior to the 2020 racing season to address any issues that may arise from the coronavirus pandemic. As a result of...

Colonial Downs has canceled Tuesday and Wednesday's card due to leading jockey Trevor McCarthy testing positive for COVID-19, according to a report by Daily Racing Form. McCarthy took off his mounts Sunday and Monday because of "flu-like symptoms", according to his agent Scott Silver. According to the report, McCarthy attempted to get tested Monday but was unable to, then received a test Tuesday and was positive. Silver added that McCarthy's symptoms had dissipated and he was feeling well enough on Tuesday that he would have ridden at Colonial card his...

4th-Colonial Downs, $40,400, Msw, 8-3, 2yo, f, 5f, :57.65, ft. FEELING MISCHIEF (f, 2, Into Mischief--True Feelings {GSP, $111,205}, by Latent Heat) broke like a shot and led Some Nights (Street Boss) and 21-1 shot Bravo Regina (Congrats) through a :22.38 quarter. Clear and moving easily turning for home, the 6-5 choice pulled away with aplomb, crossing the wire a geared-down eight-length winner over Bravo Regina. Palmgirl (Commisioner) completed the trifecta. The winner is a half to Grade III-placed Royal Act (American Pharoah). Grade III-placed True Feelings--a half-sister to Flirtaious...