Virginia Racing Commission Awards 18 Dates to Colonial

The Virginia Racing Commission approved 18 race dates in 2020 for Colonial Downs Racetrack, it was announced Dec. 19.

Racing will be conducted July 23-Aug. 29 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays with a scheduled post time of 5:30 p.m. ET. Colonial Downs will distribute $500,000 per day in purses and provide a lucrative series of state-bred and certified races for the second straight year.

The popular MATCH Series will be run at the track Aug. 15. The New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3T) will close the race meet Aug. 29 along with the Virginia Oaks, Rosie's Stakes, and the Kitten's Joy Stakes. Four Wheel Drive won the inaugural running of the Rosie's Stakes and went on to capture the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T), establishing himself as a contender for Eclipse Award honors.

"The horsemen look forward in 2020 to building on our successful 2019 race meet," stated Frank Petramalo, the executive director of the Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. "The renowned Secretariat turf course and highly praised mile-and-a-quarter dirt track along with our beautiful stabling area provide a perfect setting for horses and their connections. We are certain that our incremental growth plan will establish Colonial Downs as a premier destination for racing in the mid-Atlantic region and beyond."

Live racing at Colonial Downs reemerged in 2019 under the new ownership of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment. In its first year of ownership, P2E exceeded all expectations in reestablishing Colonial Downs Racetrack and opening four Rosie's Gaming Emporiums throughout Virginia.

"Our team is focused on adding more life to our communities and the Thoroughbred industry through our 2020 growth plan, which features the continued evolution of live racing at Colonial Downs towards becoming one of the nation's elite turf meets," said John Marshall, the executive vice president of operations. 

"It was such a successful return of racing to Virginia in 2019, with Colonial Downs receiving wonderful support of top horsemen and women from all regions of the country, as well as horseplayers, fans, and the entire racing industry," added Jill Byrne, the vice president of racing operations. "We could not be more enthusiastic for the 2020 season. Offering $500,000 in daily purses, participant incentives, a strong state-bred and certified program, steeplechase races, the addition of the MATCH Series to our stakes schedule, all culminating with Virginia Derby Night, makes for an exciting and lucrative 18 days of racing.

"Equine and human safety and welfare and the integrity of our racing product also remain top priorities for Colonial Downs, as we demonstrated in 2019, and we will continue to work with our partners and the horse industry as a whole to emphasize that important responsibility."