On Monday, the Virginia Horse Racing Fee accredited increasing and adjusting the 48-day dwell racing season at Colonial Downs in 2026. This would be the most dwell racing day in a single season at Colonial Downs in its almost 30-year historical past.
To make dwell racing extra accessible to Virginia race followers and households, a weekend race day might be added to every summer season race week with a brand new Thursday by way of Sunday schedule. Normal publish time on race day is 12:30 PM EDT.
Click on right here for Colonial Downs outcomes.
The season begins with a particular three-day Virginia Derby from March twelfth to 14th, with a complete prize pool of $500,000. virginia derby After a sold-out 2025 race that drew greater than 8,000 racegoers to Colonial Downs, the Virginia Derby will as soon as once more function Virginia’s solely Kentucky Derby qualifying race, with the successful horse securing a spot within the 152nd Kentucky Derby at historic Churchill Downs.
Virtually all reserved tickets for the Virginia Derby are offered out, and $5 basic admission tickets are promoting quick.
“With Kentucky Derby qualifying, a brand new race day weekend and the most important racing schedule in racetrack historical past, 2026 guarantees to be an unforgettable season at Colonial Downs,” mentioned Frank Hopp, Senior Director of Race Operations. “We will’t wait to welcome horse racing followers and jockeys from throughout the nation to Virginia for one more season of pleasure, enjoyable and competitors at Virginia’s premier thoroughbred racetrack.”
Following the March competitors, the racing season will proceed with 45 days of dwell racing each Thursday by way of Sunday till September seventh, a particular Labor Day race day on June twenty fifth. Summer time competitions embrace the annual Colonial Downs Competition. arlington million (G1), Outdated Dominion Derby (G3) and different high-profile stakes races all through the summer season.
