As the 2020 calendar rolls into Super Bowl weekend and Derby prep race season, live horse racing events in Virginia may seem like a ways off, but the kickoff event is just weeks away.

Action in the Commonwealth’s spring Point-to-Point race season kicks off March 7. For the second straight year, the Virginia Equine Alliance will provide starter reward bonuses to Virginia-owned or Virginia-trained horses that compete in the two month series in order to help encourage participation. The Rappahannock… Continue reading →

The following appeared in The Paulick Report January 28

A new economic study has found that the investment in Virginia by the Colonial Downs Group, consisting of the Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent County and Rosie’s gaming facilities statewide, will support thousands of new jobs and generate millions in additional tax revenue to the Commonwealth and host localities over the upcoming year. That’s in addition to the cumulative $445 million in combined economic activity the locations will produce statewide.… Continue reading →

The following editorial from Virginia Thoroughbred Association Executive Director Debbie Easter appeared in the Richmond Times Dispatch January 24th. Members of various horse organizations in the state may be called upon next week to contact their legislative representatives in an effort to help preserve and grow the native horse racing industry along with other equine and related agribusinesses as new gaming legislation is introduced in the General Assembly. Please visit these websites frequently in the coming days — virginiahorseracing.com, vabred.org,… Continue reading →

The following piece appeared on nationalsteeplechase.com and was written by Don Clippinger.

Dr. Alfred C. Griffin Jr., the co-chair of the Virginia Gold Cup who played a key role in keeping pari-mutuel racing alive in his home state during Colonial Downs’ closure, was elected president of the National Steeplechase Association at Friday’s NSA Board of Directors meeting.

The Warrenton, Va., orthodontist succeeds Guy J. Torsilieri, who was elected as the NSA’s chairman. Torsilieri, who served as the NSA’s president for… Continue reading →

On March 30, 1970, a legend was born. A fiery red colt named Secretariat took his first breath in a foaling shed at Christopher Chenery’s Meadow Stable in Caroline County, Virginia. In 1973, he left the world breathless with his spectacular and incomparable Triple Crown.

On March 28, 2020, Secretariat’s birthplace, now known as The Meadow Event Park, will be the site of the official celebration honoring the immortal champion’s 50th birthday and his enduring legacy.

Kate Chenery Tweedy, daughter… Continue reading →

Colonial Downs will play host to 5 MATCH Series races on Saturday August 15. Here are the respective divisions and races in New Kent:

*3-Year-Old & Up Fillies/Mares Turf Division: $100,000 Old Nelson Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf

*3-Year-Old Sprint Dirt Division: $100,000 Victory Gallop Stakes at 7 furongs

*3-Year-Old & Up Fillies/Mares Sprint Dirt Division: $100,000 Seeking The Pearl Stakes at 7 furlongs

*3-Year-Old & Up Sprint Turf Division: $100,000 Da Hoss Stakes at 5 1/2… Continue reading →

Richmond, VA — In an effort to ease the financial burden of horsemen racing in multiple jurisdictions and encourage more horsemen to participate in the Commonwealth, the Virginia Racing Commission voted unanimously to eliminate license fees beginning on January 1, 2020.

The license forms and instructions may be downloaded from our website by clicking on “Virginia Racing License” on the left-hand side of the homepage.  Applications may be emailed prior to the live meet to avoid waiting in line at… Continue reading →

Total Virginia pari-mutuel handle on horse racing for 2020 exceeded $1 billion for the first time ever thanks to the implementation of Historical Horse Racing terminals at four Rosie’s Gaming Emporium sites across the Commonwealth. That, combined with on line betting handle from four partner providers, handle at four VA-Horseplay Off Track Betting (OTB) Centers, and handle generated from live race meets at Colonial Downs (thoroughbred), Shenandoah Downs (harness) and the Virginia Gold Cup (steeplechase), pushed the total figure to… Continue reading →

The Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) announced it will fund a starter reward program for Virginia’s spring Point-to-Point race season for a second straight year. The well received initiative began in 2019 and helped increase participation in the two month series. The 2020 schedule begins March 7 with the Rappahannock Hunt Point-to-Point and concludes April 26 with the Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point.

The following appeared in The Paulick Report January 5. Pegasus World Cup Day at Miami’s Gulfstream Park, scheduled for Saturday January 25, traditionally is the first major stakes race day of the year. Gulfstream will host 9 stakes on the card, 6 of which are graded. Headline event is the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (Gr. I) followed by the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (Gr. I). Other graded stakes include the $200,000 Inside Information Stakes (Gr.… Continue reading →