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It’s time to start thinking spring — and summer — because Virginia’s 2022 horse racing season is just around the corner!

After a series of Point-to-Point and NSA sanctioned jump meets in March, April and May, an expanded 9-week thoroughbred season at Colonial Downs and Rosie’s Gaming will begin July 11 and run thru September 7. Racing will take place every Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday at 1:45 PM. Purses for the meet are projected to be $600,000 per day,… Continue reading →

The following appeared at Harrisonburg’s Daily News-Record and was written by Ian Munro.

MAUZY — Fifth-generation Rockingham County farmer Matt Lohr stopped for a moment and pointed at the two-story white home on the other side of the small valley between the inclines on his farm.

He was gesturing to the home he grew up in, and a moment later, turned to face the home his father was born in. It was clear the land he was standing on off… Continue reading →

The following appeared in Thoroughbred Daily News on Saturday, January 15, 2022. Both Chowda and Lobsta are Virginia-Certified horses that spent six-month residencies at a Virginia farm or training center before they started racing. For each win in the Mid-Atlantic region, their owner gets a 25% bonus on top of the purse earnings they receive. 

By Bill Finley

When John Jayko, the owner of Fedwell Farms, first approached Eddie Fazzone about an unraced New York-bred 2-year-old he had for sale,… Continue reading →

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Colonial Downs racing fans will see some familiar horses Saturday (January 22) at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans where their graded Derby prep — the Lecomte Stakes (Gr. 3) — headlines a 6-pack of stakes on a massive 14-race card. Wagering on Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will also be available from Friday – Sunday. 

In the $100,000 Duncan F. Fenner Stakes,… Continue reading →

• By Aileen M. Streng Contributing Writer. This piece appeared at the princewilliamtimes.com
• Jan 11, 2022 

Prosperity is coming to Dumfries and Prince William County,… Continue reading →

One-mile turf stakes for older horses headlines Jan. 8th 11-race card.

The following appeared at Bloodhorse.com January 7.

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Twin Creeks Racing Stables’ grade 2 winner Largent , unraced since being beaten a neck in last year’s Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T), returns to Gulfstream Park to launch his long-awaited comeback in the Jan. 8 $100,000 Tropical Turf (G3T).

The 44th running of the one-mile Tropical Turf for 4-year-olds and… Continue reading →

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Congratulations to seven Virginia-Certified horses that welcomed 2022 in with big wins at Laurel and Aqueduct over the 4-day holiday weekend period that ran from December 30 – January 2.

Serenade Soldier and Bustin Bay both scored at Aqueduct. The former, a 3-year-old War Dancer filly bred in New York, was best in a $43,000 maiden claiming race at 6 1/2 furlongs. She won by 3 3/4 lengths after going off at odds of 11-1 with Jose Lezcano in… Continue reading →

Mark your 2022 calendars for these great thoroughbred, steeplechase and harness racing events in the Commonwealth.

Action kicks off in late winter/early spring with a series of Point-to-Point steeplechase events followed by a trio of NSA sanctioned jump meets, an expanded 9-week pari-mutuel thoroughbred season at Colonial Downs in New Kent, a 4-day harness race meet during the Shenandoah County Fair, an extended pari-mutuel harness campaign at Shenandoah Downs and a four-pack of NSA sanctioned fall jump meets.

The following was written by Nick Hahn and appeared at theracingbiz.com website.

The year just completed, 2021, really felt like a breakthrough for Virginia racing in many ways. Colonial Downs completed a banner meet, local horsemen were able to thrive, and racing stakeholders planted some seeds that should bear fruit in the years to come.

Here are 10 stories that mattered in 2021:

10) HOME IN THE COMMONWEALTH

The Virginia Certified Residency Program has become a huge boon to horsemen… Continue reading →