Upcoming Events
Colonial Downs Summer Meet
Welcome back! Colonial Downs’ 41-day summer meet will run July 9-September 13.
Race Days are as follows:
· Wednesdays-Saturdays
· Saturday, August 9th Festival of Racing
· Monday, September 1st (Labor Day)
· Saturday, September 6th GIII Old Dominion Derby / Old Dominion Oaks
2025 VIRGINIA YEARLING FUTURITY
Sunday, August 24, 2025 · Warrenton Horse Show Grounds
Join us at the Warrenton Horse Show Grounds at 9:00am on August 24th. Show off your, registered, Virginia-Bred, Virginia-Sired, or Virginia-Certified thoroughbred yearlings. $40,000 in cash prizes will be divided up between each class.
Click here for more details
A Word from the Board
“Please join us as we open the summer meet at Colonial Downs on July 9th. We’re so excited to put on a meet that consists of 41 race days through September 13th. Bring the family and friends for fun at the track. Thoroughbred racing in the Commonwealth is back and better than ever! Hope to see you there.” – Turner Kobayashi, President of the VTA Board
Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association
Things are ramping up quickly at Colonial Downs as the backstretch officially opened on June 23, welcoming horses and horsemen in preparation for Opening Day on July 9.
The VHBPA is pleased to announce that its General Membership Meeting will be held at noon on Friday, July 11, at the VHBPA Office. This is a great opportunity for horsemen to connect with their VHBPA representatives, discuss the upcoming meet, and share any thoughts or concerns. BBQ lunch will be provided by Richmond’s own ZZQ Barbeque.
Mark your calendars for the VHBPA’s annual Shannon Campbell and Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund (PDJF) Golf Tournament, taking place on Sunday, August 10 at Brookwood Golf Club in Quinton, VA. To register a team or become a sponsor, please email aidanturnagebarney@virginiaequinealliance.com.
For any questions regarding the VHBPA or the 2025 Colonial Downs meet, contact:
· Glen Berman, Executive Director – (312) 505-7722 glenberman@aol.com
· Aidan Turnage-Barney, Field Director – 814.424.2213 aidanturnagebarney@virginiaequinealliance.com
Virginia Steeplechase Association
We are looking forward to upcoming Steeplchase racing at Colonial Donws and our Virginia fall meets
July 9-September 13 Thursdays @ Colonial Downs. First post is 10:45am.
October 5 – Foxfield Fall Races
October 11 – Virginia Fall Races
October 25 – International Gold cup
November 1 – Montpelier Hunt Races
Click here for more details
2025 Fall Harness Racing
Coming off the successful spring meet, everyone is excited for the fall meet. Conveniently located at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds (I-81, Exit 283) there is racing every Saturday and Sunday with Pari-mutuel wagering on all races.
Race days are as follows:
· Saturday-Sunday Sept 13-Oct 26
· Click here to view post times
Reminders
Thoroughbred Owners, Breeders, and Participating Facilities
MARES IN-FOAL · SEPTEMBER 1 DEADLINE
Breeders of Virginia-breds earn bonuses for finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd ANYWHERE in North America.
To qualify—your mare must be in Virginia by September 1st and reside there until she foals next spring. Mare reports are due by October 1st
Get your Thoroughbreds foaled in Virginia registered with the VTA
Virginia Thoroughbred owners, don’t forget to register your Virignia-foaled thoroughbreds! Prompt registration with the VTA is crucial for your horse to be recognized as a Virginia-bred, unlocking eligibility for lucrative restricted races and breeder incentives. Click below to complete the registrations process and ensure your Virginia-bred can reap all the benefits
Can my 2-year-old reside at Colonial Downs during their 6-month VA residency to be VA-Certified?
YES, Colonial Downs is an approved VA participating facility. Keep in mind, the horse must arrive by June 30th. *Applications and fees are due by July 31st.
Please note the following:
1. The horse will not be eligible for Virginia Restricted races until they have completed all requirements of the program.
2. The developer will not be eligible for any Virginia-certified awards until the horse is fully registered Virginia-certified.
3. When filling out the application, please put “Colonial Downs” as the facility & notify the VTA via email the name of the Trainer the horse is stabled with.
4. The horse may not leave the state of Virginia during the 6-month residency period.
5. At the end of the summer meet, the horse will need to move to a Virginia participating facility registered with the VTA if they have not completed their 180-day residency.
Visit our website for more details
| VA-Bred Fee Schedule | VTA Member Fee | Non-Member Fee |
| Foals (by Dec. 31 of weanling year) | $25 | $125 |
| Yearling (by Dec. 31 of yearling year) | $50 | $150 |
| Horses (two years old & older) | $200 | $300 |
2025 Second Quarter Recap
Gold Cup Returns to Great Meadow
The 100th running of the Virginia Gold Cup at Great Meadow Race Course saw strong fan attendance despite threatening weather. Highlights included Cool Jet’s first ever Grade 1 victory in the Commonwealth Cup and Keys Discount securing his second consecutive stakes win with the Virginia Gold Cup timber stakes. Mission North dominated the Speedy Smithwick, while Fashion Line reaffirmed his prowess in the steeplethon. Additionally, The Wizards Well achieved his first career win, and Active Duty claimed victory in an allowance race.
Virginia Represented at the Belmont Racing Festival
Virginia had a strong presence at the Belmont Racing Festival through successful Virginia-certified horses. Bernietakescharge and Book’em Danno achieved wins in various stakes races, while Future Is Now placed second in a Grade 2 race. The Virginia Thoroughbred Association is excited for these horses and their connections, underscoring the growing success of Virginia-certified talent in major racing events.
Virginia Harness Horse Association
The spring season was highlighted by a slate of Virginia Breeder’s Fund 3-year-old divisional championships for pacers and trotters of both sexes who competed for a combined $354,500 on closing weekend. Breeder’s races for 2-year-olds, along with an inaugural slate of Sire Stakes races for freshmen, will be sprinkled in throughout the fall calendar.
There were many spring meet highlights authored by participating Virginians. Jane Dunavant’s (Kenbridge, VA) Kat’s Fancy set a new track record in the $89,600 Virginia Breeder’s 3-Year-Old Filly Trot Championship (1:56 1/5). Tracy Bradshaw’s (Bland, VA) Joan Deer earned “Horse of the Meet” honors by collecting three wins, three seconds and a third in seven starts. Chuck Perry’s (Suffolk, VA) consistent 12-year-old pacer John’s Dream continued to thrive, collecting his 29th win at Shenandoah Downs making him the winningest horse ever at the Woodstock oval.
Shenandoah Downs will usher in a new era of racing this fall when a massive new $1.8 million barn will make its debut and accommodate all the horses that stable on the grounds throughout the meet. The major portion of the stabling area — which has been under tent canopies with temporary stalls for the last 10 years — was taken down for the final time June 11.
Industry Related News
More Opportunities for VA-Bred/Sired & VA-Certified
April 9th the Maryland Commission approved a proposal to combine VA & MD bred stakes through March 2026.
In addition to the added stakes program, Virginia-Restricted purses at Colonial Downs are 25% higher than open races.
Six VA-bred/sired and MD-bred/sired stakes. Eligibility: VA-bred/sired and MD-bred/sired.
Four VA-bred/sired stakes. Eligibility: VA-bred/sired.
VA-Restricted races including overnight handicaps & stakes.Eligibility: VA-bred/sired, & VA-certified
Click on the buttons below to read more on what the meet has to offer.
D. Wayne Lukas Passes at age 89
1935-2025
We are saddened by the news of Trainer D. Wayne Lukas’ passing, announced only one week after the press release that he would be taking a step back from training. Tributes from all over the country flood the internet calling him, “The greatest of all time.”
Full articles are available below.