Colonial Downs, in collaboration with National Steeplechase Association, will host its first steeplechase-only race card in 13 years on Monday, June 29 — capping off opening week festivities. The day features a special first post of 10:45 AM and will be highlighted by the renamed Theodora A. Randolph Stakes which kicks off a new “Triple Tiara” jump series.

The novel three-leg series is comprised of Grade 2, $100,000 races for fillies & mares 4 years of age & up at the 2-1/4 miles distance. The second Tiara leg will be held on Thursday, July 23 (The Life’s Illusion Stakes) followed by the final leg on Thursday, September 3 (The Marion duPont Scott).

Colonial previously played host to the Strawberry Hill Races — a full card steeplechase program and tailgate party that went along with it — which often attracted close to 20,000 spectators each running from 2000 thru 2011. The annual event was considered by many to be Richmond, Virginia’s first rite of spring. Vehicle tailgating took place along the inside and outside rail of the track’s stone dust harness surface while jump racing action took place on the turf course.

In terms of the racing calendar, Strawberry Hill Races were held three weeks before the Virginia Gold Cup each year. Prior to its shift to the New Kent oval, the event was held at several other venues including the grounds of Richmond’s NASCAR track. In all, 79 editions of Strawberry Hill were contested. 

“The move from Richmond Raceway to Colonial Downs was great, and a big improvement facility wise”, said Sue Mullins, former longtime Equine Activities Director for the Atlantic Rural Exposition which put on Strawberry Hill, in addition to the State Fair. “Colonial’s track and facilities were and still are first class. At the Raceway complex, we had the challenge of maintaining our steeplechase course for a one-day event. Spectator parking for NASCAR races actually took place right on our grass track surface. At Colonial, we made use of the fourth- floor sky suites, and the permanent infrastructure there was great. The big challenge was transferring spectator tailgating rail spaces from one venue to the other. Over the decades, that rail space at Strawberry Hill was like owning a piece of real estate. It was passed down to family heirs.”

There won’t be tailgating at Colonial Downs on June 29, but perhaps a new steeplechase tradition will be born.

With Virginia’s summer racing season on the horizon, Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing Operations at Colonial Downs, has been busy preparing for the longest meet ever at Colonial Downs. The campaign will run from June 25 – September 7 with racing every Thursday thru Sunday afternoon.

Featured returning flat events include the Festival of Racing card on August 1 and the Old Dominion Derby program on Labor Day, September 7. The Festival card includes the G1 Arlington Million, G2 Beverly D. and G2 Secretariat Stakes. The closing day program includes the $500,000 Old Dominion Derby (G3), $250,000 Old Dominion Oaks and $150,000 Colonial Cup. Several additional under card stakes will complement the showcase trio each day.

Hopf spoke of the robust stakes schedule this summer which features 35 stakes worth more than $6.5 million.

“As we get more race dates, the stakes program is going to continue to evolve,” he said. “Adding more stakes for Virginia-restricted horses, for Virginia and Maryland-bred and -sired horses, and with open stakes, elevates the whole program.”

The track will introduce four new open stakes at $100,000 purse levels, including the Maggie Walker, Yorktown, Colonial Turf Dash and Shenandoah Turf Dash. The $100,000 Love Sign, an open stakes sprint for fillies & mares, returns. Continued collaboration between Virginia and Maryland stakeholders has resulted in six stakes restricted to Maryland- and Virginia-bred or sired horses. On tap is the Star De Naskra, Miss Disco, Find, All Brandy, Jamestown and Dolley Madison.   

Hopf is particularly excited about a change in the weekly race schedule which replaces Wednesday cards with Sunday afternoon programs. 

“I’m pretty bullish on where we’re going with family friendly activities on Sundays and related marketing opportunities,” he said. “On Saturdays, we can focus on our racing program and offer key stakes. On Sunday, we get another weekend day to pivot and provide a cost-effective outing for mom, dad and the kids. I’m very excited to see how Sunday turns out. We want to continue to build a live program and crowd. It is very important to us. We’ll get plenty of simulcast exposure on Sundays too with Saratoga and Del Mar running.”

Fresh on the heels of a second straight sellout crowd at the Virginia Derby in mid-March, Hopf was beyond pleased with the turnout and momentum it provided.

“In a best-case scenario, I never could have imagined the kind of crowd we’ve seen at the first two spring Derbies,” Hopf said. “It was great how excited people were for the race and especially day of, how people stayed for the entire card. That will really help us carry momentum into the summer meet. You can see it now by how well ticket sales are going. We’re expanding big event days into summer with the Festival of Racing and Old Dominion Derby Day programs. We want to keep on building those events.”

Hopf has guided the track through an increase in the number of race days per week, from three in 2024, to four per week in 2025 and again this summer. 

“Honestly, any time you go from racing three days a week to four days, you need to be mindful of participation,” he noted. “Having a full barn area has helped out for sure. Cooperation with Maryland has been a benefit to both of us. It looks like four-day race weeks are here to stay and we’ll keep building on the field size.”

“We’re very excited to have Dan Bork back for a second season as racing secretary,” he added. “Dan knows how to put a condition book together and how to work with the horsemen. We’re wrapping up the stall allocation process and are overfilled again with applications from both returning trainers and new outfits looking to come for the first time. It’s exciting to see people focusing on this meet and to be part of what’s going on here.”

New to the Colonial Downs mix this summer is a pari-mutuel race card on Monday June 29 dedicated solely to steeplechase racing. This will be the first “jump only” card at the New Kent track since the Dogwood Classic — which replaced the Strawberry Hill Races — and was last held in April of 2013. That one-day card will include seven races worth a combined $375,000 in purse money. Featured race is the renamed $100,000 Theodora A. Randolph filly & mare stakes, the first leg of a newly created “Triple Tiara” stakes series. There will also be a $25,000 flat race for jumpers on the card.

Steeplechase racing will continue on three Thursdays later in the meet, each featuring a trio of races. The July 23 card is highlighted by the second leg of the Triple Tiara, the $100,000 Life’s Illusion. Jump competition continues on August 13 and September 3. The latter program features the third Tiara leg, the $100,000 Marion DuPont Scott which will be run at Colonial for the first time. All three of the filly and mare stakes have been given Grade 2 status.        

“Having been here for a few seasons now, we’ve been able to take a look at how jump racing has been presented and then debated about what works best,” said Hopf. “We want to find the right niche for steeplechase, especially since wagering has been offered on those races the past two seasons. We’re going to dedicate a full day to the jumpers to see how that works and to give them that opportunity. There is a strong history of jump racing in Virginia and I’m appreciative of that tradition.” 

Dr. Al Griffin, President of the National Steeplechase Association, thinks the 2026 plan could a win-win situation.

“Colonial had been carding several steeplechase races on Thursdays during the flat race scenario the past two years and Saratoga had been doing their jump race program on Wednesdays so there was a lot of back and forth among horses, horsemen and officials which was a little bit tough. The one-day meet on June 29th gives us a chance to ship in a good number of horses and riders and it creates an opportunity where logistics greatly improve. It should also help Colonial with their setup plans. We’re really excited about that one-day opportunity.”

“The other three steeplechase days this summer in New Kent have a focus on filly and mare races,” he continued. “Colonial is going to kill it with the Triple Tiara Series and it’s the perfect place to do it.” 

The Virginia Harness Horse Association (VHHA) announced that a record $500,000 in bonus monies will be available annually to standardbred foals that participate in its lucrative Certified Residency Program beginning with the 2026 foal crop and beyond. The current $400,000 bonus level still applies to the 2025 foal crop, whose owners have less than a month to get their horses registered in the program.     

The incentive program began in 2019. Horses become eligible to compete for a bonus pool in their two-and three-year-old racing campaigns if they are raised in Virginia for at least six consecutive months before they turn two years of age. Registration must be done before horses arrive. The deadline for 2025 foals to enroll is July 1.   

Individual horse awards — from their freshman and sophomore seasons — are based on points accumulated throughout the year in overnight races anywhere in the country. A point equates to one dollar earned with a cap of 5,000 per race. Points are doubled from races held in Virginia, during the Shenandoah Downs spring and fall meets and at the 4-day Shenandoah County Fair summer stand. The per-race cap increases to 10,000 points from those races.       

At the end of the year, total points from all participating horses in each age division are accumulated and divided into the available bonus pool — which has been $400,000 — to determine a per-point dollar figure reward to each horse.    

The VHHA has a list of registered farms and training centers that accept Certified horses for those minimum six-month stays on their website (www.vhha.net) though horses can reside anywhere as long as it is in the Commonwealth.

Those locations are as far north as the Elmington Farm in Berryville, as far south as the Mike Anderson Farm in Abingdon, as far east as the Tidewater Equestrian Center in Gloucester and the Powhatan Plantation in King George, and as far west as Bees Sporthorses in Edinburg and Betsy Brown’s Farm in Woodstock. The central part of the state offers the Finish Line Farm just outside of Williamsburg, the Rockin G Stable in Chase City and the William Byler Farm in Nathalie — among many others in all directions.          

The VHHA’s other two incentive programs also took a major step forward earlier this year. Final leg purses for Virginia Breeder’s Stakes increased to $100,000 — from $80,000 — and final leg purses for Virginia Sire Stakes races increased to $100,000 — from $60,000. 

Virginia’s 2026 pari-mutuel harness racing schedule resumes September 19 and continues thru November 1 with racing every Saturday and Sunday at 1:05 PM. A four-day non-wagering meet will also be contested during the Shenandoah County Fair from September 2-5. Details on the meets will be updated at shenandoahdowns.com.  

Colonial Downs’ stable area will open Wednesday, June 10, welcoming returning horsemen and new arrivals in preparation for the 2026 summer thoroughbred meet. Training is scheduled to begin on Thursday, June 11.

Live racing returns to Colonial Downs in less than one month on Thursday, June 25, kicking off a record-setting season that will feature an expanded schedule. The 2026 summer meet will offer 45 days of live racing, conducted every Thursday through Sunday from June 25 through a special Labor Day program on Monday, September 7. The schedule represents the most live racing days in the nearly 30-year history of Colonial Downs Racetrack.

Colonial Downs will offer a robust stakes schedule featuring 35 stakes races and handicaps worth more than $6.5 million, highlighted by the Colonial Downs Festival of Racing on Saturday, August 1. Festival Day is anchored by the Grade 1 Arlington Million, the Grade 2 Beverly D. and the Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes, along with five additional stakes races. The meet concludes on Labor Day, September 7, with the Grade 3 Old Dominion Derby and Listed Old Dominion Oaks headlining a six-stakes closing day program.

Horsemen are reminded that nominations close Wednesday, June 10, for a pair of opening weekend Virginia-restricted stakes events. The $125,000 Edward P. Evans Stakes for Virginia-bred, Virginia-sired and/or Virginia-restricted older horses at 1-1/16 miles on the turf, along with its distaff counterpart, the $125,000 Brookmeade Stakes, will be contested on Saturday, June 27, the first Saturday of the meet.

In addition to the lucrative stakes schedule, Colonial Downs will offer strong overnight purses throughout the meet. Open maiden special weight races will carry purses of $70,000, while Virginia-restricted maiden special weights will compete for $87,500. Allowance purses will reach up to $80,000 for open company runners and $90,000 for Virginia-restricted competitors.

Condition books are available online at www.colonialdowns.com under the Horsemen tab as well as at Equibase.com.

Readers of the new book “Eagle Point Farm – A Legacy of Grit and Grace” by Donna
Dennehy can saddle up for an unforgettable ride with one very determined Virginia
horsewoman. Donna Gilman Dennehy, at the age of 19, took the reins of her family’s
Thoroughbred horse farm in Ashland, Virginia and led it on a 50-year journey through
triumphs and trying times.  

“Eagle Point Farm – A Legacy of Grit and Grace,” published by Dementi Milestone
Publishing, offers a heartfelt testament to Donna’s abiding love for her land, family and horses.
Exceptional photographs capture that feeling and evoke nostalgic memories of a bygone era
in Ashland, such as the early days of the Camptown Races. The book is both an inside look
at running a training stable and an inspiring family saga. Written in Donna’s straightforward
style and laced with her trademark dry wit, it is hard to decide which are more colorful – her
relatives or the racehorses.

Today, Eagle Point Farm, founded by Donna’s father Ed Gilman in 1947, ranks as one
of the foremost Thoroughbred training operations on the East Coast. Donna has handed
the reins over to her daughter Karen Dennehy, and they work together as the second and
third generation to continue the proud heritage of their horse farm and homeplace.
To order a copy of “Eagle Point Farm – A Legacy of Grit and Grace”  please e-mail
epf@eaglepointfarm.com. A graphic of the book cover is attached. Donna Dennehy is also
available for speaking engagements.

~ Following a sold-out Virginia Derby in March, the 2026 Summer Season resumes June 25 with ten weeks of Thursday-Sunday racing; Exciting promotions and entertainment promise fans an unforgettable day at the races ~

NEW KENT, Va. (May 26, 2026)—Following an historic and record-breaking March meet in which more than 9,700 fans watched Incredibolt win the 2026 Virginia Derby and secure his spot in the Kentucky Derby, live racing will return to Colonial Downs in one month on Thursday, June 25 with a record setting schedule, a new day of weekend racing each week, unique entertainment and promotions, and high-stakes thoroughbred racing.

Colonial Downs will host 45 days of live racing each Thursday through Sunday from June 25 through a special day of racing on Labor Day, Monday, September 7. This will be the most days of live racing in the nearly thirty-year history of Colonial Downs Racetrack.

This season’s expanded and adjusted schedule adds an additional day of weekend racing every Sunday to allow more fans and families to experience the thrill of live thoroughbred racing and all that a Colonial Downs race day has to offer. Each Sunday will feature family friendly entertainment like a petting zoo for young guests.

“The racing and fan experience will be even bigger and better at Colonial Downs this year,” said Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing Operations. “After an unbelievable Virginia Derby that sent two horses on to Triple Crown campaigns, we are ready to welcome new and returning fans for the biggest season of racing in the history of Colonial Downs. All summer long, guests will find exciting racing, family-friendly fun, and a few new surprises we think fans will really love. Colonial Downs is just a short drive from Richmond, Hampton Roads, or anywhere in Virginia, so make your plans now to come visit us at Virginia’s premier thoroughbred racetrack!”

Experiencing live racing is more affordable than ever with new reduced-price ticket options at www.ColonialDowns.com. General admission is FREE nearly every race day, with General Admission for three Premium Racing Events available at the fan-friendly price of just $5 and free admission for children five and under. For an elevated experience on any race day, Colonial Downs offers covered seating in the Reserved Grandstand Seats and Grandstand Box Seats, as well as indoor and dining options at the Jockey Club and the 1609 Restaurant.

The 2026 Premium Racing Events that will require a ticket include:

• Saturday, June 27—Opening Saturday will feature the all-new Corgi Race with a fun competition between some of Virginia’s most adorable amateur athletes. Registration details are available here.
• Saturday, August 1—The annual Colonial Downs Festival of Racing will feature the season’s biggest races and purses including the Grade 1 Arlington Million with its $1 million purse, along with the Grade 2 Beverly D., and Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes.
• Saturday, August 15—Wiener Dog Racing returns to Colonial Downs as mighty little athletes race down the track on tiny legs. Registration details are available here.

The standard post time for the 2026 season will be 12:30pm on all race days except the Festival of Racing and Old Dominion Derby which will begin at noon.

In addition to races on Colonial Downs’ world-famous Secretariat Turf Course and its traditional dirt course, the track will also run a program of steeplechase jump races beginning at 10:15am on July 23, August 13, and September 3 with a special day of exclusively steeplechase racing on Monday, June 29 during opening week.

Throughout the summer meet, fans and families will enjoy a variety of exciting promotions, activities, and theme days to make for an unforgettable day at the track.

Colonial Downs continues to build its reputation for high-quality racing, as evidenced by the strong performances by Virginia Derby entrants Incredibolt and Ocelli in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. This year’s race program includes 35 high-profile stakes races and handicaps worth more than $6.5 million, including:

• Saturday, August 1—The Arlington Million (Grade 1) with its $1,000,000 purse
• Saturday, August 1—The Beverly D (Grade 2) with its $500,000 purse
• Saturday, August 1—The Secretariat (Grade 2) with its $500,000 purse
• Monday, September 7—The Old Dominion Derby (Grade 3) with its $500,000 purse

For more information on tickets, dining, and pricing, visit Colonial Downs on the web at www.colonialdowns.com.

~ Job fairs at track each Tuesday and Thursday from 4-6pm through June 18 and Saturday, May 30 from 12-3pm; Variety of on- and off- track positions available beginning at $15+/hour ~

As summer racing season approaches, Colonial Downs is adding team members for a variety of seasonal roles at Virginia’s premier thoroughbred racetrack!

Team members get to experience the excitement of live thoroughbred racing and support the track operations and guest experience in a variety of roles, including jobs directly related to racing operations.

Colonial Downs in New Kent County is currently hiring for a range of positions—both on and off the track—starting at $15/hr and higher including:

• Security professionals;
• Saddling paddock team members;
• Turf track crew;
• Mutuel tellers to handle betting slips;
• Guest Ambassadors
• A variety of housekeeping roles.

People interested in joining the Colonial Downs team for the excitement of race season can apply online anytime at www.ColonialDowns.com, or visit Colonial Downs Racetrack for an in-person job fair every Tuesday and Thursday from 4-6pm until race season, and for a special job fair on Saturday, May 30 from 12-3pm. Qualified applicants can leave the job fair with an offer in-hand.

Colonial Downs’ record setting summer season is right around the corner and tickets are now on sale at www.ColonialDowns.com. Building on the momentum of an incredible three-day spring meet that featured a record crowd of 9,700+ fans for the sold out 2026 Virginia Derby, Colonial Downs will host another 45 days of live racing each Thursday through Sunday from June 25 through a special day of racing on Labor Day, Monday, September 7. This will be the most days of live racing in the nearly thirty year history of Colonial Downs Racetrack.

Festival of Racing Slated for August 1; Old Dominion Derby for September 7

 A robust schedule of 35 stakes races and handicaps worth more than $6.5 million, topped by the Colonial Downs Festival of Racing on Saturday, August 1, is on tap when the Virginia racetrack opens its doors for a 45-day summer season on Thursday, June 25.

The 2026 schedule will offer live racing every Thursday through Sunday, plus a special holiday card to bring down the curtain on the season on Labor Day, Monday, September 7. Overnight races will offer $70,000 purses for open maiden special weight contests ($87,500 for Virginia-restricted races), while allowance races will feature purses up to $80,000 for open runners and $90,000 for their Virginia-restricted counterparts.

The Colonial Downs Festival of Racing is highlighted by the Grade 1 Arlington Million, the Grade 2 $500,000 Beverly D. and the Grade 2 $500,000 Secretariat Stakes. The Million will be run at 1¼ miles, the Beverly D. will be contested at 1-3/16 miles and the Secretariat covers one mile. The renowned trio of races are slated to be run over Colonial’s acclaimed Secretariat Turf Course.

Five additional stakes races pepper the Festival Day program: the $150,000 Van Clief (Listed) for older runners at 5½ furlongs on the turf and its sister race the $150,000 Andy Guest; the $100,000 Petramalo Mile, a one-mile dirt race for 3-year-olds and its distaff counterpart , the $100,000 Tyson Gilpin at seven furlongs; and the $100,000 Reigh Count at seven furlongs on the dirt.

Colonial’s other graded stakes race, the Grade 3 $500,000 Old Dominion Derby, is slated for closing day on Labor Day. The Old Dominion Derby is a 1-1/8 miles turf race for 3-year-olds and headlines a sextet of turf stakes which also includes the $250,000 Old Dominion Oaks (Listed) for sophomore fillies at also 1-1/8 miles; the $150,000 Colonial Cup for 3-year-olds and up traveling 1½ miles; the $150,000 Da Hoss for older runners sprinting 5½ panels; and a pair of tests for the juvenile set – the the 1-1/16 mile $125,000 Kitten’s Joy and the 5½-furlong $125,000 Rosie’s Stakes.

Four new $100,000 stakes races were added for the expanded season – the Maggie Walker for fillies and mares at a mile on the dirt on Saturday, July 18; The Yorktown for older horses at nine furlongs on the main track on Saturday, July 25; plus the Colonial Turf Dash for 3-year-old turf sprinters and its female counterpart the Shenandoah Turf Dash both at six furlongs on Saturday, August 8.

There is one more open company stakes race on the 2026 docket, the $100,000 Love Sign on Saturday, July 25 for fillies and mares sprinting six furlongs on the dirt.

Virginia-bred, -sired, and/or -restricted runners get plenty of opportunities throughout the summer starting June 27, the first Saturday of the meet, with the $125,000 Edward P. Evans for older horses at 1-1/16 miles on turf its distaff counterpart the $125,000 Brookmeade.

Two weeks later turf sprinters are spotlighted in the $125,000 Punch Line and the $125,000 Glenn Petty, both at 5½ furlongs, the latter race restricted to females.

A pair of 2-year-old races for Virginia-restricted runners – the $100,000 Hickory Tree and its sister race the $100,000 Keswick – headline the Sunday, August 2 program. Each race offers $50,000 in additional money for Virginia-bred/sired horses and will be run over 5½ furlongs on the dirt.

Later in the meet older Va.-restricted horses are featured in the $100,000 Meadow Stable Handicap for older turf sprinters on Saturday, August 15 and the distaff version, the $100,000 Camptown Handicap two weeks later on Saturday, August 29. Each race offers the same Virginia-bred/sired bonus as above.

The final races restricted to Virginia runners – the $100,000 Bert Allen Handicap and the $100,000 Nellie Mae Cox Handicap – top the Saturday, September 5 card. The races, each of which offer $50,000 in additional purses for Virginia bred/sired participants, are 1-1/16 miles turf events with the latter restricted to fillies and mares.

With continued collaboration between Virginia and Maryland stakeholders, six stakes races restricted to Maryland- and Virginia-bred or sired horses begin on the second Saturday of the meet on Independence Day with the $125,000 Star De Naskra for 3-year-olds and $125,000 the Miss Disco for sophomore fillies with each race slated for seven furlongs on the dirt. Two more are slated for Saturday, August 15 – the $125,000 Find for older horses at 1-1/16 miles on the turf and its distaff counterpart, $125,000 All Brandy at the same distance. The remaining two are 5½-furlong turf races for 2-year-olds: the $125,000 Jamestown and its sister race, the $125,000 Dolley Madison scheduled for Saturday, August 29.

For the second straight year, Colonial Downs will host qualifying races for the Claiming Crown. The top two finishers in each race will automatically qualify for the Claiming Crown which will be held at Churchill Downs on Saturday, November 14.

Eight races under Starter Handicap conditions will be run on Saturday, August 22: the $50,000 Iron Horse Qualifier (1-1/16m dirt); $50,000 Ready Rocket Express Qualifier (6f dirt); $50,000 Glass Slipper Qualifier (1m dirt); $62,500 Rapid Transit Qualifier (7f dirt); $75,000 Canterbury Qualifier (5½f turf); $75,000 Tiara Qualifier (1-1/16m turf); $87,500 Emerald Qualifier (1-1/16m turf); and the $100,000 Jewel (1-1/8m dirt).

Condition books and stall applications are available online at www.colonialdowns.com under the horsemen’s tab as well as at Equibase.com.

~ Virginia Derby runners Incredibolt and Ocelli to follow-up strong showings at Kentucky Derby in this weekend’s Preakness Stakes~

After strong showings in the 152^nd Kentucky Derby, 2026 Virginia Derby alums Incredibolt and Occelli will race in the second leg of the Triple Crown at Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park in Maryland.

After winning the 2026 Virginia Derby, Incredibolt finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby. Ocelli, who finished sixth in the Virginia Derby, ran a stunning race to finish third in the sport’s biggest event.

“Having two horses go from the Virginia Derby to multiple starts in Triple Crown races just shows the strength of Virginia’s racing program and the high-quality horses, jockeys, trainers, and teams we are attracting to Colonial Downs,” said Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing at Colonial Downs. “We are excited for Saturday’s race and hope to see one of our Virginia Derby runners write their name in the history books.”

Just three of the fourteen Preakness Stakes starters will be Kentucky Derby runners, and two of them are also Virginia Derby entrants.

Incredibolt will start from Gate 12 and will again by ridden by Jaime Torres, as he was for the Virginia Derby and Kentucky Derby. Morning line odds show Incredibolt as one of the race’s favorites with 5-1 odds.

Ocelli will start from Gate 2 and again be piloted by jockey Tyler Gaffalione, just as he was for his thrilling third place finish in the Kentucky Derby. Gaffalione won the 2019 Preakness Stakes aboard War of Will. Ocelli is also a top contender in the morning line odds at 6-1.

Race fans are invited to watch and wager on the Preakness at Colonial Downs Racetrack, any Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in Richmond, Hampton, Emporia, Vinton, and Collinsville, The Rose Gaming Resort in Dumfries, or Roseshire in Henrico.

Colonial Downs’ record setting summer season is right around the corner and tickets are now on sale at www.ColonialDowns.com. Building on the momentum of an incredible three-day spring meet that featured a record crowd of 9,700+ fans for the sold out 2026 Virginia Derby, Colonial Downs will host another 45 days of live racing each Thursday through Sunday from June 25 through a special day of racing on Labor Day, Monday, September 7. This will be the most days of live racing in the nearly thirty-year history of Colonial Downs Racetrack.