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Meet Ed Bubolz, the starter at Colonial Downs who works intently in the mornings just so he is able push a button nine times at different points of the afternoon. Bubolz oversees every detail associated with loading a field of horses into the starting gate prior to a race and then hoping for — and witnessing — a fair and equitable start for all. Given the surface and distance changes of each race, his work area can get quite hectic and stressful — especially since Colonial has three different courses — the 1-1/4 miles dirt track, an inner turf course and ...

Written by Nick Hahn, originally posted on theracingbiz.com on 8/4/2025 Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne Youngkin handed out a Spirit of Virginia Award to the James River Horse Foundation on July 31. The awards recognize Virginians’ uncommon contributions to their fields. Only six are given out each year. In the spirit of the morning ceremony held outside Barn 4 of the State Farm Work Center in Goochland County, it may have the First Couple feeling as if they were receiving a gift. “It was my job here at the barn to provide the daily care for the horses, but at the end ...

~ More than $2.8 million in purses were won with a Virginia record of $10.46 million waged from all sources The August 9 “Festival of Racing” at Colonial Downs in New Kent featured $2.8 million in prize money and $10.46 million wagered from all sources, both new one-day records for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The day also featured Colonial Downs’ first Kentucky Derby winner on the track with 2024 winner Mystik Dan, as well as the last three Kentucky Derby winning jockeys.  Fort Washington wins the Arlington Million (Coady Media). “With a record amount of prize money, a record amount of wagers from around ...

We already know Paynted by Nancy as the 2024 Virginia Breeder’s Fund Yearling Futurity Grand Champion. Joined by her owner/breeder Quest Realty, trainer Susan Cooney, and the whole crew from the farm, it was a special day ending with the Grand Champion ribbon, a trophy, and a check for placing first in the Virginia-Bred/Sired Fillies Class. 2024 Virginia Breeder’s Fund Yearling Futurity Grand Champion, Virginia-Bred Filly Paynted by Nancy, joined by her owner & breeder Dan Wukich and Quest Realty, trainer Susan cooney (center), 2024 judge Ferris Allen (second from right), and VTA Executive Director Jill Byrne (far right). Hannah Jones ...

Courtesy of The Racing Biz, written by Frank Vespe A pair of promising 2-year-olds kept their records spotless Saturday (August 2) at Colonial Downs with stakes wins in Virginia-restricted company, as Just Philtored held off a determined challenger in the $100,000 Keswick Stakes for fillies and Trendsetter came flying late to capture the $100,000 Hickory Tree Stakes. Just Philtored prevailed in the $100,000 Keswick Stakes with Mychel Sanchez up (Coady Media). Privately purchased following a sharp debut win at Laurel Park in May, Just Philtored showed her new connections immediate returns with a game neck victory in the five-and-a-half furlong Keswick. Ridden confidently ...

Meet horse trainer Danielle Hodsdon who has saddled horses on and off for 19 years and has reached the winner’s circle 14 times. Her history at Colonial Downs goes back decades though. She rode in her first sanctioned steeplechase race there — and broke her collarbone in that event — during the infamous Strawberry Hill Races in 2000. She won her first race as a trainer at the New Kent track in 2006. And most recently, this past Wednesday in fact, a horse she trains finished first in a $70,000 race at Colonial literally minutes before another horse she trains won a ...

Meet horse racing valet Rich Ramkhelawan, one of the unsung, passionate staff members that help ensure race days at Colonial Downs roll along seamlessly. A native of Trinidad and Tobago, Rich has worked at the New Kent track from day one, going back to September, 1997. In Rich’s world, the word ‘valet’ is pronounced with a hard “t” at the end — so the position is very different from someone who parks cars. By definition, a racing ‘valet’ is a crucial member of the jockey’s support team and is responsible for preparing and maintaining the jockey’s gear and equipment and assisting them ...

~ 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and other high-profile horses will compete for more than $2.5 million in prize money over twelve races during 2025 Festival of Racing; Festival day to feature live music and family-friendly activities because The Race is Just the Start ~ NEW KENT, Va. (August 4, 2025)—Colonial Downs Racetrack is gearing for this Saturday’s 2025 Festival of Racing presented by New Kent County which will be the biggest day of thoroughbred racing in Virginia history. Horses, jockeys, and race teams from around the world, including 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, will gather in New Kent County to ...

Runaway Storm winning the Grade 3 Bryan Station at Keeneland on Oct. 28, 2023 (Credit: Coady Media) Robert J. Hunt’s Runaway Storm has been aiming for the Grade 1 Arlington Million at Colonial Downs for more than a year, and assuming all goes well between now and the Aug. 9 Festival of Racing headline event, the Ethan West trainee who won the 2023 Bryan Station (G3) will get his shot at his second graded stakes score. “We were actually targeting the Million last year,” West said. “We could only get one start into him before the Million, but we were okay with ...

Meet Gil Short, a key figure in the development, launch and early operation of Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent, who is back in the area building another equine facility — though this one isn’t geared to accommodate hundreds of horses and thousands of fans. Short was responsible for Colonial’s planning and impressive design back in the mid 1990’s and he also managed construction of the $62 million project. Once complete — and final construction came down to the very last minute — he helped usher in Virginia’s inaugural season of thoroughbred racing in September, 1997, and harness racing the following ...