VA. EQUINE INDUSTRY TO SHINE ON “VIRGINIA CHAMPIONS DAY” AT COLONIAL DOWNS

~ Five races for Virginia-connected horses highlight the growth and strength of the $2 billion equine industry in Virginia ~

NEW KENT, Va. (August 30, 2024)—The strength of Virginia’s equine and thoroughbred racing industries will be on display this Saturday, August 31 as Colonial Downs Racetrack hosts Virginia Champions Day. The day’s race card will include five turf stakes races showcasing Virginia-bred, -sired, and -certified horses. These Virginia-restricted races are a key part of the efforts by Colonial Downs, its parent company Churchill Downs Incorporated, and stakeholders throughout the industry, including the Virginia Equine Alliance, to strengthen Virginia’s equine industry.

“Colonial Downs is so proud to be part of revitalizing the equine industry in Virginia and putting the Commonwealth back on the map as a premier destination for racing, breeding, and stabling,” said Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing for Colonial Downs. “The combined efforts of so many owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys, and advocates are breathing new life into Virginia’s centuries-old tradition of first-class thoroughbred racing.”

The race card for Virginia Champions Day, which begins at 1:30pm on Saturday, will include four races open to horses in all three categories: Virginia-bred, -sired, or -certified. These races will offer a total of $725,000 in purses for these Virginia horses and race teams. The final Virginia-restricted race—The Jamestown—is solely for Virginia-bred and -sired 2-year-old horses.

The full field for Saturday’s Virginia Champions Day is available here.

According to the Virginia Equine Alliance, the equine industry in Virginia is a $2 billion industry that supports thousands of jobs around the state. Special incentive programs have been established to provide bonus money to Virginia-connected horses that win races in the Commonwealth and around the country. The most notable and innovative program is the Virginia Certified Residency program which has generated $86 million in economic impact as 5,000 horses have come to more than 200 farms around the state.

Colonial Downs’ 2024 live racing season will conclude next weekend, highlighted by the Grade 3 New Kent Virginia Derby on Saturday, September 7.

General admission and convenient guest parking at Colonial Downs are free every day. For an elevated guest experience, Colonial Downs offers reserved Grandstand Seats and Grandstand Box Seats as well as dining options in the Jockey Club restaurant on the third floor and in the 1609 restaurant on the fourth floor.

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