COLONIAL DOWNS PREPARES FOR BIGGEST DAY OF RACING IN VIRGINIA HISTORY DURING AUGUST 1 FESTIVAL OF RACING

~ Star-studded fields of horses, jockeys, and trainers will compete this Saturday for nearly $3 million in purse money including the $1 million purse in the iconic Arlington Million; 2026 Kentucky Derby winning trainer Cherie DeVaux enters horse in Secretariat Stakes while Fort Washington seeks first-ever back-to-back victories in Arlington Million ~

NEW KENT, Va. (July 29, 2026)—This Saturday’s Festival of Racing on August 1 at Colonial Downs is shaping up to be the biggest day of thoroughbred racing in Virginia history with star-studded fields of horses, trainers, and jockeys who will compete for nearly $3 million in purse money over 12 races including the iconic Arlington Million with its $1 million purse and the Beverly D. and Secretariat Stakes which both offer $500,000 purses.

Tickets are selling fast at www.ColonialDowns.com for this historic day of racing including $5 General Admission and limited remaining covered, reserved, and indoor seats. Tickets are required for all guests for this premium racing event.

The Festival of Racing will be headlined by the 1 ¼ mile Grade 1 Arlington Million where defending champion Fort Washington will try to become the first horse to ever win the $1 million race in back-to-back years. The eight-horse field also includes 2023 Virginia Derby winner Integration and multiple graded stakes winners including Burnham Square who has been one of the nation’s most successful turf racers in recent months. This will be the only Grade 1 stakes race held in Virginia in 2026.

The Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes and its $500,000 purse will feature Supercharger trained by Cherie DeVaux who made history this year as the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby with Golden Tempo, and then went on to claim the Belmont Stakes. The nine-horse field also features early favorite Alpyland trained by Mark Casse and other promising 3-year-olds.

The Grade 2 Beverly D should be one of the day’s more intriguing races with a 12-horse field competing for a $500,000 purse. The early favorite is Gimme a Nother, a South African-bred Grade 1 winning filly who has won 9 of her 13 career starts. The race will also feature Irish horse Storm Miami and rides from well-known jockeys Tyler Gaffalione, Brian Hernandez, Jr., John Velazquez, and 2025 Virginia Derby winning jockey Nik Juarez.

“The stars of thoroughbred racing will be coming to town this Saturday for the biggest day of racing in Virginia history,” said Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing at Colonial Downs. “Some of the sports best horses, jockeys, and trainers are traveling from across the country and around the world to experience Virginia’s great fans, facilities, and purses. The Arlington Million, Beverly D, and Secretariat Stakes have drawn extraordinary fields but there is talent and excitement up and down the day’s twelve race card. Get your tickets today to be a part of history this Saturday at Colonial Downs.”

Last year’s Festival of Racing set a new one-day record with $10.46 million wagered from all sources. It also featured Colonial Downs’ first Kentucky Derby winner in competition as 2024 winner Mystik Dan made his debut on turf.

In addition to exciting racing on the track, the 2026 Festival of Racing will feature live music from the Jack Leon Band, family friendly fun including a petting zoo, special recognition for the race’s winningest jockey, trainer, and stable, special performances by bagpipers and the Stars and Stripes Drill Team, and much more.

Tickets are required for this premium racing event. General Admission is just $5 with free admission for children five and under. All tickets, including reserved, indoor, and covered seating, are available for purchase at www.ColonialDowns.com.

The fields for the day’s three graded stakes races are:

Arlington Million (Grade 1: $1,000,000)

• Dresden Row (Tyler Gaffalione, Todd Pletcher)
• Layabout (Keith Asmussen, Patrick Biancone)
• Fort Washington (Javier Castellano, Shug McGaughey)
• Integration (John R. Velazquez, Shug McGaughey)
• Burnham Square (Brian Hernandez Jr., Ian Wilkes)
• Test Score (Manuel Franco, H. Graham Motion)
• Mercante (Florent Geroux, Brian Knippenberg)
• Gran Oriente (CHI) (Paco Lopez, Saffie Joseph Jr.)

(Horse, Jockey, Trainer)

Secretariat Stakes (Grade 2; $500,000)

• Turf Star (Ruiz, Motion, 6-1)
• Conducted (Lopez, D’Angelo, 6-1)
• Supercharger (Franco, DeVaux, 7-2)
• Fuzzbuster (John Velazquez, Vicki Oliver, 8-1)
• Vino Solo (Jose Vargas, Mario Lopez, 20-1)
• Infiltrate (Tyler Gaffalione, Walsh, 10-1)
• Street Beast (Brian Hernandez, Jr., Colebrook, 8-1)
• Redland Rebels (Keith Asmussen, Patrick Biancone, 15-1)
• Alpyland (Castellano, Casse, 2-1)

(Horse, Jockey, Trainer)

Beverly D. (Grade 2; $500,000)

• Venencia (FR) (Nik Juarez, Saffie Joseph, Jr., 15-1)
• Daisy Flyer (Brian Hernandez, Jr., Rusty Arnold, 15-1)
• Somethinabouther (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh, 8-1)
• Haute Diva (Keith Asmussen, Patrick Biancone, 20-1)
• Crevalle d’Oro (Lopez, D’Angelo, 12-1)
• Achieve (Sonny Leon, Casse, 8-1)
• Pin Up Betty (Sanchez, Maker, 8-1)
• Stellify (Franco, Cox, 3-1)
• Gimme a Nother (SAF) (Velazquez, Motion, 9-2)
• Storm Miami (IRE) (Victor Carrasco, Amelia Green, 15-1)
• Fast Market (Samuel Marin, John Terranova II, 15-1)
• Way to Be Marie (Castellano, Kenneally, 6-1)

(Horse, Jockey, Trainer)