COLONIAL DOWNS RACETRACK SMASHES RECORDS DURING HISTORIC 2026 SEASON
Posted on September 14th, 2026
~ Track tallies significant increases in attendance, race days, horses in competition, wagering, and prize money ~
New Kent, Va. (Sept. 14, 2026) – On Labor Day, Colonial Downs Racetrack concluded the biggest season in the track’s nearly thirty year history with a thrilling finish in the Old Dominion Derby. The 2026 live racing season saw new highs for the number of races and race days, horses in competition, prize money awarded, and wagering handle.
The historic 2026 season at Colonial Downs featured:
- 48 days of live racing, a new track record
- 428 races
- 3,350 horses in competition
- $29 million in prize money
- $122 million in wagers from all sources
- Nearly 10,000 fans in attendance at the Virginia Derby, with tens of thousands more throughout the season
“The growth and prominence of Virginia’s live racing program is great news for Virginia racing fans, our economy, and the Commonwealth’s statewide equine industry,” said Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing Operations at Colonial Downs. “This season featured incredible racing, high-quality horses, trainers, and jockeys, and great family-friendly entertainment both on and off the track. We are so proud to be part of Virginia’s racing revival and the rebound of the state’s equine ecosystem from breeders and boarders all the way through race teams and thoroughbred aftercare organizations. The rest of the county and the entire sport is taking notice of Virginia’s growth, and we believe even brighter days are ahead.”
The 2026 season began with a thrilling Virgina Derby in March which drew nearly 10,000 fans to Virginia’s premier thoroughbred racetrack. Winner Incredibolt and sixth place finisher Ocelli went on to strong showings in the Kentucky Derby and other Triple Crown races.
The season also featured the biggest day of live racing in Virginia history—the Colonial Downs Festival of Racing—which set a new record for wagers on a single day of Virginia racing.
Off the track, fans were thrilled by the first ever Corgi Races, the annual Wiener Dog races, and great theme days like VCU Day, ODU Day, and Dolly Parton Day when hundreds of children’s books were collected for donation to the Children’s Museum of Richmond Book Bank.
The summer season’s leading jockey was Paco Lopez who scored 55 wins, 16 more than runner-up Samuel Marin. Jareth Loveberry was third in the standings with 31 victories followed by Mychel Sanchez, Sonny Leon and Sheldon Russell who rounded out the top tier with 24 tallies apiece.
With a victory on the closing day card, Colts Neck Stable was able to nose out DEA Thoroughbred Racing for leading-owner honors with eight wins. GOP Racing, The Elkstone Group and the Estate of R. Larry Johnson completed the top five with six scores each.
The race for leading trainer ended in a tie as Brittany Russell earned a closing-day victory to finish the meet on equal terms with three-time defending champion Michael Trombetta with 23 wins each. Jamie Ness (19), Mark Casse (14) and W. Robert Bailes (12) were the next three in the standings.
