Colonial Downs opens under new ownership, bringing the sport of Thoroughbred horseracing back to the commonwealth for the first time in five years.
Edited Press Release
NEW KENT, Va. (August 8, 2019) – Thoroughbred horseracing is back in Virginia. Colonial Downs, which originally opened on September 1, 1997 and closed on October 14, 2014, is again open for business with the newly named Secretariat Turf Course.
Racing will run on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from August 8 through September 7 and feature approximately $7.5 million in total purses. Gates open at 4 p.m. ET and first post is 5 p.m. ET.
Colonial Downs is under new ownership by the Colonial Downs Group, a division of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment. The return of Colonial Downs is possible through the establishment of Historical Horse Racing (HHR) in Virginia by the General Assembly in 2018.
Revenues generated through HHR in Virginia are revitalizing Virginia’s horse industry by funding purses at Colonial Downs.
-HRI Staff
