An expanded live racing schedule, featuring higher overnight purses and more stakes races, is on tap when Colonial Downs kicks off its 41-day meet, running from July 9 through Sept. 13. The summer 2025 stakes program, highlighted by a quartet of graded races, includes 31 races worth a total of $5.85 million. Overnight races will offer $70,000 for open maiden special weight contests ($87,500 for Virginia-restricted races), while allowance races will feature purses up to $80,000 for open runners and $90,000 for their Virginia-restricted counterparts.
The Colonial Downs Festival of Racing, scheduled for Aug. 9, is highlighted by the Arlington Million (G1T), the $500,000 Beverly D. (G2T), and the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes (G2T), the traditional weekend for the renowned trio. The Million will be run at 11/4 miles, the Beverly D. will be contested at 1 3/16 miles, and the Secretariat covers one mile. All three races are slated to be run over Colonial's acclaimed Secretariat Turf Course.
Four additional stakes races pepper the Festival Day program: the $100,000 Petramalo Mile, a one-mile dirt race for 3-year-olds; its sister race, the $100,000 Tyson Gilpin at seven furlongs; the $150,000 Van Clief for 3-year-olds and up at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf; and its distaff companion event, the $150,000 Andy Guest.
On Sept. 6, the $500,000 Old Dominion Derby (G3T) and the listed $250,000 Old Dominion Oaks take the place on the stakes schedule previously occupied by the Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks, which were moved to the dirt track and held in March.
The Old Dominion Derby and Old Dominion Oaks are 1 1/8-mile grass races and headline a card with $1.3 million in stakes purses including four other turf stakes: the $150,000 Da Hoss Stakes for older horses at 5 1/2 furlongs; the $150,000 Colonial Cup a 1 1/2-mile marathon for 3-year-olds & up; the $125,000 Rosie's Stakes for 2-year-olds sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs; and the $125,000 Kitten's Joy Stakes for 2-year-olds over a two-turn, 1 1/16 miles on turf.
Notable stakes winners at Colonial in 2024 included: Beverly D. victress Moira, who went on to capture the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) en route to voted 2024 Eclipse Champion turf female; grade 1 stakes winner Nations Pride, who captured the Arlington Million and was recent winner of the Singspiel Stakes (G2) in Dubai; and Belmont Derby (G1) hero Trikari, who added the Secretariat to his win ledger.
Two other $100,000 open company stakes are slated for the season: the Reigh Count for older horses traveling seven furlongs and Love Sign, a six-furlong dash for fillies and mares, both to be held July 26.
Virginia-bred, -sired, and -restricted runners get plenty of opportunities throughout the summer starting the second weekend of the meet with four $125,000 events for Virginia-bred/sired horses the Punch Line, a 5 1/2-furlong turf dash and the Edward P. Evans, a two-turn, 1 1/16-mile grass route July 18 while the distaff version of the same races, the Glenn Petty and Brookmeade Stakes, respectively, will be contested the following day.
A pair of 2-year-old races for Virginia-restricted runners—the $100,000 Hickory Tree, and its sister race, the $100,000 Keswick—headline the Aug. 2 program. Each race offers $50,000 in additional money for Virginia-bred/sired horses and will be run over 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt.
Later in the meet, older Va.-restricted horses are featured in the $100,000 Meadow Stable Handicap and its female counterpart, the $100,000 Camptown Handicap, both at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. Like the Keswick and Hickory Tree, each race offers $50,000 in additional money for Virginia-bred/sired horses.
The final races restricted to Virginia runners—the $100,000 Bert Allen Handicap and the $100,000 Nellie Mae Fox Handicap—top the closing day card Sept. 13. The races, each of which offer $50,000 in additional purses for Virginia bred/sired participants, are 1 1/16-mile turf events with the latter restricted to fillies and mares.
With continued collaboration between Virginia and Maryland stakes holders, six stakes races restricted to Maryland- and Virginia-bred or -sired horses will be contested beginning the first Saturday of the meet with the $125,000 Star de Naskra Stakes for 3-year-olds and $125,000 the Miss Disco Stakes for sophomore fillies, with each race slated for seven furlongs on the dirt. Two more are slated for Aug. 16—the $125,000 Find Stakes for older horses at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, and its distaff counterpart, $125,000 All Brandy Stakes, also at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The remaining two are 5 1/2-furlong turf races for 2-year-olds: the $125,000 Jamestown Stakes and its sister race, the $125,000 Dolley Madison Stakes, scheduled for Aug. 23.
Additionally, there will be two $100,000 races for fillies and mares presented by the National Steeplechase Association, the Randolph D. Rouse Stakes Aug. 7 and the Life's Illusion Stakes Sept. 4. Although not technically stakes races, Colonial Downs will host qualifying races for the Claiming Crown. The top two finishers in each race will automatically qualify for the Claiming Crown, which will be held at Churchill Downs Nov. 15.
Eight races under starter allowance conditions will be run on Aug. 23: the $50,000 Iron Horse Qualifier (1 1/16 miles on dirt); $50,000 Ready Rocket Express Qualifier (six furlongs on dirt); $50,000 Glass Slipper Qualifier, $62,500 Rapid Transit Qualifier (seven furlongs on dirt); $75,000 Tiara Qualifier (1 1/16 miles on turf); $75,000 Canterbury Qualifier (51/2 furlongs on turf); $87,500 Emerald Qualifier (1 1/16 miles on turf); and the $100,000 Jewel (1 1/8 miles dirt).
Condition books and stall applications are available online at Stakes Schedule under the horsemen's tab. Stall applications are due May 9.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
