The Virginia Racing Commission approved Dec. 15, an expanded and adjusted 48-day live racing season for Colonial Downs in 2026. This will be the most live racing days ever held in one season at Colonial Downs in its nearly 30-year history.
To make live racing more accessible to Virginia race fans and families, each race week throughout the summer will feature an additional day of weekend racing with a new Thursday through Sunday schedule. Standard post time for race days will be 12:30 p.m.
The season will begin with a special three-day Virginia Derby meet March 12-14, anchored by the $500,000 Virginia Derby March 14. After a sold-out 2025 race that drew more than 8,000 race fans to Colonial Downs, the Virginia Derby will again serve as Virginia's only Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifier race, with the winning horse securing a spot in the field for the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Following the March meet, the racing season will continue with 45 days of live racing each Thursday through Sunday from June 25 through a special day of racing on Labor Day, Sept. 7. The summer meet will include the annual Colonial Downs Festival of Racing with the iconic Arlington Million (G1); the Old Dominion Derby; and additional high-profile graded stakes races throughout the summer.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
