Virginia Racing

Harness racing at Shenandoah Downs

Shenandoah Fall Harness Meet Increases

Virginia harness racing is poised to take another step forward this fall when Shenandoah Downs ushers in its seventh season of pari-mutuel harness racing beginning September 16 and continuing through ...

Harness racing at Shenandoah Downs

Virginia Certified Bonus Award Winners Announced

February 14, 2022

The Virginia Harness Horse Association announced on Monday, Feb. 14 that 25 Virginia-Certified horses from the 2019 foal crop -- the first to be eligible in a new lucrative residency initiative -- wil...

New Stakes Program A Boost For Virginia

January 13, 2022

The Virginia Harness Horse Association (VHHA), which introduced a new Sired Stakes program in mid-November, announced that the number of stallions standing in the state has risen from five, in 2021, t...

Shenandoah Opens 99th Racing Season

August 31, 2016

Months of anticipation and waiting ended on Wednesday as the new track at the Shenandoah County Fair got its first taste of racing in Virginia.

Shenandoah To Host Virginia Racing

The Virginia Harness Horse Association would like to invite all Standardbred horsepeople to attend the inaugural race meet at the newly renovated Shenandoah Downs, formerly known as Woodstock, in nort...

Virginia Grants Simulcasting Licence

On Tuesday, June 21, the Virginia Racing Commission approved a licence for a local simulcast wagering facility. The approval will mark the first new off-track wagering location since Colonial Downs sh...

Virginia To Host Pari-Mutuel Meet

This week the Virginia Equine Alliance announced immediate and longer-term plans for Standardbred and Thoroughbred racing in the state and introduced a new website  that will cater to all aspects of V...

Track To Host First Races Since 2001

August 26, 2015

It has been announced that a very brief meet of pari-mutuel harness racing will be taking place this October at a location that features a one-mile track and has not hosted live racing since 2001.

Colonial Announces Closures

Citing legislation currently working its way through the 2015 Virginia Legislative Session which will reportedly deny Colonial Downs approximately $2 million of operating funds annually, Colonial Down...

Racing Bills Passed In Virginia

February 19, 2015

It has been reported that a pair of bills designed to help horse racing in the state of Virginia were passed by the General Assembly on Thursday, February 19.

Colonial To Surrender Racing Licenses

October 15, 2014

Harness racing's only one turn oval and the location of the first sub-1:50 trotting mile, Colonial Downs could be dropping Standardbred racing from its menu in 2015.

Virginia Stalemate Continues

It has been reported that in Virginia, officials with Colonial Downs and the Horsemen's Benevolent Protective Association are still at odds over 2014 race dates and monetary issues. Since a deal has y...

Cuts To WV Racing Industry

It was reported last week that House members in West Virginia approved millions in across-the-board cuts which will see funding to the horse racing industry, among other sectors, reduced.