Colonial Downs will open its barn area this Thursday, September 9 to begin ushering in some 700 horses expected to compete at the track’s 13th annual harness race season, which will kick off Friday, September 17

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The annual eight-week fall campaign will continue thru November 6, with racing slated every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. A pair of Friday cards have been scheduled -- opening day, and again on November 5. Post time on Saturday is 5 p.m. and at 1 p.m. the other three days of the week.

Opening weekend festivities will coincide with the New Kent County Fair, which is back at Colonial Downs after a one year hiatus. The harness races and Fair will take place together on September 17 and 18. Saturday’s card will featured a “Mixed Breed” day of races, with nine harness, two steeplechase and a thoroughbred race on tap during a unique marathon program that will run 1 to 8 p.m. There will even be an “All Breed” Pick-3 wager available.

Featured event this fall is the annual $300,000 (est.) Virginia Harness “Day of Champions” on closing day, November 6. The afternoon event showcases all eight Virginia-bred two and three-year-old standardbred divisions, who compete for a combined $300,000 in purse monies. Thoroughbred racing’s Breeders’ Cup championships are contested on the same day.

Ten races are expected to take place on most days and Director of Racing Craig Andow is anticipating a lot of new faces in the backstretch. “I’d say that about 30% of the stables are new to Colonial Downs followers,” said Andow. “We do have regulars like Jack Dailey, Charlie Dunavant, Mark Gray and John Wagner back, but we’ve got newcomers from Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio here for the first time.”

First time conditioners include Chris Short, Dan Maier, Joe and Rick Mapes, Rick Magee and Jerry Longo among others. Corey Braden also returns after a one year absence.

Qualifying races will be held this Saturday, September 11 and Monday, September 13 after the morning training session. The first draw (for Friday’s races) will be held on September 13 as well. For more information, call Craig Andow at 804-966-7223, ext. 1056.

Colonial Downs features harness racing’s only one turn mile racetrack configuration. Pacers and trotters start from a chute on the backstretch, continue in a half mile straightaway, maneuver through a sweeping quarter mile turn and finish up in a quarter mile straightaway.

General admission to Colonial Downs is $2; kids 12 and under are free. The fourth Turf Club will be open for dining on weekends, and admission to that area is $5. Turf Club reservations are recommended by calling 804-966-7223, ext. 1032.

(Colonial Downs)