Colonial Downs will open its 15th annual harness racing season on Wednesday, September 5 and continue a six week campaign over the country’s only “one turn mile” track through October 14.
Colonial will conduct a 10 race program every Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. The New Kent barn area will open on Monday, August 27 and the track will open for training on Wednesday, August 29. The first set of qualifying races will be held on Sunday, September 2.
Highlights of the meet include a continued partnership with the New Kent County Fair, a Cornhole/Tailgate “Party in the Turn,” a $400,000 Virginia Harness “Day of Champions” and an impressive slate of odd distance multi-leg series for pacers and trotters.
Opening weekend’s events will be held in conjunction with the 41st New Kent County Fair on both September 8 and 9. A “Shucktoberfest” Cornhole Tourney & Tailgating Bash” will be held in the first turn on September 29. Party attendees will be adjacent to the chute, where nearly all the harness races actually begin at Colonial. The annual $400,000 (est.) ”Day of Champions” will close out the meet on October 14 as Virginia-bred freshman and sophomore pacers and trotters of both sexes will compete in eight divisional championships.
Director of Racing Craig Andow has put together a number of late closer racing series’ that spread throughout the six weeks. Most of the multi-leg events feature two preliminary legs and a final. Six of the 10 series feature odd distance races ranging from 5/8ths of a mile “sprints” to 1-1/4 mile distance “marathons.” Nominations for the first batch close on August 28. A listing is available at colonialdowns.com.
General admission to Colonial Downs is $2, and kids 12 and under are free. The track’s fourth floor Turf Club Dining Room and Sky Suites will be open on weekend afternoons for a la carte dining and group outings. Turf Club admission is $5 and advance reservations are recommended by calling 804-966-7223, ext. 1032.
(Colonial Downs)