Colonial Downs will usher in its sixteenth season of pari-mutuel harness racing on September 18 and will continue with a six-week fall campaign that will continue through October 27.
Pacers and trotters will compete over the United States’ only one-turn mile racetrack every Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Ten races are expected to be contested each afternoon.
The highlight of the meet will be the annual $300,000 Virginia Harness 'Day of Champions,' an afternoon of eight championship races featuring Virginia-bred two and three-year-olds of both sexes. The 'champions' card will close out the season on Sunday, October 27. A trackside tailgate party and $1,000 cornhole tournament will kick off closing weekend festivities the day prior, on October 26.
The track’s opening weekend will again take place in conjunction with the New Kent County Fair, which will be on the grounds September 20 through 22. The fair features a number of family related events including a concert that Saturday with Statler Bothers tribute band 'American Pride' at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Stall applications from horsemen wishing to stable on the grounds are due by September 8. There is a $125 per-horse stall rent fee which covers the 24-day, six-week season. The barn area will open on September 11 and the track is available for training the same day. The first qualifying races are slated for September 14. Interested horsemen can call the track's director of Racing, Craig Andow, at 201-663-1973.
A total of seven late-closer stakes series are scheduled, and nominations for the group close on September 8. The slate includes the Horace Martin Memorial Pace, Good Ole USA Trot & Pace, Parkers’ Memorial Trot, VHHA Pace, Juniors Trot & Pace, Delmarva Trot & Pace and U Gotta Win One Now Pace. Several of the series feature odd distance legs including a one-and-a-quarter-mile finale.
(Colonial)