Colonial Downs will host a “Back to the Track” promotion Sunday, October 5th that features a racing under saddle exhibition race, t-shirt giveaway, harness drivers' bicycle race and bingo games that are based on race results.
Member tracks of the United States Trotting Association (USTA) each are holding a ‘Back to the Track’ event in 2014 and Colonial Downs has a list of events Sunday geared to fans of all ages.
The first ever racing under saddle exhibition race at Colonial will be a non-betting event but will offer $3,000 in prize money. This is a hybrid of harness and thoroughbred racing that is popular in Europe. A field of five female harness trainers will sit atop their respective trotters instead of in the sulky, and will compete 1-¼ miles around Colonial’s entire oval, encountering both turns over the country’s largest harness track. This exhibition will be held after the third harness race at approximately 1:45 p.m.
Six of Colonial’s harness drivers will sit on top of two wheels in another non-betting competition later in the card, but their hardware features handlebars and pedals versus the shafts and aerodynamic aspects of a sulky. The first ever Agee’s bicycle race will be contested at the distance of one-quarter mile after the seventh harness race, and the bikes will be given away via prize drawings as soon as the race is over.
All fans will receive a free harness racing bingo card on Sunday and compete for $500 in prize money. Winning spaces on the bingo cards will be determined by race results, and the first five participants to complete an “X” on their card will win $100 each.
The first 400 adults will also receive a free “Back to the Track” t-shirt and after each race, the winning driver will give distribute children’s tees via a t-shirt toss.
Other events include drawings for unique rides in the starter’s car and winner’s circle presentations, live music with the York River Concert Band, magic and juggling courtesy of Jonathan Austin, and a kids foot race on the track after the last harness race.
Colonial Downs offers a Sunday $18 Family ‘n Friends 4-Pack special, where four attendees can get admission, programs, tip sheets, hot dogs and soft drinks for $18 when they present a 4-Pack coupon which is available at colonialdowns.com.
Gates open at 12:30 p.m. and racing starts at 1:00 p.m.
(Colonial Downs)