Colonial Downs kicks off nine-week racing season with schedule filled with fun events

NEW KENT COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The 2024 Colonial Downs race season is underway with nine weeks filled with family-fun activities, live music, drink specials and more at Virginia’s premier thoroughbred racetrack.

The 2024 Colonial Downs live racing season will begin on Thursday, July 11 at the Colonial Downs Racetrack, located at 10515 Colonial Downs Parkway in New Kent County, and end with the Virginia Derby on Sept. 7.

Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing Operations at Colonial Downs, said the people who came to Colonial Downs last year are going to see a greater experience built for this year with the food options, drink specials, activities and racing.

“The racing program here in Virginia is really improving,” said Hopf. “We’re excited about who’s coming here with the trainers, and the horses, and the stake races. It’s going to be a lot more improvement there than, even from last year.”

Activities set to take place on each Saturday of the event include a wiener dog race, several giveaways, pony rides and a petting zoo.

Hopf said last year they had more than 6,000 people attend the event and still had space for more attendees.

“We’ve got great seating in the jockey club, 1,609 restaurant suites and we’ve got grand slam seats that are covered with new fans,” Hopf said.

According to Hopf, one new addition to this year is that people will now be able to wager on steeplechase racing starting on Thursday, July 11, with six steeplechase races held on Thursdays to allow wagering.

Parking and general admission for the event will be free each day, with tickets for seating available for purchase on its website .

To view the full schedule of events at the Colonial Downs Racetrack, visit here .

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