Virginia Derby Archives • The Racing Biz

Five is enough for Irad Ortiz on Virginia Derby day

by Frank Vespe | Sep 6, 2022 | Breaking, Racing, Virginia, Virginia Racing | 1 |

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. won five races and swept the Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks – the former aboard $2 million yearling Capensis – Tuesday at Colonial Downs.

Graham Motion aims to continue Virginia Derby streak

by Frank Vespe | Sep 6, 2022 | Breaking, Racing, Virginia, Virginia Racing | 0 |

Trainer Graham Motion has mounted an unusual streak — three consecutive Virginia Derby wins in two states over five seasons — he hopes to continue today.

For track announcer Jason Beem, butterflies, then confidence

by Frank Vespe | Sep 5, 2022 | Breaking, Features, Virginia, Virginia Racing | 0 |

Colonial Downs track announcer Jason Beem will call his third Virginia Derby Tuesday and says of big race nerves, “The waiting is the hardest part.”

Unanimous Consent tabbed as Virginia Derby fave

by Press Release | Sep 2, 2022 | Breaking, Racing, Virginia, Virginia Racing | 0 |

The Chad Brown-trained Unanimous Consent has been installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite in an 11-horse field for Colonial’s big event.

Most memorable Mid-Atlantic races of 2021

by Frank Vespe | Jan 7, 2022 | Breaking, Racing, Regionwide | 0 |

Completing our 2021 wrapup, we remember some of the most important, exciting and memorable Mid-Atlantic races of 2021.

Colonial Downs: Stories that mattered in ’21

by Nick Hahn | Jan 2, 2022 | Breaking, Business, Virginia, Virginia Business | 0 |

Correspondent Nick Hahn weighs in with his top 10 stories that mattered to Virginia racing and Colonial Downs in 2021.

“Honest” Wootton Asset seizes Virginia Derby win

by Frank Vespe | Aug 31, 2021 | Breaking, Racing, Virginia, Virginia Racing | 0 |

Wootton Asset finally caught the optimum conditions Tuesday and parlayed them into a win in the Grade 3 Virginia Derby.

Virginia Derby Day In Focus

by The Biz | Aug 31, 2021 | Breaking, Handicapping, Virginia, Virginia Racing | 0 |

We dig into today’s five stakes on Virginia Derby Day at Colonial Downs, with horse-by-horse analysis and Virginia Derby picks.

For some, Virginia Derby a homecoming of sorts

by Nick Hahn | Aug 30, 2021 | Breaking, Racing, Top Stories, Virginia, Virginia Racing | 0 |

Tuesday’s Virginia Derby represents, for different reasons, a kind of homecoming for three trainers – and among the most intriguing runnings of this race.

On Virginia Derby night, a trainer battle and a stunning debut

by The Biz | Sep 3, 2019 | Breaking, Features, Top Stories, Virginia, Virginia Racing | 0 |

The powerful barns of Graham Motion and Michael Stidham squared off on Virginia Derby night, winning three each, while firster Four Wheel Drive dazzled.