The sale of Virginia’s Colonial Downs was completed Wednesday, moving Virginia racing one step closer to a rebirth — live racing perhaps returning in 2019.
The Grade 3 Commonwealth Derby and Oaks – will be mothballed this year, possibly to return in ’19 at a reopened Colonial.
The passage of historical racing, coupled with Virginia’s new residency program, is helping farms and training centers fill their barns — and envision a future.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam on Tuesday signed a law that will allow “historical racing” machines in Virginia and is expected to allow Colonial Downs to reopen for live racing.
Virginia-bred One Go All Go and Virginia-raised Sadler’s Joy will meet again as two logical contenders in Saturday’s Pan American Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Va. Governor Ralph Northam has signaled no major problems with a bill that would allow “historical racing” machines – and could reopen Colonial Downs.
The Virginia Senate Wednesday approved historical racing machines, sending the bill – which could reopen Colonial Downs – to the governor for his signature.
The possibility of racing returning to Colonial Downs moved forward today, when the Va. House approved a critical “historical racing” bill.
Virginia Thoroughbred interests grew their OTB network and launched a Va-certified program in a busy 2017 that left one major wish unfulfilled.
Colonial Downs has not hosted Thoroughbred racing since 2013, but sources say a deal being discussed could lead to its sale and revitalization.