Virginia
Colonial: Claiming Crown preview set for Aug. 21
Colonial Downs will for the first time host a Claiming Crown Preview day on Aug. 21 featuring eight races run under starter allowance conditions.
Middleburg Spring Races kick off major Va. jump season
Champion Snap Decision looks for his fourth Temple Gwathmey win as the Middleburg Spring Races kick off Virginia’s jump season Saturday.
Colonial Downs unveils condition book, stakes sked
An expanded live racing schedule, featuring higher overnight purses and more stakes races, are on tap at Colonial Downs this summer.
Jill Byrne tabbed as new VTA executive director
Jill Byrne will take the reins as the new executive director of the Virginia Thoroughbred Association, representing breeders.
Md. Racing Commission OKs Maryland-Virginia stakes
The Maryland Racing Commission signed off on a controversial proposal to blend Maryland-restricted and Virginia-restricted stakes Wednesday.
Colonial Downs to host Claiming Crown qualifying day
Colonial Downs will host an August day of racing in which the races are automatic qualifying races for November’s Claiming Crown.
Midlantic-breds to tackle Wood Memorial, other Big A stakes
Horses bred in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania will tackle Saturday’s Wood Memorial, Carter, and other Aqueduct stakes.
Paths converge, split for Omaha Omaha, Studlydoright
A pair of Maryland-based sophs, Omaha Omaha and Studlydoright, saw their Triple Crown paths converge two weeks ago before splitting again.
Well-executed gameplan leads to American Promise win
The way the Virginia Derby unfolded was exactly to the plan mapped out by American Promise’s trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
Derby Trail: Where we stand after Virginia Derby
Where do we stand following on the Derby trail following Saturday’s Virginia Derby? Here’s what we learned.
American Promise dazzles in Virginia Derby
D. Wayne Lukas has himself another Kentucky Derby horse, as the suddenly mature American Promise blitzed the field in the Virginia Derby.
Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks March 15, 2025
The oldest and best handicapping source for Colonial Downs returns for 2025 — it’s Nick’s Picks, and it’s back!
Colonial: Book’em Danno returns a winner in Boston
Grade 1-winning millionaire Book’em Danno kicked off his 4-year-old season with a near-track-record win in the Boston Handicap at Colonial Downs.
VIDEO: Previewing the Virginia Derby
Saturday’s Virginia Derby is a 50-points-to-the-winner race on the Kentucky Derby trail! Our handicappers preview it.
Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks March 14, 2025
The oldest and best handicapping source for Colonial Downs returns for 2025 — it’s Nick’s Picks, and it’s back!
Virginia Oaks: You’ll Be Back seeks breakthrough win
Stakes-placed in each of her last two starts, You’ll Be Back, will seek her first stakes win for trainer Tom Amoss in Saturday’s Virginia Oaks.
Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks March 13, 2025
The oldest and best handicapping source for Colonial Downs returns for 2025 — it’s Nick’s Picks, and it’s back!
Virginia Derby: Blinkers on for Render Judgment
The Ken McPeek-trained Render Judgment will tackle Saturday’s Virginia Derby with blinkers added and adjusted shoeing.
Virginia Derby: No walkover but Amoss hopes for Authentic upset
If Tom Amoss isn’t nervous during Authentic Gallop’s Virginia Derby, it may be because he’s already suffered enough Colonial Downs-related anxiety.
Virginia Oaks: Icona Mama doing “really well”
Icona Mama had a sharp breeze March 7 and is doing “really well” ahead of a scheduled start in Saturday’s Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs.
