Colonial Downs will open its stable area on Monday, June 23, with training set to begin two days later at the New Kent facility. The expanded 41-day racing schedule kicks off Wednesday, July 9 and runs through Saturday, Sept. 13. Racing will be held Wednesday through Saturday weekly, plus a special Labor Day card on Monday, Sept. 1.
Mike Trombetta and Ben Curtis are returning to defend their respective training and riding titles from last season.
“Last year was my first year there and I love the place,” said Curtis, who rode a meet-best 24 winners in 2024, edging Mychel Sanchez by one and Antonio Gallardo by two. “The turf track is phenomenal. I really enjoyed my first experience there. It all seemed to go really well. Since then, it’s been all-systems go to come back there. Hopefully, I’ll do as well as last year.”
Trombetta saddled 15 winners to claim the 2024 training title, besting Michael Stidham (13) and Brittany Russell (10).
The 2025 Colonial stakes schedule carries a $5.8 million purse value, anchored by the Festival of Racing on Saturday, Aug. 9. That showcase features the GI Arlington Million, the GII Beverly D. Stakes, and the GII Secretariat Stakes.
Additional highlights include the $500,000 GIII Old Dominion Derby and the $250,000 Listed Old Dominion Oaks — events that have replaced the Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks on the summer calendar. Those two races were relocated to a special March meeting at Colonial to serve as preps for the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks.
“I’m excited to begin my first full season at Colonial Downs,” said new racing secretary Dan Bork. “With our solid overnight purses and expanded stakes schedule, our barn area is full plus I expect plenty of shippers from throughout the Mid-Atlantic states.”
Post time on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday is 12:30 p.m. EDT, while Friday’s twilight card begins at 4 p.m. Special noon start times are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 9 and Saturday, Sept. 6.
