NEW KENT – Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Sunday that the 2025 Virginia Derby will be a qualifying race on the road to the Kentucky Derby, held during Colonial Downs Racetrack’s annual Festival of Racing, where the “win and you’re in” title is at stake.
Youngkin made the announcement in the winner’s circle at Colonial Downs along with First Lady Suzanne Youngkin, Secretary of Agriculture Matthew Lohr, Delegate Amanda Batten, Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Incorporated, and Alex Rankin, Chairman of the Board of Churchill Downs.
“Churchill Downs has worked with partners across the Commonwealth to revitalize Virginia’s proud heritage of thoroughbred racing and secure our place as a world-class destination for racing fans and equine talent from around the world,” Youngkin said. “The future of thoroughbred racing in Virginia has never been brighter and this opportunity will allow us to shine on horse racing’s biggest stage.”
The Virginia Derby is traditionally a turf race at the end of the summer racing season and will be run this year on September 7. Next year, the Virginia Derby will be moved to the dirt track as part of a 50-point race on the road to the Kentucky Derby and will be run on March 15. According to the track, it will cap off a new four-day spring meet at Colonial Downs. The winning horse will be guaranteed a spot in the 151st race.st Kentucky Derby on May 3 at the legendary Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky.
Lohr noted that Colonial Downs will host 47 days of racing in 2025, compared to 27 days in 2022, the last horse racing event before Churchill Downs acquired Colonial Downs.
“Today’s announcement is not only exciting for tourism in our county,” Batten said, “but also demonstrates a commitment to horse racing that will ensure Colonial Downs remains a premier destination for generations to come.”
Dates for the Colonial Downs Spring Meet are subject to approval by the Virginia Racing Commission.
This weekend was the biggest weekend of the season for the track, which will run through Tuesday due to a rescheduling caused by Tropical Storm Debby. More than $3 million in prize money is at stake. The centerpiece of the weekend is Colonial Downs’ annual Festival of Racing on Sunday, featuring the $1 million Arlington Million, the $500,000 Beverly D and the $500,000 Secretary Stakes. The three graded stakes races are high-profile competitions that attract the most talented and promising horses and jockeys in the world, according to the track.
