Final preparations are underway for Virginia Derby weekend at Colonial Downs, where a three-day meet from March 13-15 will feature Saturday’s stakes doubleheader, the $500,000 Virginia Derby and $250,000 Virginia Oaks. “It’s shaping up to be a great weekend of racing,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We plan to have several horses to run, including one […]
Author: Darrell Wood
Shenandoah Downs Racing Applications Due March 1; 2025 Meets Celebrate 10 Years of Racing in Woodstock
Shenandoah Downs will celebrate its 10th year of pari-mutuel harness racing with a pair of 7-week meets at the Woodstock oval in 2025. The spring session will run from April 26 – June 8 and a fall meet will extend from September 13 – October 26. Dates for both campaigns were formally approved by the Virginia […]
$800,000 In Virginia Certified Residency Program Monies Awarded from 2024 Standardbred Races
The Virginia Harness Horse Association (VHHA) announced that $800,000 in 2024 bonus monies were awarded to 2 and 3-year-old horses that participated in its lucrative Certified Residency program. A total of $400,000 was doled out to owners of 50 horses foaled in 2021 and another $400,000 to owners of 68 horses foaled in 2022. Top […]
New Multi-Use Barn Set to Enhance Shenandoah Downs Harness Racing & County Fair
This summer, fairgoers will step into a transformed Shenandoah County Fairgrounds. By the time the 2025 Shenandoah County Fair begins in late August, a new 32,500-square-foot multi-use barn will be ready to house livestock during the fair before transitioning into a 148-stall horse barn for Shenandoah Downs’ fall and spring harness racing seasons. Shenandoah County […]
It’s official: The Gold Cup races are back at Great Meadow this spring for the 100th running
The following was written by Leland Schwartz and appeared in FauquierNow January 22, 2025 The 100th running of the Virginia Gold Cup races will be held at Great Meadow, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The boards of Great Meadow Foundation and the Virginia Gold Cup Association have agreed on how best to […]
Virginia Thoroughbred Owner, Breeder Larry Johnson es Away
R. Larry Johnson, who put his stamp on the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred industry on racetracks, in breeding sheds, and in boardrooms in Maryland and Virginia, ed away Feb. 4. He was 78. “He was successful in all parts of the horse business — standing stallions, selling yearlings and breeding good, competitive racehorses,” said Cricket Goodall, executive […]
Virginia’s 2025 Racing Calendar Takes Shape
Horse racing dates and events for the 2025 calendar year in Virginia are set and include a healthy combination of thoroughbred, standardbred and steeplechase competitions that will be held at venues across the Commonwealth. The season kicks off March 1 with the Rappahannock Hunt Point-to-Point (PTP) meet at The Hill in Boston, Virginia and concludes […]
Virginia-Bred Gigante Continues Love Affair with Fair Grounds Turf, Takes Buddy Diliberto Memorial
The following appeared in the Daily Racing Form and was written by Marcus Hersh Million-dollar Virginia- bred earner Gigante returned $3.80 in winning the Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds on Saturday December 21. Even chasing a loose leader who set a slow pace, Fair Grounds-turf-loving Gigante proved too much for the opposition in the […]
Virginia Horse Owner Adam Ainspan’s Pair of $500,000 Stakes Wins Came with a Thoroughbred and a Standardbred
When retired Virginia small animal veterinarian Adam Ainspan purchased his first racehorse 22 years ago, he most likely had a dream — as any new owner would — to someday win a stakes race say, with a $500,000 purse. That dream turned into reality for Ainspan on August 31, 2023 when his thoroughbred horse Harlan […]
Virginia Jump Meets Help National Steeplechase Association Achieve Banner Year in 2024
Based on the recent success of running several National Steeplechase Association (NSA) sanctioned races at Virginia’s spring Point-to-Point meets the past couple years, that strategy will continue and even expand in 2025 according to NSA Director of Racing Bill Gallo. “We’ve had a good experience at the Old Dominion and Blue Ridge meets and will […]
