Colonial Downs announces historic 48-day racing season

By Community Member | December 16, 2025 9:13 am

Colonial Downs will shift to a 48-day live thoroughbred racing season for the 2026 race season, the most at the racetrack in the facility’s 30-year history.

Live racing will kick off with the Virginia Derby on Mar. 12-14, which serves as an automatic qualifier for the Kentucky Derby. The traditional race season will begin on Thursday, June 25 with race days being Thursdays through Sundays. The season will end on Monday, Sept. 7, on Labor Day.