Officials recently announced the 2022 Colonial Downs schedule, which includes stellar promotional giveaways and more races this summer.
Virginia’s only live track with horse betting announced its upcoming races after a record-setting daily handle of 2.2 million in 2021.
Thoroughbred horses will start running Monday, July 11. And they will continue every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday until Sept. 7, with the famed Virginia Derby on Sept. 6.
This year has a renewed emphasis on families, with a new Labor Day race “giving families a chance to enjoy summer’s last holiday in an affordable and fun atmosphere,” according to the announcement Additionally, a plush horse giveaway is slated for late August.
As John Marshall, Executive Vice President of Operations at Colonial Downs Group, stated:
“Our theme this year is more racing, more fun.”
2022 Colonial Downs promotions
Colonial Downs is in located in New Kent, Virginia. That’s about 70 miles north of Norfolk and 200 miles south of Washington, DC.
The track is under new management following Churchill Downs Inc.‘s acquisition of the property earlier this year. CDI also acquired all of the Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums historical horse racing facilities in the state.
And the new owners have some fan-friendly plans for the 2022 Colonial Downs schedule. If you attend the races in person, the first 1,000 people through the gates on these dates will receive the following giveaways:
- July 11: Secretariat T-shirt giveaway
- July 19: Colonial Downs water bottle giveaway
- Aug. 3: Cooling towel giveaway
- Aug. 16: Mossy Oak Camouflage hat giveaway
- Aug. 23: Plush horse giveaway
Betting at Colonial Downs: in-person or at-home
Colonial Downs post time is 1:45 p.m. each race day. And fortunately for attendees, general admission and parking are free.
However, for those looking for a premium seat, you can visit ColonialDowns.com for current options and prices.
Each race day will have an average of $600,000 in purses. That’s actually an increase from $500,000 the year prior.
But what if you can’t attend the races in person? Thankfully, races are simulcast across the country, so you can watch and bet on the races from the TVG horse racing app.
TVG is a legal betting website in the US. More specifically, it’s an advanced deposit wagering site. With ADW sites, bettors simply need to fund their accounts before they can bet on the horse races (much like you do at online Virginia sportsbooks).
Marshall said the 2022 Colonial Downs season, including a new season finale on the Labor Day holiday, should have something for everyone in the family:
“With everything we have to offer, including free general admission, Colonial Downs makes for an entertaining afternoon and evening out for everyone. Colonial Downs and Rosie’s remain loyal to our promise of advancing the quality of Virginia horseracing and delivering positive impacts on our communities.”
