Colonial Downs Racetrack sets $2.23M daily bets record

Bettors laid down a record $2.23 million in average daily wagers on horse races at Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent during this year’s annual race meet, Colonial Downs Group announced this week.

The total amount bet on races during the seven-week racing season was $46.87 million, and a total of $10.4 million in purses were paid to owners, jockeys and trainers, averaging $522,000 per day. The program had 205 races and 1,713 horses in gates at the starts of races, for an average of more than 8 horses per race during the third season under the Colonial Downs Group banner.

Races were held Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from July 19 through Sept. 1 during this year’s racing season, the third held under the Colonial Downs Group banner. The racetrack’s 2020 meet was canceled after about two weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is so gratifying to see the continued revival of Virginia racing as we mark new all-time handle [amount bet] heights,” John Marshall, Colonial Downs Group executive vice president of operations, said in a statement. “We have held true to our promise of building Colonial Downs into one of the country’s elite boutique meets. We thank our horsemen, fans and team for doing their part in making it so.”

A total of 725 horses were stabled on the grounds. This year’s program had 10 races featuring Virginia-bred horses with $1 million in purses.

Colonial Downs Racetrack hosts thoroughbred racing on the 180-foot-wide Secretariat Turf Course and on a 1.25-mile dirt track.

Colonial Downs Group is a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, which also owns six Rosie’s Gaming Emporium locations statewide. It has more than 1,000 employees in Virginia.