The Colonial Downs racecourse, which opened on 1st September 1997, is located at New Kent County in the state of Virginia, and provides thoroughbred racing throughout the summer on the Secretariat Turf course, but also has a dirt track for harness racing. The 10 furlong oval dirt track has an inner 7 ½ furlong turf track and separate 9 furlong chute, with a 400 metre home straight. It boasts impressive facilities, including a grandstand with the capacity to seat 6,000, and a Clubhouse which can seat 500. Its principal race is the Group II Virginia Derby for 3 year olds over 10 furlongs, but it also features the Group II Colonial Turf Cup. The track struggled in 2013 after a prolonged dispute between the management group and various horsemen groups and has not held racing since. Indeed, it lost its facility to operate a pari-mutuel system the next year and is currently in limbo.

Virginia Derby (now Commonwealth Derby) winners since 1998
1998 The Virginia Derby over 10 furlongs was won by Crowd Pleaser trained by Jonathan Sheppard and ridden by Jean-Luc Samyn
1999 The Virginia Derby over 10 furlongs was won by Phi Beta Doc trained by Robert Leonard and ridden by Ramon Dominguez
2000 The Virginia Derby over 10 furlongs was won by Lightning Paces trained by John Robb and ridden by Greg Hutton
2001 The Virginia Derby over 10 furlongs was won by Potaro trained by Johnathan Sheppard and ridden by Brent Bartram
2002 The Virginia Derby over 10 furlongs was won by Orchard Park trained by William Mott and ridden by Edgar Prado
2003 The Virginia Derby over 10 furlongs was won by Silver Tree trained by William Mott and ridden by Edgar Prado
2004 The Virginia Derby over 10 furlongs was won by Kittens Joy trained by Dale Romans and ridden by Edgar Prado
2005 The Virginia Derby over 10 furlongs was won by English Channel trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez
2006 The Virginia Derby over 10 furlongs was won by Go Between trained by William Mott and ridden by Garrett Gomez
2007 The Virginia Derby over 10 furlongs was won by Red Giant trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Horacio Karamanos
2008 The Virginia Derby over 10 furlongs was won by Gio Ponti trained by Christopher Clement and ridden by Garrett Gomez
2009 The Virginia Derby over 10 furlongs was won by Battle of Hastings trained by Jeff Mullins and ridden by Tyler Baze
2010 The Virginia Derby over 10 furlongs was won by Paddy OPrado trained by Dale Romans and ridden by Kent Desormeaux
2011 The Virginia Derby over 10 furlongs was won by Air Support trained by Shug McGaughey and ridden by Alex Solis
2012 The Virginia Derby over 10 furlongs was won by Silver Max trained by Dale Romans and ridden by Robby Albarado
2013 The Virginia Derby over 10 furlongs was won by War Dancer trained by Kenneth McPeek and ridden by Alan Garcia

ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3

652 pages

774 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0

352 pages

400 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7

180 pages

140 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4

264 pages

235 former courses