The 2026 Virginia Derby will be held at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Saturday, March 14, 2026. The winner will earn 50 qualifying points and be guaranteed a spot in the starting gate for the 152nd Kentucky Derby, which will be held May 2, 2026 at historic Churchill Downs in Louisville.
“Virginia has a proud and growing tradition in horse racing, and the Virginia Derby is quickly becoming one of the premier races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. To see our Commonwealth once again on the national stage, with the chance for a Virginia champion to compete in the ‘Run for the Roses‘ at the 152nd Kentucky Derby is an incredible honor and a testament to the investment, energy and passion driving Virginia’s equine industry forward,” Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said.
The Road to the Kentucky Derby is the premier series of races in America that determines which horses will compete in the world’s most famous horse race.
The Kentucky Derby is the oldest major sporting event held in the United States every year since its inaugural run.
ICYMI: Colonial Downs in the news
Churchill Downs Inc. acquired Colonial Downs in late 2022 and has since invested millions in expansion and upgrades to the facility, increased the number of race days and elevated Virginia‘s role in the national racing circuit. The company brought the three most lucrative and high-profile races to Virginia from out of state, including the Arlington Million, Beverly D and the Secretariat Stakes, which headline the track’s annual Festival of Racing.
Nearly $700,000 in average daily purses, legendary trainers, world-class jockeys and fans from across the United States were featured in 44 live race days in the 2025 horse racing season in New Kent County.
“The growth and excitement around Virginia racing have been a real bright spot for the entire sport. When we saw the enthusiasm and energy for the 2025 Virginia Derby, with a sold-out crowd of thousands packing Colonial Downs, we knew that Virginia had earned another opportunity to step into the global spotlight with a ‘win and you’re in’ race. With a record number of race days, steady growth, and an unbeatable fan experience, the future has never been brighter for Colonial Downs and the entire equine industry throughout Virginia,” Gary Palmisano, Vice President of Racing at Churchill Downs Inc. said.
Colonial Downs is an approximately 45-minute drive from Doswell in Caroline County, the site of Meadow Farms where 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat was born in 1970.
Next year will be the second horse racing season that the Virginia Derby has been part of the Kentucky Derby qualifying series after a record-setting, sold-out 2025 race drew more than 8,000 fans to the stands at Colonial Downs. American Promise, the 2025 Virginia Derby winner, went on to compete in the Kentucky Derby with runner-up Render Judgment.
In the coming weeks, tickets will go on sale online for the 2026 Virginia Derby. Fans are encouraged to purchase early as high demand is anticipated.
Support AFP
Share
Rebecca Barnabi
