The Virginia Derby has retained its designation as a qualifying race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby for the 2027 season.
Funny hats optional.
The 2027 Virginia Derby will be run on March 13, and will award 50 qualifying points to its winner.
The 2026 race drew nearly 10,000 attendees, which, that’s not nothing.
“Virginia has a proud and growing tradition in horse racing, and the Virginia Derby has earned its place as an essential stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby,” said Gov. Abigail Spanberger, whose office was tasked with rolling out this horse racing news last week.
“Retaining this status reflects the strength of our equine industry, the high caliber of competition at Colonial Downs, and the tremendous crowds that continue to turn out from across the Commonwealth. Previous qualifiers on this path have gone on to compete at the highest levels, including Ocelli’s third-place finish in the 2026 Kentucky Derby, and we are proud to see Virginia remain front and center on the national stage.”
Wow, didn’t realize that we had our winner from last year actually doing well in Kentucky.
Gotta pay more attention this year.
I usually just end up rooting for the horse with the coolest name.
Tickets for the 2027 Virginia Derby will go on sale at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Additional ticketing and schedule details for the upcoming meet will be announced in the coming weeks at ColonialDowns.com.
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Chris Graham
