The 2024 horse racing season in Virginia is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever! Daylight hours are getting more abundant little by little so it’s time to think spring — and beyond. This year, there will be 73 racing performances — 32 days of harness racing, 27 days of thoroughbred racing, 7 NSA sanctioned steeplechase meets and 7 Point-to-Point meets. It’s time to mark your calendars!
Saturday March 2 – Rappahannock Hunt Point-to-Point at The Hill in Boston, VA (rain date is Saturday March 9).
Saturday March 16 – Warrenton Hunt Point-to-Point at the Airlie Race Course in Warrenton.
Saturday March 23 – Piedmont Fox Hounds Point-to-Point at the Salem Course in Upperville.
Saturday March 30 – Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-Point at the Woodley Farm in Berryville.
Saturday April 6 – Shenandoah Downs Spring Harness Racing Season in Woodstock kicks off. The 7-week “Harness the Mountain Magic” meet continues every Saturday & Sunday at 1:05 PM thru May 19.
Saturday April 6 – Old Dominion Hounds Point-to-Point at the Ben Venue Farm in Ben Venue, VA. They will have 5 sanctioned steeplechase races on the card!
Saturday April 20 – Middleburg Spring Races at Glenwood Park. A first rite of spring, this is Virginia’s the oldest steeplechase event, and the first of three sanctioned spring jump meets.
Sunday April 21 – Loudoun Hunt Point-to-Point at Morven Park in Leesburg.
Saturday April 27 – Foxfield Spring Races in Charlottesville. Steeplechase races have taken place here since 1977 and in 2024, look for an enhanced race/purse schedule.
Sunday April 28 – Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point at Glenwood Park in Middleburg. This is the final PTP of the spring.
Saturday May 4 – Virginia Gold Cup Races at Great Meadow in The Plains. Wager the prestigious Gold Cup, David Semmes Memorial and other steeplechase races all afternoon followed by the Kentucky Derby simulcast.
Saturday May 4 – Kentucky Derby Day festivities at Shenandoah Downs. Enjoy live harness action followed by the Kentucky Derby simulcast on the infield jumbotron.
Saturday May 4 – Kentucky Derby Simulcast. Wager the “Run for the Roses” at any Rosie’s Gaming Emporium, VA-Horseplay OTB or online at Twinspires.com, TVG.com, Xpressbet.com and NYRABets.com
Saturday May 18 – Preakness Day festivities at Shenandoah Downs. Enjoy live harness action followed by the Preakness simulcast on the infield jumbotron.
Saturday May 18 – Preakness Day Simulcast. Wager the Triple Crown’s 2nd leg at any Rosie’s Gaming Emporium, VA-Horseplay OTB or online at Twinspires.com, TVG.com, Xpressbet.com and NYRABets.com
Saturday June 8 – Belmont Day Simulcast. Wager the Triple Crown’s final leg at any Rosie’s Gaming Emporium, VA-Horseplay OTB or online at Twinspires.com, TVG.com, Xpressbet.com and NYRABets.com
Thursday July 11 – Colonial Downs Thoroughbred Racing Season in New Kent kicks off! The 9-week season will continue every Thursday, Friday & Saturday thru September 7.
Saturday August 10 – Colonial Downs’ “Festival of Racing” Day, featuring the Grade 1 Arlington Million, Grade 2 Beverly D and Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes.
Wednesday August 28 – Shenandoah County Fair Harness Race Meet in Woodstock kicks off at 12 Noon and continues daily thru Saturday August 31.
Saturday September 7 – Virginia Derby Day at Colonial Downs featuring racing’s top 3-year-old turf horses and the sport’s top trainers and jockeys.
Saturday September 14 – Shenandoah Downs Fall Harness Racing Season in Woodstock kicks off. The 7-week “Harness the Mountain Magic” meet continues every Saturday & Sunday at 1:05 PM thru October 27.
Sunday October 6 – Foxfield Fall Races in Charlottesville – a family-themed day of steeplechase racing.
Saturday October 12 – Middleburg Fall Races at Glenwood Park in Middleburg.
Saturday October 26 – International Gold Cup Races at Great Meadow in The Plains.
Sunday October 27 – Virginia Breeder’s Harness Championships at Shenandoah Downs in Woodstock featuring 8 title matches and over $650,000 in purse money on the line.
Saturday November 2 – Montpelier Hunt Races at James Madison’s homestead in Montpelier Station. This is the final NSA sanctioned steeplechase meet of the year.