City: Richmond, VA

Category: Spectator Sports

Address: 10515 Colonial Downs Parkway

Description: Colonial Downs, Virginia’s only pari-mutuel horse racetrack, is about 30 miles from Richmond, just off I-64 in New Kent County. Odds are good that you’ll enjoy the racing and atmosphere here whether you choose to bet or not. The 14-year-old track offers both Thoroughbred- and harness-racing seasons, with the former running from late May into July and the latter running from Sept into Nov. Thoroughbred racing takes place Sat through Wed during the season. Most of the Thoroughbred races are run on the Secretariat Turf Course, the widest grass surface of any track in North America. In the U.S. only Belmont’s track is larger than Colonial Downs’ 1¼-mile dirt track. Such a track means harness horses trot 1 mile and encounter only one turn, a unique configuration. The track hosts the annual spectacle of the Strawberry Hill Races, recently moved to May to coincide with the running of the Preakness, and the Virginia Derby in July. Surely you can set aside two minutes in the middle of July to cheer on thoroughbred racing’s top 3-year-old turf horses as they pound along 1¼ miles in the $600,000 Virginia Derby. The race, the second of four legs in the Jacobs Investment Grand Slam of Grass, attracts racing’s finest in search of that $5 million prize. Colonial Downs’ 127,000- square-foot grandstand, 95 wagering stations, and the topflight competition draw more than 9,000 fans to the derby. Virginia Derby winners have gone on to win the Breeder’s Cup several times, so these horses can fly. General admission to the derby starts at $5, with additional fees for parking. Otherwise general admission to the track is $2, which includes grandstand seating. You can upgrade to box seats or get into the Jockey Club for $8 more. If you have more than four in your party, advance reservations are recommended for the Jockey Club, which has a TV at every table so you don’t miss a race. Various special events are scheduled, including live music, poker tournaments, microbrew sampling, and Racing to the Stars & Stripes—a triple threat of racing, a concert, and fireworks.