Alright, so I went to the Colonial Downs Racetrack the other day. I heard that live racing is back for the 2024 season every Thursday. Naturally, I decided to check it out.
I went in not knowing what to expect, but I was curious. I got there on the opening day, and let me tell you, it was packed. I heard someone say there were about 2,500 people there. It was a pretty big crowd. They were placing bets left and right. I overheard that the total wagers were something like $2.67 million. Can you believe that? It was wild.
I wandered around, trying to soak it all in. They have three different tracks there. I saw a big dirt track, which I think is 10 furlongs, and a smaller grass track, about 7.5 furlongs. I guess they call it the inner turf course.
The place was buzzing with excitement. I noticed a lot of families too, which was cool. Kids were running around, having a blast. It felt like a real community event. It seems like Colonial Downs is a pretty popular spot on race days, lots of families.
I stuck around for a few races. I watched them come thundering down the track. It was quite a sight. I even placed a small bet myself, just for fun. Didn’t win anything, but hey, it was a fun experience. I guess they do this for 30 days total. I might go back again, just to enjoy the atmosphere and maybe try my luck one more time.
If you’re ever in Virginia and looking for something different to do, I’d say give Colonial Downs a shot. It’s not every day you get to see live horse racing, and the energy there is pretty contagious.
