Virginia Derby

The Virginia Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, traditionally held at Colonial Downs in New Kent County, Virginia. Historically a Grade II turf event, the race has been moved to the dirt track and rescheduled to March, serving as a prep race for the Kentucky Derby. The 2025 Virginia Derby is scheduled for March 15, 2025, offering qualifying points to the top five finishers.

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Location: Colonial Downs, New Kent County, VA

Inaugural Race: 1998

TV Coverage: Stream live on TwinSpires.com!

Current Distance: 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs)

Track Type: Left-Handed, Dirt

Age Qualification: 3YOs

Purse: $500,000

Race Date: Sunday, March 16th

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2025 Virginia Derby Morning Line Odds

Official race entries and morning line odds will be listed below once they are released.

2024 Virginia Derby Results

PPHORSEJOCKEY / TRAINERWIN / PLACE / SHOW
3
Deterministic
Manuel Franco / Christophe Clement
$4.00 / $2.80 / $2.10
2
Grand Mo the First
Paco Lopez / Victor Barboza, Jr.
$3.80 / $2.80
7
Desvio
Ben Curtis / Madison F. Meyers
$3.80
9
Echo Lane
Antonio A. Gallardo / Rohan Crichton
12
Zverev
Jorge Ruiz / Cherie DeVaux
8
Massif
Sheldon Russell / Brittany T. Russell
11
Fulmineo
Victor R. Carrasco / Arnaud Delacour
5
Frontline Warrior
Vincent Cheminaud / Claude R. McGaughey III
4
Izzy d'Oro
David Cohen / Blake Kelly

Exotic Payoffs:

  • $1 Exacta (3-2) Paid: $6.00
  • $0.50 Trifecta (3-2-7) Paid: $13.90
  • $0.10 Superfecta (3-2-7-9) Paid: $15.25

Watch the 2024 Virginia Derby

History of the Virginia Derby

The Virginia Derby, inaugurated on October 3, 1998, at Colonial Downs in New Kent County, Virginia, has established itself as a prominent event in American thoroughbred racing. Initially held in the fall, the race featured a distance of 1¼ miles on the turf course. The inaugural event attracted over 8,000 spectators and was marked by Governor James S. Gilmore III declaring it "Secretariat Day" in honor of the newly dedicated turf course.

In 2001, the Virginia Derby shifted to a mid-July date, aligning with the summer racing season. This change enhanced its appeal, attracting high-caliber horses, including future Eclipse Award champions like Kitten's Joy, English Channel, and Gio Ponti. The race achieved Grade III status in 2004 and was elevated to Grade II in 2006, with its purse peaking at $1 million, solidifying its reputation as a premier turf event for three-year-olds.

However, the race faced challenges when Colonial Downs ceased operations after the 2013 season due to disputes between track management and horsemen's organizations. Consequently, the Virginia Derby was relocated to Laurel Park in Maryland from 2015 to 2017, during which it was renamed the Commonwealth Derby and its distance shortened to 1⅛ miles. The race was not held in 2018 but returned to Colonial Downs in 2019 under its original name and distance, following the track's reopening.

A significant development occurred in 2025 when the Virginia Derby transitioned from turf to dirt and was rescheduled to March 15, becoming a key preparatory race for the Kentucky Derby. This change aimed to enhance its prominence on the national racing calendar, offering qualifying points to the top five finishers and guaranteeing the winner a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate. 

All-Time Winners & Results of the Virginia Derby

YEAR
WINNER
JOCKEY
TRAINER
DISTANCE
TIME
2024
Deterministic
Manuel Franco
Christophe Clement
1&1/8 Miles
01:47.8
2023
Integration
Kendrick Carmouche
Claude R. McGaughey III
1&1/8 Miles
01:46.4
2022
Capensis
Irad Ortiz Jr.
Todd A. Pletcher
1&1/8 Miles
01:48.2
2021
Wootton Asset (FR)
Jose L. Ortiz
H. Graham Motion
1&1/8 Miles
01:46.8
2020
(race not held)
2018
(race not held)
2017
Just Howard
Feargal Lynch
H. Graham Motion
1&1/8 Miles
01:45.8
2016
Deeply Undervalued
Manuel Franco
Chad C. Brown
1&1/8 Miles
01:46.6
2015
One Go All Go
Ronald Hisby
Pavel Matejka
1&1/8 Miles
01:48.1
2014
(race not held)

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