Photo:

Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography

For the first time in track history, Colonial Downs will host a Kentucky Derby qualifying race, and the voice of the Kentucky Derby, Travis Stone, will be on the mic.

Stone will call all three days of the Virginia Derby meet, set for March 13-15, headlined by the $500,000 Virginia Derby on Saturday, March 15.

“I’m really looking forward to being part of the Virginia Derby meet at Colonial Downs,” Stone said. “It’s exciting to see the road to the Kentucky Derby go through Virginia and to be involved in such an important weekend for the track.”

TwinSpires will offer special promotions for betting on races from Colonial Downs and a qualifier for the $250,000 Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge featuring races from both Colonial and Oaklawn.

The March 15 card also features the Virginia Oaks, part of the road to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. The Virginia Derby offers Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale, and the Virginia Oaks awards points on the same scale for the Kentucky Oaks.

Colonial Downs regular track announcer Jason Beem, who is currently announcing at Tampa Bay Downs, is set to return for the expanded 2025 racing season, featuring 41 days of live racing from July 9 through Sept. 13.

Nominations for the Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks close Wednesday, with entries to be drawn Saturday, March 8.