Colonial Downs gets 21 racing dates for 2021

The Virginia Racing Commission on Thursday approved a 21-day 2021 race meeting for Colonial Downs.

The season is schedule to span July 19 through Sept. 1 with racing on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Purses are projected to average roughly $500,000 per day.

Colonial was granted an 18-day season in 2020 but canceled the final 11 programs of the season after an outbreak of COVID-19 in the jockey colony. Colonial was shuttered five years before reopening for racing in 2019. The grandstand houses a popular casino and Colonial receives purse revenue from casino games throughout the year.

Colonial plans to release its 2021 stakes schedule, headed by the Virginia Derby, sometime in January.

Canterbury gets 65 days for 2021

The Minnesota Racing Commission on Thursday approved Canterbury Park’s request for a 65-day racing season in 2021. The meet starts May 18 and ends Sept. 16 with a Sunday-Thursday weekly schedule. Canterbury, according to a news release, plans to offer roughly $220,000 in daily purses, a significant increase over 2020 purse levels.