The Old Dominion Derby is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf held annually in September at Colonial Downs in New Kent County, Virginia. The event currently carries a purse of $500,000. History

The inaugural running of the event as the Virginia Derby took place on October 3, 1998 as part of the newly opened racetrack in Virginia known as Colonial Downs at a distance of miles on the outer turf course.

The quality of the event consistently improved and in 2004 the American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded the classification to Grade III status. That year the winner was Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey's Kitten's Joy who later in the year captured the crown of U.S. Champion Male Turf Horse. The 2005 winner English Channel later in his career won the Breeders' Cup Turf and in 2007 was also crowned U.S. Champion Male Turf Horse.

In 2006 the event was upgraded to Grade II which attracted the finest three-year-old turf horses with a massive US$1 million purse.

However the track ran into a dispute between track management and horsemen's organizations and the track closed after the 2013 meeting.

The event was not held in 2014.

In 2015 the event was moved to Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland and was renamed to the Commonwealth Derby and the distance was decreased to miles.

The event was down graded to Grade III in 2017.

In 2018 the event was not held, but Virginia laws were amended with regard to funding horse racing and the Colonial Downs reopened in 2019 and the event was scheduled as the New Kent County Virginia Derby.

In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the track canceled the meeting prior to the running of the event.

In 2025, Colonial Downs created a new event named the Virginia Derby that was run on the dirt track and scheduled in the spring as a Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race. Colonial Downs retained the turf event and renamed it to the Old Dominion Derby.

Records Speed: miles: 1:59.62 - Red Giant (2007) miles: 1:45.81 - Just Howard (2017)

Margins: lengths – English Channel (2005)

Most wins by an owner: 3 - Peter Vegso (2002, 2003, 2006)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 - Edgar S. Prado (2002, 2003, 2004)

Most wins by a Trainer: 3 - Todd Pletcher (2005, 2007, 2022) 3 - William I. Mott (2002, 2003, 2006) 3 - Dale L. Romans (2004, 2010, 2012) 3 - H. Graham Motion (2017, 2019, 2021)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Colonial Downs – Old Dominion Derby2026Lennox the GreyMychel J. SanchezArnaud DelacourWillow Pond Stable miles1:49.77$500,000III2025 World Beater Jaime Torres Riley Mott Pin Oak Stud miles 1:53.01$503,500IIINew Kent County Virginia Derby2024Deterministic Manuel FrancoChristophe ClementSt. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven C. Duncker & Vicarage Stable miles1:47.76$504,000III2023Integration Kendrick CarmoucheWest Point Thoroughbreds & Woodford Racing miles1:46.41 $504,000III2022Capensis Irad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. PletcherEclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Robert V. LaPenta, Gainesway Stable, Winchell Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Stables miles1:48.15$305,000III2021Wootton Asset (FR)Jose L. OrtizH. Graham MotionMadaket Stables miles1:46.79$250,000III2020Race not held2019English BeeJorge A. Vargas Jr.H. Graham MotionCalumet Farm miles1:52.94$250,000III2018Race not heldAt Laurel Park – Commonwealth Derby 2017Just HowardFeargal LynchH. Graham MotionSkeedattle Associates miles1:45.81$200,000III2016Deeply UndervaluedManuel FrancoChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables & William Lawrence miles1:46.63$200,000II2015One Go All GoRonald HisbyPavel MatejkaPreston Stables & Prestonwood Racing miles1:48.10$400,000II2014Race not heldAt Colonial Downs – Virginia Derby2013War DancerAlan GarciaKenneth G. McPeekMagdalena Racing miles2:03.57$500,000II2012Silver MaxRobby AlbaradoDale L. RomansMark Bacon & Dana Wells miles2:04.05$594,000II2011Air SupportAlex O. SolisStuart S. Janney III miles2:00.80$600,000II2010Paddy O'PradoKent J. DesormeauxDale L. Romans Donegal Racing miles2:02.58$600,000II2009Tyler BazeJeff MullinsMichael House miles2:03.29$750,000II2008Gio PontiGarrett K. GomezChristophe ClementCastleton Lyons miles2:02.22$772,500II2007 Red GiantHoracio KaramanosTodd A. PletcherPeachtree Stable miles1:59.62$1,000,000II2006Go BetweenGarrett K. GomezWilliam I. Mott Peter Vegso miles1:59.74$1,000,000II2005 English ChannelJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherJames T. Scatuorchio miles2:02.57$750,000III2004Kitten's JoyEdgar S. PradoDale L. RomansKenneth and Sarah Ramsey miles2:01.22$500,000III2003Silver TreeEdgar S. PradoWilliam I. MottPeter Vegso miles2:01.11$500,000 Listed 2002Orchard ParkEdgar S. PradoWilliam I. MottPeter Vegso miles2:03.10$500,000 Listed 2001Potaro (IRE)Brent E. BartramJonathan E. SheppardAugustin Stable miles2:02.18$200,000 Listed 2000Lightning PacesGreg W. HuttonJohn J. RobbTulip Hill Farm miles2:02.18$200,000 Listed 1999Phi Beta DocRobert W. LeonardDennis Foster & Robert W. Leonard miles1:59.97$200,000Listed 1998Crowd PleaserJean-Luc SamynJonathan E. SheppardAugustin Stable miles2:00.28$250,000Listed

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References