by Darrell Wood, publicity director, Colonial Downs

New Kent, VA — Most racing fans normally don’t get to experience the thrill of owning their own horse, but harness fans this fall at Colonial Downs will get that opportunity courtesy of a promotion being conducted by the Virginia Harness Horsemen’s Association.

Each Saturday, from Sept. 21 through Oct. 20, the names of seven fans in attendance will be drawn at random after the seventh race. The winners will each get a chance to “own” an individual horse competing in the next day’s $3,000 “Own a Horse for a Day” race.

The new “owners,” including one selected via a media outlet, will meet in the Colonial backstretch Sunday morning for their own “draw” to see who gets which horse. They will also visit their respective horse, driver and trainer in the barn area for a unique behind the scenes experience, enjoy lunch in the VHHA Sky Suite, then gather in the winner’s circle for their race.

To top it off, the new “owners” will receive a check in the amount their horse wins that day. The top five finishers will get a piece of the purse in declining percentages. The winning owner will get 50 percent of the $3,000 purse while the second through fifth place finishers, respectively, get 25 percent, 12 percent, eight percent and five percent.

Each Sunday this fall, Colonial Downs will offer an $18 Family ‘n Friends 4-Pack promotion where fans can receive four general admissions, programs, tip sheets, hot dogs, soft drinks and exclusive prize drawing entries when a 4-Pack coupon is redeemed with $18. Coupons can be downloaded at www.colonialdowns.com.

Colonial Downs opens its 16th annual fall season on Wednesday (Sept. 18) and the meet continues through Oct. 27. Racing will be held every Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.

For more information, visit www.colonialdowns.com or call 804.966.7223.