Virginia horseplayers have it good: online horse race betting is legal and fully regulated, with Colonial Downs and every major advance-deposit app a tap away.
The racebooks below are the ones our team rates highest for Virginia bettors, judged on track coverage, rebates, the quality of the app and the welcome offer.
You must be 18 or older to bet the horses in Virginia, with racing overseen by the Virginia Racing Commission. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Best Virginia Horse Racing Betting Sites
Our top-rated advance-deposit wagering (ADW) apps for Virginia bettors. Tap to open the operator’s official sign-up page. 18+. Terms apply.
- ★ EDITOR’S PICK
TwinSpiresBest for coverage★ 4.7 / 5$200 Sign-Up Bonus · Promo Code BET200$100 in bonus cash for every $400 you wager, up to $200
TwinSpires is the in-house racebook of Churchill Downs Inc., which owns Colonial Downs, so Virginia players get close coverage of the summer meet at New Kent alongside the national menu. Live races and replays run on both the website and the app, with Rewards points on every wager.
Key terms: Wager $800 within 30 days of opening your account to earn the full $200; Bonus paid in $100 increments for every $400 wagered; Show wagers don't count; bets count once the race is official; Credited within 10 business days; one per household. Full terms apply — see our TwinSpires review. Please play responsibly. -
FanDuel RacingBest app & streaming★ 4.6 / 5Bet $10, Get $50 in Racing Bonus · No Promo Code neededFanDuel Racing rotates its new-customer offer, so the amount can change
FanDuel Racing, the platform formerly known as TVG, is licensed for Virginia and carries daily expert picks, free past performances and free streaming from more than 300 tracks. One FanDuel login and wallet covers racing and the company's sportsbook.
Key terms: First real-money racing wager of $10 or more; $50 in non-withdrawable Racing Bonus, credited within 72 hours; Racing Bonus expires seven days after it's issued; Not open to anyone who has wagered on FanDuel Sportsbook, Casino or DFS. Full terms apply — see our FanDuel Racing review. Please play responsibly. -
NYRA BetsBest for big meets★ 4.5 / 5$25 Free Bet + $200 Deposit Match · Promo Code CUP25A free bet on sign-up, then 100% of your first deposit matched up to $200
NYRA Bets accepts Virginia players, with free live video, HD coverage of Saratoga and Belmont Park and up to three streams at once. Box, key and position-swap tools make exotic tickets quick to build.
Key terms: $25 free bet credit on sign-up; unused credit is removed after 14 days; 100% match on your first deposit up to $200, made within 30 days of opening the account; Wager twice your deposit within 30 days to unlock the match; Show bets, futures, phone wagers and cancelled bets don't count. Full terms apply — see our NYRA Bets review. Please play responsibly. -
DK HorseDraftKings crossover★ 4.3 / 5100% Deposit Bonus up to $250 · No Promo Code neededFor DK Horse customers in states that haven't moved to DraftKings Racing
DK Horse, DraftKings' standalone racing app, is still live in Virginia on the same login as the DraftKings Sportsbook but with a separate racing balance, live streams and replays.
Key terms: Minimum $25 deposit; 100% deposit match up to $250 with a 2x play-through; All DK Horse promotions require opt-in; Only in states where the standalone DK Horse app still operates. 18+ (21+ in AZ, IN, IA, WA). Full terms apply — see our DK Horse review. Please play responsibly.
Horse Racing & Betting in Virginia
Colonial Downs (New Kent), the state’s sole track, which ran a record 48 live days in 2026, alongside Rosie’s historical-horse-racing venues statewide.
TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing (TVG), Caesars Racebook, DK Horse, NYRA Bets and 1/ST BET are the licensed ADW companies (horse racing betting sites and apps) available to Virginia bettors. Online wagering is legal for fans 18+; bettors must be 18 (21 for HHR machines) and, where required, physically within the state.
The signature races to know are the $500,000 Virginia Derby in spring and the Arlington Million during the summer meet.
| Track | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonial DownsNew Kent · Thoroughbred · Summer meet Jun 25 – Sep 7, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Shenandoah DownsWoodstock · Harness · Harness, usually September – October (fall meet) | ||||||||||||
| Great MeadowThe Plains · Steeplechase · Virginia Gold Cup May 2, 2026; International Gold Cup Oct 24, 2026 |
Months with live racing. Dates come from the tracks and the state racing regulator; meets can change, so check the track’s own calendar before you go. Simulcast wagering runs year-round.
More on Racing in Virginia
Yes, Virginia, there is live horse racing in the state of Virginia. Plenty of it, in fact. There is thoroughbred racing at Colonial Downs. Shenandoah Downs offers live standardbred racing. The Virginia Gold Cup and International Gold Cup offer the best in steeplechase racing.
Online horse betting is fully legal in Virginia. Bettors can use licensed racebook apps like TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing (formerly TVG), and 1/ST BET, all of which offer live streaming, simulcast wagering, and welcome bonuses. Typical promos include FanDuel Racing’s Bet $10, Get $50 in Racing Bonus, TwinSpires’ $200 signup bonus after wagering, and 1/ST BET’s tiered first-bet matches.
Popular Online Horse Bet Types & Races
The simplest forms of wagering on Virginia horse racing are the so-called straight bets of win, place and show. A win bet is placing a wager on a horse to win. That horse must come in first for you to win the wager. Place betting is wagering on a horse to come in first or second place. You win the wager if the horse comes in the top two. Show betting is wagering on a horse to finish in first, second, or third. You win the wager if the horse comes in the top three.
Exotic wagers are more complicated but also offer the potential to be more rewarding. An exacta wager is placing a wager on two horses to come in first and second. To win, the horses must come in that exact order. A quinella wager is placing a wager on two horses to come in first and second in any order. A trifecta is selecting three horses to finish in first, second, and third. To win, they must finish in that exact order.
Bettors can also box exacta, trifecta, and quinella wagers. By boxing the horses involved in the bet, the bet is a winner no matter the order in which they finish.
Virginia Horse Racing Betting Legal Overview
While steeplechase racing has been prominent in Virginia since colonial times, it was in 1922 that the Virginia Gold Cup was created. Today, it is the highlight event of a seven-race card held each year before crowds that number up to 60,000. In October, the International Gold Cup brings approximately 35,000 to the track.
Major US Horse Betting Events You Can Wager On In VA
Held every year on the first Sunday in May, the Virginia Gold Cup is one of the jewels of the American steeplechase season. In the fall, Virginia held the International Gold Cup, another major steeplechase event held.
Every September, the Virginia Breeders Stakes for two and three-year-old colt and filly trotters and pacers are held at Shenandoah Downs. Likewise, Colonial Downs offers Virginia Breeders Stakes events for the state’s best thoroughbreds.
Virginia Racetracks
Colonial Downs · 10515 Colonial Downs Pkwy, New Kent, VA 23124
Offering live thoroughbred racing from July-September.
Great Meadow In The Plains · 5089 Old Tavern Rd, The Plains, VA 20198
Home of the Virginia Gold Cup steeplechase races in May and the International Gold Cup races in October.
Shenandoah Downs · 300 Fairground Rd., Woodstock, VA 22664
Offering live standardbred racing from September-October.
Virginia’s Live Racing Scene and Betting Options
Virginia is one of the stronger horse racing states on the East Coast, with three distinct racing disciplines active. Colonial Downs hosts live thoroughbred racing each summer, Shenandoah Downs delivers standardbred harness racing in the fall, and Great Meadow stages two of the country’s most prestigious steeplechase events—the Virginia Gold Cup in May and the International Gold Cup in October.
Bottom line: if you’re in Virginia, you can bet legally on local races and major national events like the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes, and Breeders’ Cup—all from your phone or desktop.
How to Bet on Horse Racing
New to the windows? Start with the straight bets. A win bet needs your horse to finish first; place pays if it runs first or second; show pays for first, second or third. They are the cheapest way to learn the game.
From there come the exotics, where the real payouts live. The exacta asks for the first two home in order, the trifecta the first three, and the superfecta the first four. Multi-race bets — the daily double, Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 6 — string winners together across races, and the Pick 6 jackpot can roll into life-changing money. Our guide to exotic bets walks through each one, and the beginner’s guide to betting on racing covers the basics end to end.
How to Start Betting on Racing in Virginia
- Pick a racebook and sign up.
Tap a “Visit” button above to open an ADW account. You must be 18+ and within state lines where required.
- Claim the welcome offer and deposit.
Fund the account by debit card, bank transfer or PayPal and activate any new-customer bonus before your first wager.
- Find a race and place your bet.
Browse the day’s cards, read the form, pick your horse and bet type, and confirm. Watch the live stream and collect if you win.
Virginia Horse Racing Betting Sites and Apps (November 2026)
Virginia Horse Racing Betting FAQs
Is online horse race betting legal in Virginia?
Yes. Online wagering is legal for fans 18+; TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing, Caesars Racebook, DK Horse and TVG serve the state, overseen by the Virginia Racing Commission.
How old must you be to bet on horses online in Virginia?
18 for pari-mutuel horse wagering.
Which racetracks run in Virginia?
Colonial Downs (New Kent), the state’s sole track, which ran a record 48 live days in 2026, alongside Rosie’s historical-horse-racing venues statewide.
Which apps can I use in Virginia?
Our top-rated picks are AmWager, TwinSpires and the other ADW apps listed above. Online wagering is legal for fans 18+; TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing, Caesars Racebook, DK Horse and TVG serve the state.
Where to watch online/stream horse races in Virginia?
Live streaming of both the Virginia Gold Cup and International Gold Cup races is offered through the track’s website and can be accessed via their mobile app. Shenandoah Downs also live streams all of their racing.