Virginia

American Promise wins sold-out Virginia Derby, now Kentucky Derby qualifier, at Colonial Downs

Published

1 year ago

March 16, 2025

American Promise wins sold-out Virginia Derby, now Kentucky Derby qualifier, at Colonial Downs

NEW KENT COUNTY, Va. — More than 8,000 people filled the stands at Colonial Downs for the much-anticipated Virginia Derby on Saturday.

American Promise won the race and secured a spot in the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 3.

WATCH: American Promise wins sold-out Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs

American Promise wins sold-out Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs

In addition to the Derby, there was another significant race on Saturday: the Virginia Oaks, where 10 horses competed for a spot in the Kentucky Oaks.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the First Lady presented trophies to the winners of the Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks events.

Virginia Derby Day’s roughly 8,000 tickets officially sold out on Wednesday.

Colonial Downs/International Sound Corp.

The event included special guests, unique experiences, and entertainment to honor the significant day in Virginia sports.

Esther Hall, a lifelong horse racing enthusiast from Virginia, was thrilled that the Virginia Derby is now a qualifier for the Kentucky Derby.

“I’m just so glad that Churchill created this race as a Derby prep race. It’s a brand new, first year it’s ever been a prep race,” Hall said. “And it’s a big prep race, a 50-point winning, you’re in prep race. So there are a lot of good horses here, good riders, good trainers. And I think it’ll really help the growth of Colonial Downs and hopefully horse racing in Virginia.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Jockey Nik Juárez on American Promise’s Virginia Derby win

FULL INTERVIEW: Jockey Nik Juárez on American Promise’s Virginia Derby win

Hall said her passion for the sport began in her youth and was fueled by her father’s promise.

“He put me up on one of the last old draft horses we had down there on the farm when I was three. And, you know, and I got scared, made him take me off,” she recalled. “But then when we got home, I said, ‘Daddy, I want a horse.’ He said, ‘Well, you can have one when you’re 12.’ And he thought I was going to forget, but I didn’t. And I’ve been riding since I was 12.”

PHOTOS: Fashion on display at Virginia Derby

Local News

PHOTOS: Fashion on display at Virginia Derby

Hall said horses have “always just been a passion” for the 70-year-old.

“Since I don’t work with horses anymore, I was able to come down here to the racetrack,” Hall said.

She hopes more people discover the sport.

“Bring your friends and your family here and introduce them to horse racing. These horses you’re seeing right now, these are some of the top horses in the country,” Hall said. “It’s beautiful watching the horses. There’s no excitement like it, you know. And then half an hour later, you get to watch another race and go through it all over again.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Why horses have ‘always been a passion’ for Virginia woman

FULL INTERVIEW: Why horses have ‘always been a passion’ for Virginia woman

📲: CONNECT WITH US

Source link

Click to comment

Virginia

West Virginia commit announces decision by blasting ‘Country Roads,’ lighting a couch on fire

Published

4 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

West Virginia commit announces decision by blasting ‘Country Roads,’ lighting a couch on fire

A big moment in any student-athlete’s career is announcing what school they’re committing to, and I don’t think you’re going to find an announcement better than one we’ve got coming from one of the newest West Virginia Mountaineers.

What’s that smell? It… it smells like a couch burning to the sounds of the Mountaineers’ beloved John Denver “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”

You bet your sweet a– that’s what it is.

There’s a growing chance that any recruit who lights a couch on fire is going to end up wearing one of these. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Ethan Lawson is a 6’6″, 300-lb offensive lineman and part of the 2027 recruiting class.

THE 2007 MOUNTAINEERS REMAIN COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S GREATEST ‘WHAT-IF’ STORY NEARLY TWO DECADES LATER

According to Sport Illustrated he has fielded offers from a bunch of programs including Appalachian State, Liberty, Air Force, Army, Navy, Duke, Wake Forest, UConn and more.

But, they all missed out because Lawson posted his decision on X, and well… I think he was always West Virginia material.

Bobcat Goldthwait was burning couches on camera before it was cool.

But, alright, there’s no doubt about it: someone is about to sell some jerseys.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

And if there’s not a furniture store in Morgantown that brings in Lawson and fellow offensive line recruit Kevin Brown (who also lit a couch on fire because that’s becoming a thing) for an ad, then… then, well, I don’t know what, but it would be quite the missed opportunity.

It’s early, but Rich Rodriguez’s West Virginia Mountaineers lead college football in recruits burning couches. (Ben Queen-Imagn Images)

Hey, like it or not, sometimes in the age of NIL it can be a popularity contest. If fans like you, it could mean greater visibility and more lucrative deals. Perhaps that was the mission here, and we all know it worked.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

I refuse to believe any Mountaineers fans saw that video, heard the song and then didn’t reflexively raise a beer (even if they didn’t realize they were drinking one and say, “Hell yeah, brother.”)

We’ll see if the sort of thing translates onto the field, but even if it doesn’t, I feel like there’s money to be made making appearances and lighting furniture on fire at frat parties.

Matthew Reigle is a writer for OutKick.

Source link

Virginia

Crews put out house fire in Bristol, Virginia

Published

14 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

Crews put out house fire in Bristol, Virginia

BRISTOL, Va. (WCYB) — Crews put out a house fire in Bristol, Virginia, on Wednesday morning, according to officials.

The Bristol, Virginia Fire Department was dispatched at 3:09 a.m. for the fire in the 900 block of Vermont Avenue. The house was unoccupied at the time fire crews arrived on the scene.

Firefighters encountered heavy smoke and flames in the front of the house. They were able to quickly extinguish the fire under challenging conditions. The fire scene remains active and an investigation is underway. No injuries have been reported.

Source link

Virginia

Virginia Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 Night results for June 2, 2026

Published

1 day ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

Virginia Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 Night results for June 2, 2026

The Virginia Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at June 2, 2026, results for each game:

Mega Millions

Mega Millions drawings take place every week on Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.

15-26-43-48-60, Mega Ball: 12

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 3

DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.

Night: 4-5-7, FB: 9

Day: 8-7-6, FB: 5

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.

Night: 7-0-6-5, FB: 8

Day: 1-1-9-0, FB: 1

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 5

DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.

Night: 2-9-1-0-4, FB: 0

Day: 5-9-4-1-7, FB: 0

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Cash Pop

Drawing times: Coffee Break 9 a.m.; Lunch Break 12 p.m.; Rush Hour 5 p.m.; Prime Time 9 p.m.; After Hours 11:59 p.m.

Coffee Break: 10

After Hours: 14

Prime Time: 04

Rush Hour: 13

Lunch Break: 06

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Millionaire for Life

Drawing everyday at 11:15 p.m.

16-33-41-50-52, Bonus: 01

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Center for Community Journalism (CCJ) editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link