- Spectators pack the fence line as the camels are paraded into the winner’s circle after their race at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
![Ryan Hooghkirk wears a camel hat as a camel is...]()
Ryan Hooghkirk wears a camel hat as a camel is walked to the starting gate for a race at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. Hooghkirk’s favorite animal is a camel, she even has a tattoo of one on her wrist. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![Spectators pose for photos and pet the lead ponies at...]()
Spectators pose for photos and pet the lead ponies at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![Jockeys ride ostriches during a race at Colonial Downs in...]()
Jockeys ride ostriches during a race at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![A jockeys hits the track after being thrown from his...]()
A jockeys hits the track after being thrown from his zebra during a race at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![Spectators line the fence to watch a horse race at...]()
Spectators line the fence to watch a horse race at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![Lily Cooney, 9, leans against the fence as she cheers...]()
Lily Cooney, 9, leans against the fence as she cheers on the racing horses with her mother Courtney Cooney at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![Numbers on the starting gate are switched out before a...]()
Numbers on the starting gate are switched out before a race at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![A camel is lead to the starting gate for a...]()
A camel is lead to the starting gate for a race at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![A zebra is walked out onto the track for a...]()
A zebra is walked out onto the track for a race at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![Camels wait in their enclosure before racing at Colonial Downs...]()
Camels wait in their enclosure before racing at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![Jockeys race their horses at Colonial Downs in New Kent...]()
Jockeys race their horses at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![Jockeys pose for a photo with their camels in the...]()
Jockeys pose for a photo with their camels in the winner’s circle following a race at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![An ostrich pokes their head out from the starting gate...]()
An ostrich pokes their head out from the starting gate while getting in position for a race at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![Track ponies walk the track at Colonial Downs in New...]()
Track ponies walk the track at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![A horse is cooled down with water following a race...]()
A horse is cooled down with water following a race at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![Jockeys take off on their ostriches for a race at...]()
Jockeys take off on their ostriches for a race at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![Camels head out onto the track for a race at...]()
Camels head out onto the track for a race at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![Ostriches hangout in their enclosure prior to racing at Colonial...]()
Ostriches hangout in their enclosure prior to racing at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![Jockeys race their camels at Colonial Downs in New Kent...]()
Jockeys race their camels at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![Jockey Forest Boyce sits atop Cairo Street after winning their...]()
Jockey Forest Boyce sits atop Cairo Street after winning their race at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)![Spectators line the fence as camels are borough out onto...]()
Spectators line the fence as camels are borough out onto the track for a race at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
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Spectators pack the fence line as the camels are paraded into the winner’s circle after their race at Colonial Downs in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
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By Kendall Warner | [email protected] | Photographer
UPDATED:
Camels, zebras and ostriches took to the race track in between nine thoroughbred horse races to celebrate the first Friday of race season at Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent County on Friday, July 11, 2025.
Originally Published:
