Racing applications for the inaugural spring harness racing season at Shenandoah Downs, which runs from April 1 - May 14, are now available.
Racing applications are available at vhha.net. All horsepeople wishing to compete in the first of two pari-mutuel meets in Woodstock, Virginia this year must fill out an application and return it to the Virginia Harness Horse Association (VHHA) by March 3. Another campaign will be held in fall.
Races during the seven-week, 14-day spring meet will be held every Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.. A total of $1.06 million in purse monies will be distributed.
Signature events are a pair of $25,000 races, the Blue Ridge Pace and Alleghany Trot, and both will be held on Saturday, April 22. The marquee races were introduced last fall but were switched to the spring meet this year.
Another slate of $25,000 races will be contested on the first weekend in May. Graduates of the VHHA's Certified Residency Program will get a chance to compete against each other for the first time. The pace will be held Saturday, May 6 and the trot will take place on Sunday, May 7. Foals from 2019 and 2020 that completed their residency requirements will be eligible to participate.
Continuing on in 2023, the 106th Shenandoah County Fair harness meet will be held on Aug. 30 & 31 and Sept. 1 & 2. The eighth annual Shenandoah Downs fall season will follow from Sept. 16 - Oct. 29 pending Virginia Racing Commision approval. The highlight of the fall meet are the 26th annual Virginia Breeder's Championships, scheduled for Oct. 29. Elimination/prep legs will take place on the four weekends prior, beginning Sept. 30.
(With files from VHHA/Shenandoah Downs)