Shenandoah Downs will host its annual “Pink Power” Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser this Saturday September 30 as the Woodstock oval enters weekend three of its seven-week fall harness racing campaign.
Monies collected through a raffle featuring a Booze Wagon and other great prizes will benefit the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Harrisonburg, VA chapter. Four divisions in the U.S. Harness Drivers Club Fall Series will take place in races 6 thru 9, and all driver shares of purse money that day — and all meet — will be donated to the ASC as well. An initial donation check of $1,000 will be presented Saturday.
Five female drivers will compete for bragging rights and the winner’s share of a $5,750 purse in the “Pink Power Ladies Driving Challenge”. Veronica Merton, Betsy Brown, Stacey McLenaghan, Devan Miller and Sierra Seidner will battle in the afternoon’s third race.
Virginia Breeder’s Fund competition gets underway Saturday as well with $8,000 first leg divisions in the 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot and 3-Year-Old Filly Trot categories. Both freshman champs return with hopes of repeating. Pamela Wagner and Scott Woogen’s K J Alexander captured the $90,600 male trotting final last October while Caviart Farms’ Caviart Gwen won the $87,325 filly trot finale. Corey Braden will drive the former for trainer Alicia Hanners from the rail while Philip Scott Sonsteby will pilot the latter — which he trains — from post three.
The initial prep/elimination Breeder’s legs will continue in Woodstock for the next four weekends leading up to the $640,000 (est.) “Day of Champions on Sunday October 29.
Saturday’s entire card — along with all race days the rest of the meet — can be wagered online via Twinspires, TVG, Xpressbet and NYRAbets, and at many OTBs and tracks around the country. Free Shenandoah Downs Trackmaster programs along with Derby Bill’s Tip Sheet and race replays are available at shenandoahdowns.com. The fall season continues every Saturday and Sunday through October 29.
