All posts by Darrell Wood

The Virginia steeplechase community lost a pillar on December 18 as Will O’Keefe, an iconic race caller and chairman of the Virginia Fall Races, passed away at the age of 76. Condolences go out to Will’s family and friends. The following story appeared in Bloodhorse.com. The Virginia Fall Race Committee announced Dec. 20 the death … Continue reading Longtime Virginia Steeplechase Race Caller Will O’Keefe Passes Away →

Congratulations to Ballybristol Farm’s Andi’Amu who is retiring after 49 career starts and earnings of $544,400! The 13-year-old gelding, trained by Neil Morris, reached the winners circle 15 times — including a trio of Virginia Gold Cup victories, a Steeplethon win at Great Meadow, and a triumph in the National Sporting Museum & Library Stakes … Continue reading Andi’amu Retires to Kentucky Horse Park Hall of Champions →

Gregory Pecs, one of the most successful sires in Virginia’s 26-year history of pari-mutuel harness racing, passed away earlier this month at the age of ​​21. A son of champion trotter Muscles Yankee, Gregory Pecs produced three Virginia Breeder’s champions and a total of 17 top-three finishers in the annual two and three-year-old title matches which … Continue reading Gregory Pecs, Successful Virginia Standardbred Sire, Passes Away at the Age of 21 →

Shenandoah Downs completed its 2023 pari-mutuel harness racing season in Woodstock, Virginia on October 29. Believe it or not, this was the eighth consecutive season that pacers and trotters competed over the half mile oval since the Virginia Equine Alliance invested close to $1 million in track renovations there in 2016, to turn what was … Continue reading Shenandoah Down 2023 — By The Numbers →

–Virginia Racing Commission December 6, 2023 meeting update written by Nick Hahn (as it appeared in The Racing Biz)- The summer meet at Colonial Downs in 2024 will look very similar to the one run earlier this year. But what comes next could be pretty interesting. The Virginia Racing Commission approved December 6 a request … Continue reading For Colonial Downs, More of the Same Sounds Good →

(WOODSTOCK, VA — 12/7/2023) — The Virginia Racing Commission (VRC) approved 2024 spring harness dates for Shenandoah Downs Wednesday morning at its December meeting in New Kent.  The Woodstock oval’s seven-week season will run from April 6 – May 19 with race cards scheduled every Saturday and Sunday at 1:05 PM. The traditional fall meet … Continue reading Seven-Week Spring Meet Dates Approved for Virginia’s Shenandoah Downs →

Racing dates for 2024 at Colonial Downs were approved today at the Virginia Racing Commission meeting. The 27-day live racing season will be held over nine weeks from Thursday, July 11 through Saturday, September 7. The New Kent racetrack will race three days per week, Thursday through Saturday. “The success of the 2023 meet, which brought … Continue reading Colonial Downs to Race 27 Days in 2024 →

Caviart Gwen, K J Alexander and Miraclepowerfull all look to defend their 2022 Virginia Breeder’s Championship titles Sunday, October 29 at Shenandoah Downs when they compete as 3-year-olds in their respective 2023 divisional clashes. In all, $802,200 in purse money will be on the line in Sunday’s 14-race card and the trio of 2-year-old champs … Continue reading Trio of 3-Year-Old VA Breeder’s Finalists Hope to Defend Their Titles Sunday at Shenandoah Downs  →

Children’s equine author Amber Sawyer, a Wisconsin resident, is spending this week in Woodstock where she, harness racing driver/trainer Stacy McLenaghan, and Shenandoah Downs’ Director of Racing Dee Lineweaver are visiting middle schools in the area promoting the sport of harness racing to new young audiences. The four-stop tour will culminate with an additional appearance … Continue reading Harness Racing Children’s Author & Horse Visit Shenandoah County Middle Schools This Week →

–Richest card in Virginia Harness Racing History set for Sunday October 29 at 1 PM (WOODSTOCK, VA —10/25/2023) —- Shenandoah Downs will usher out its 7-week fall harness racing season on Saturday & Sunday October 28 & 29 with a pair of 14-race programs, headlined by Sunday’s $802,200 Virginia Breeder’s Championships — richest card in … Continue reading Shenandoah Downs Closing Weekend Highlighted by the $802,200 Virginia Breeder’s Championships →