All posts by Darrell Wood

–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 →

$702,200 Champions Day Card Set for Sunday October 29 at 1 PM The final round of Virginia Breeder’s Prep race action took place over the weekend and after four weeks of competition, all systems are a go for Sunday’s (Oct. 29) $702,200 Champions Day card featuring eight title matches between 2 and 3-year-old pacers and … Continue reading Virginia Breeders’ 2-Year-Old Harness Prep Races Conclude at Shenandoah Downs →

Preps continue in advance of $702,200 “Day of Champions” Card on October 29   Two-year-old pacers and trotters of both sexes will take center stage this weekend at Shenandoah Downs as the final round of Virginia Breeder’s prep and elimination races take place in advance of the $702,200 “Day of Champions” card on Sunday October 29. … Continue reading Virginia Breeder’s 2-Year-Old Prep Races Set for this Weekend at Shenandoah Downs →

A second round of Virginia Breeder’s Fund preliminary races in the 3-year-old trotting and pacing categories took place at Shenandoah Downs October 7 & 8 in advance of the $650,000 “Day of Champions” card scheduled to close out the fall meet on Sunday October 29. James Brown’s Terrys Watching and Tracy Bradshaw’s Joan Deer captured … Continue reading Virginia Breeder’s 3-Year-Old Prep Races Conclude at Shenandoah Downs; 2-Year-Old Preps Up Next  →

 Pamela Wagner and Scott Woogen’s K J Alexander and Caviart Farms’ Caviart Gwen — Virginia Breeder’s 2-year-old Colt/Gelding and Filly Trot champions — made bold statements Saturday at Shenandoah Downs as they began defense of their titles as sophomores.  K J Alexander wired the field in his $8,000 Breeder’s preliminary leg, the first of two … Continue reading Virginia Breeder’s 2-Year-Old Trotting Champs Win In Their 3-Year-Old Breeder’s Preps at Shenandoah     →