Woodstock, VA — Horsemen wishing to race and stable at Shenandoah Downs for the upcoming “spectator-free” fall racing season will need to submit a racing application to the Virginia Harness Horse Association by Aug. 9.

The five-week campaign will be held from Sept. 18-Oct. 17 with racing every Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m. The stable area will open on Monday (Sept. 14) and entries will be taken every Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Virginia Breeder’s elimination races will be contested the first three Saturdays of the meet — 3-year-olds on Sept. 19, 2-year-olds on Sept. 26 and finals for both age groups on Oct. 3.

Racing applications are available at vhha.net and shenandoahdowns.com.

Shenandoah Downs is located at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds in Woodstock, halfway between Harrisonburg and Winchester off I-81 at Exit 283.

Prior to the Shenandoah Downs season, a three-day “VHHA Matinee Meet” will be held Sept. 2-4 at the same venue. That campaign will replace the regular Shenandoah County Fair race season this year since the Fair was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information on either meet, call Debbie Warnick at 443.463.0917 or e-mail her at nihilator40@msn.com.