by Darrell Wood, for Shenandoah Downs

Woodstock, VA — Race programs for the inaugural harness racing weekend at Virginia’s Shenandoah Downs in Woodstock have been assembled and fans can expect a marathon day for the kickoff on Saturday (Sept. 10).

The first of 10 wagering races goes to post at 1:00 p.m. and they will be followed by four non-betting Virginia Breeder’s 3-year-old championship races at 5:00 p.m. as well as a trio of qualifying races at 6:00 p.m.

On Sunday (Sept. 11) a 10-race card will commence at 1:00 p.m. Betting will be available on the first eight races but the final two, both Virginia Breeder’s 2-year-old title races, will be non-betting.

Opening weekend features free admission, a food truck festival and the first 500 fans 18 and older will receive a free $2 betting voucher. A ribbon cutting will take place Saturday on the track at 12:30 p.m.

Co-featured races on the opening card are a pair of $7,500 winners-over events. The eighth race is a pace and the ninth race is a trot. The early choice in the pacing event is the Roger Hammer trained R N Nate, who earned $83,376 last year in his 3-year-old campaign. The 4-year-old Nuclear Breeze gelding is one of three entered who have been racing at The Meadows.

One of those, Larjon Laura, is the second early choice. The 6-year-old daughter of Jereme’s Jet has a 1:52.2 winning mile this year, fastest of any of the five entered.

A field of six will compete in the winners-over trot including morning live favorite Classic Belisima, who has bankrolled $179,150 in her career. The John Cabot trainee will be driven by Frank Milby.

Second pick is Chinese Cuisine, an 8-year-old Revenue gelding whose 1:54.4 winning mile at Pompano is fastest of any of the six.

Sunday’s first race is the only Virginia Breeder’s championship race on opening weekend that is part of the betting card. Five 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers will vie for the prize including a pair that have each earned two runner-up finishes this year. Stacy McLenaghan’s Welcometotheparty (The Fraternity Pan-You’re Welcome) finished second at both Tioga Downs and Ocean Downs, while Jimmy Viars’s Royal Red (Dream Away-Royal Dieness) collected his pair at Lexington’s Red Mile.

Lil Cool Fly’n Fun is the only freshman that has a win on his record. The Cool Flying Fun-River Isle colt connected at the Shenandoah County Fair in a 2-year-old restricted race Aug. 31.

For meet details, visit www.shenandoahdowns.com or www.virginiahorseracing.com.