Jonda Smith’s Ballarddrgoldfngr picked up where he left off a week ago in Virginia Sire Stake competition, capturing the $102,975 divisional final for 2-year-old colt pacers Saturday (Oct. 3) at Shenandoah Downs.
Author: by Darrell Wood, for Shenandoah Downs
Harnessing Hope 2026 raises funds for worthy causes
The second annual Harnessing Hope fundraiser, held at Maine’s Cumberland Fair, concluded on Saturday (Oct. 3) with the completion of its driving competition and the contesting of the inaugural Harnessing Hope All Women Drivers Breast Cancer Awareness Invitational Pace. The fundraiser brought together members of the Maine harness racing industry with racing fans to raise money for charitable causes selected by Maine drivers.
Beltrami, Hernandez win in Pocono AHDC events
Tony Beltrami blew away his rivals in the $10,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot while Geovany Hernandez scored in the following race with a pillar-to-post effort to win the $10,000 AHDC Pace on Saturday (Oct. 3) at Pocono Downs.
Cindy’s Faith scores Pop-Up final at Saratoga
Cindy’s Faith recorded the biggest win of her season on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 27) at Saratoga Casino Hotel when the Kirsten Proctor-trained mare scored in the $21,250 Pop-Up Final. Aaron Byron got the driving assignment behind the 4-year-old mare, who is on her way to earning six-figures in a 2026 campaign that has seen her climb the class ranks all the way up to the local Fillies and Mares Open.
Lou’s Starr sets all-time Shenandoah Downs pacing mark
Dan Chansky’s Lou’s Starr triggered his second track record of the week — at two different ovals — when he wired the field in a $10,000 conditioned pace Saturday (Sept. 26) at Shenandoah Downs in 1:51.1, the fastest mile ever recorded at the Woodstock half-miler. The 4-year-old Sweet Lou horse shattered the previous best — which he authored last fall — by three-fifths of a second. The winner, who recorded quarter fractions of :27, :55.4 and 1:23.1, is trained by Scott Warnick and was driven by Corey Braden.
Wrong Sounds Right, Climatic Hanover secure spots in Oak Grove Trotting Derby and Oaks elims
Two more standout 2-year-old trotters have punched their tickets to the eliminations for the 2027 Oak Grove Trotting Derby and Oaks following major Grand Circuit victories over the weekend.
Keim, Verruso victorious in Pocono AHDC Trots
Cote Keim and Anthony Verruso put together winning steers over a track rated “sloppy” to snag the pair of $10,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trots at Pocono Downs on Saturday (Sept. 26) as part of an abbreviated weekend for the club with Sunday’s slated races at Harrah’s Philadelphia cancelled due to weather.
Sunday races cancelled at Eldon, Iowa
Please be advised that the races scheduled for Sunday at Eldon, Iowa (Sept. 27) have been cancelled due to rain and poor track conditions.
Delaware County Fair hosts BSS fifth leg for freshman filly pacers
The Delaware County Fair hosted five $20,000 fifth-leg divisions of the Buckeye Stallion Series for freshman filly pacers as part of a 20-race card on the first of its five-day meet in Delaware, Ohio, Sunday (Sept. 20).
Meyersdale Saturday program produces record miles
The second-to-last stop of the 2026 Pennsylvania Fair circuit was held at the Somerset County Fairgrounds in this borough located in southwestern Pennsylvania. The Saturday (Sept. 19) card for 2-year-olds will be remembered as “the Miracle of Meyersdale,” as the dedicated local track crew talked with the horsemen about a tricky surface and picked a plan of action which resulted, after a 78-minute delay, in three Meyersdale divisional track records and three 2:00 miles.