Woodstock, VA – Roger Hammer’s R N Nate established a new Shenandoah County Fair track record Thursday (Aug. 29) of 1:55.3 in the second division of the $3,000 Aldine Jenkins Memorial Open Pace. The previous mark of 1:57.0 was established in 2017 by Chuck Perry’s PL Dragon. The purse amount was the highest in fair history.

R N Nate is a 7-year-old Nuclear Breeze gelding that came into the race with $229,307 in earnings. He recorded a 1:54.2 mark last fall at the Shenandoah Downs pari-mutuel meet and breezed coast-to-coast today in early fractions of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:26.4. R N Nate crossed six lengths in front of Scott Woogen’s Pier Ho Temptation. Lima Illusion was third.

John’s Dream’s finishing time of 1:56.4 established a track record in the first Jenkins division, though the mark lasted all of 15 minutes. Owner/trainer/driver Chuck Perry guided the winning effort against four others by wiring the field in fractions of :28.3, :59 and 1:28.2 and crossing 1-1/2 lengths the best.

The 102nd edition of County Fair races began Wednesday (Aug. 28) and through two cards now, Hammer has four wins followed by 23-year-old Sierra Graham who has three. Hammer’s hat trick opening day included wins with Linda’s Will, Blow Back and Jukebox Hero. Graham scored ​both Wednesday and today with Rock On Dock and again later in today’s card with Milly B Gone. Racing continues Friday (Aug. 30) and Saturday (Aug. 31) with cards at 12 Noon.