by Darrell Wood, for Shenandoah Downs

Woodstock, VA — The second season of pari-mutuel harness racing at Shenandoah Downs is set to commence on Saturday (Sept. 16) and another five week season is planned.

The meet will continue every Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. through Oct. 15. Gates open at 11 a.m. on race days.

Pacers and trotters will compete in 10 races each afternoon and a race generally goes off every 20 minutes. The half-mile oval, which was completely renovated a year ago, recently played host to four days of Shenandoah County Fair harness races (non-betting). This was the 100th anniversary season of Fair racing at the grounds in Woodstock, which is located halfway between Winchester and Harrisonburg off I-81 at Exit 283.

Featured event this meet is the Virginia Breeders Championship races for 2- and 3-year-olds, which will take place during the first two weekends. The 2-year-old finals are scheduled for Saturday (Sept. 16) while the 3-year-old finals are set for Sunday (Sept. 24). A total of eight divisional titles are up for grabs and more than $300,000 (est.) in purse monies will be awarded.

The entry box for opening weekend races closes Wednesday (Sept. 13) at 9 a.m. Saturday’s (Sept. 16) draw will take place Wednesday; Sunday’s draw will take place Thursday. Horsemen can contact the racing office at 540.459.5456 and 540.459.5460.

The fall season will offer free parking and admission for fans every race day. Last year, there was a combination of paid and free admission days. Betting windows are conveniently located in the grandstand. Win, place, show, exacta and trifecta bets are available each race and can be placed with a teller or via a self bet terminal. Programs that offer past performance information on all the horses can be purchased for $1. A free tip sheet will be provided with each program.

This year, the harness races will be streamed live, free of charge, on two different websites — www.shenandoahdowns.com and www.virginiahorseracing.com. In addition to betting at the track, Shenandoah Downs wagering will be available at both Richmond area off track betting centers operated by the Virginia Equine Alliance for the first time.

It’s a nice step in terms of growth and exposure. If an out of town owner wants to enter their horse in a race but can’t attend in person, they can now watch the race live via our website. And race fans in Central Virginia can visit the Breakers OTB or Ponies & Pints OTB and bet the Shenandoah races via simulcast.

Every Saturday will feature a different themed festival. Hops ‘n Hooves, a craft beer tasting event, kicks off the slate on Sept. 16 followed by a Food Truck Festival on Sept. 23. The popular Wine & Trotter Festival is on Sept. 30 and features tastings from Shenandoah Valley wineries. Seafest, where various seafood related vendors are on premise, is on Oct. 7 and Autumnfest highlights closing weekend on Oct. 14. The latter event is a heritage themed festival that includes a barbecue tasting competition with 40 contestants, live music, log splitting competitions and more.

There are separate admission charges to access the Autumnfest, Wine & Trotter, and Hops ‘n Hooves sampling areas at Shenandoah Downs but general admission to the harness races is free each day. Details are at www.shenandoahdowns.com and www.virginiahorseracing.com.