by Darrell Wood, for Shenandoah Downs

Woodstock, VA — Shenandoah Downs will host a “Pink Power” event this coming weekend to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Shenandoah Valley chapter.

A silent auction featuring many great items is set for both Saturday (Oct. 6) and Sunday (Oct. 7). More than 50 horse themed items and gift certificates from vendors and area merchants have been donated, and all auction proceeds will benefit the Cancer Society. The first 200 fans through the gate both days will receive a pink Shenandoah Downs baseball cap.

On the track Saturday, five female reinswomen will compete in a Powder Puff Ladies Driving Pace in the fourth pari-mutuel event. Participants include Stacey McLenaghan, Jean Rastetter, Sierra Graham, Laurie Stark and Betsy Brown. A double-seat sulky exhibition race later in the card will showcase female cancer survivors, who will sit alongside lady drivers in a half-mile clash. The track’s party tent will feature live music with the E-Town Band Saturday and Fiddlin’ Willie & 7 Bends String Band Sunday.

Fans are encouraged to wear fancy, elegant, creative and even outrageous headwear and enter the WINC Fancy Hat Contest on Saturday. In addition, four attendees that same day will get a chance to “own a horse for a day” via random prize drawings. The lucky four will return on Saturday (Oct. 13) and will join four additional contest winners (from Shenandoah Downs’ media partners) to “own” a horse in a specific race, meet their horse and trainer in the paddock and best of all, keep the purse money their horse earns in a $4,000 race. One lucky “owner” will win $2,000.

Parking and admission are free at Shenandoah Downs. Post time is 2 p.m. both days. Eleven races will be contested Saturday and eight on Sunday. A special non-betting program will be presented at 2 p.m. on Columbus Day (Monday, Oct. 8), featuring Virginia Breeders prep races. The championship races will follow later in the week on closing day (Sunday, Oct. 14), in another non-betting card.