Shenandoah, VA — Riddle…How can there be 15 winners on a 14-race program without a “dead-heat?”

USHDC members Wyatt Long and Kubi Erzene joined Dee Lineweaver for the contribution to the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame. Quentin Egan photo.

Shenandoah Downs Director of Racing Dee Lineweaver made it happen on Saturday (Oct. 28) with the other “winner” being the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame with the track and U.S. Harness Driver’s Club teaming up to make a contribution to our sport’s iconic museum located in Goshen, N.Y.

As for the racing, the USHDC was featured in four races at Shenandoah Downs on Saturday and stardom was shared between a quartet of amateur drivers as Scott Woogen, Mark Sheridan, Stacey McLenaghan and John McNeil III all reached the winner’s circle.

Doc Woogen kicked off the festivities by guiding the favored Moneyorroses ( Cougar Hall) to victory in a sharp 1:54.4, holding off the fast closing Need Arocket, piloted by John McNeil, III by three parts of a length. Art’s Beach, with Mark Sheridan in the sulky, was third.

The win was the fourth in 37 starts for Moneyorroses — all within the last month at Shenandoah Downs — with the winning time a seasonal best for the 5-year-old gelding, sending his 2023 earnings to $26,690 and $109,874 lifetime. The winner paid $3.80 to his multitude of faithful.

Mark Sheridan reached the winner’s next after an all-out brawl during much of the mile as 6-year-old mare Dandy Idea (Mach Three) had to slug it out every stride to score a tight photo finish win over Hulou, driven by Stacey McLenaghan with the final time 1:54.4. Cole On The Beach was third for Kubi Erzene.

Trained by Bryson Dunning for Mykashemydiamondmyariel, Dandy Idea pushed his scorecard to 5-5-4 in 31 starts, good for $36,084 this semester and $110,249 lifetime by taking a seasonal best record with this win. Off at 16-1, Dandy Idea rewarded his fandom with a $34.40 mutuel.

Stacey McLenaghan was next to visit the charred circle after giving picture perfect, patient handling to Jackie’s Express (Roll With Joe) to score a half-length in 1:55.3 over the pacesetting Antaeus, driven by Robert McNeight. I’ve Got Hootspa, threatening on the outside much of the way, finished third for John McNeil III.

Owned and trained by Colby Hubble, Jackie’s Express won for the third time in 33 starts with earnings for the year vaulting to $37,747 and $151,455 lifetime. The winner paid $5.60 as second choice in the betting.

Finally, Mister Miami (So Surreal), driven by John McNeill III, scored a popular victory in the USHDC finale, fighting off continual pressure the final five-eighths of the mile before rolling on to a 2-1/4 length win, sealing the issue with a :28.1 finale in 1:56. Team Captain, with Wyatt Long handling the lines, was next in a brave performance, while Hey Siri was third for Stacey McLenaghan.

Trained by McNeill for Joseph Harrington, Mister Miami paid $2.60 to win in winning his second race of the year in 14 starts.

Among the amateur drivers, Scott Woogen is the USHDC leader at Shenandoah with 13 wins.

The USHDC has been active with the track in making donations to many charitable organizations with their club total well in excess of $300,000.