Woodstock, VA – Even though horses won’t be competing in Shenandoah County Fair harness races until August 28th, and later in September and October during the Shenandoah Downs racing season, horses were on the track last week, but for a different purpose.

The Harness Horse Youth Foundation (HHYF) rolled into town, complete with truck, trailer and five horses, and hosted a day camp for kids on July 8th and 10th in partnership with the Virginia Harness Horse Association.

Area youth got a unique opportunity to learn about the sport of harness racing not just in the stable and barn area, but on the track itself sitting in double-seater sulkies and guiding horses around the track.

Ellen Taylor talks to the youth camp participants about harness racing. Photo credit HHYF.

Ellen Taylor heads up the HHYF program and brings a stable of five Trottingbreds with her to each stop on the summer tour, which includes 14 different tracks and farms. In addition to Shenandoah Downs, 2019 stops include The Meadowlands, Harrington Raceway, The Downs at Mohegan Sun and the Goshen Historic track.

“The industry needs this,” said Taylor during her recent Woodstock visit. “Humans are the conduits but horses are the true teachers.” She, along with assistant Katie Eick, educated a dozen kids last Monday on how to feed and care for a horse, how to put on a harness, then went over all the pieces of equipment that go on a horse. After lunch, activity shifted from the barn to the racetrack itself where one by one, participants sat next to an experienced trainer and took a couple laps around the half-mile oval.

“Up to 70 percent of the participants in the day camp program are not from racing families,” said Taylor. “Our hope is that some day in the future when they drive by a racetrack, they’ll remember their experience here, pull into the racetrack and have a great time with their family and friends.”

Virginia Harness Horse Association Representative Debbie Warnick and Shenandoah Downs Racing Secretary Dee Lineweaver were instrumental in bringing the camp back to Woodstock for a second straight year. “There is such a great tradition of harness racing here at the Fairgrounds that it just makes sense to introduce the sport to a new generation,” said Lineweaver. “We had a great response and look forward to seeing the campers and their families at the races this Fall.”

“If we simply provide the opportunity to expose and educate harness racing to potential new fans, then we have achieved an important goal. It is extremely gratifying to see a young person develop an interest to the extent of being active in the business.”