Shenandoah Downs will present a "Purple Power Cancer Awareness Day" that combines fun with fundraising this Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Woodstock, Virginia harness racing half-mile oval. 
  
Two different raffles will take place to benefit the American Cancer Society's Shenandoah Valley Chapter. A collapsible wagon filled with bottles of tasty beverages will be raffled off along with gift certificates to Tractor Supply. An Old Fashioned Baked Goods raffle will be held as well. 

The first 350 fans will receive a free commemorative purple knit hat. An annual Fancy Hat Contest will be contested after the seventh race from fans that wear their most elegant, creative or outrageous headgear and compete for prizes in those categories.            

Among the 17 races slated Saturday are a pair of Ladies Driving Challenge races -- carried over from the track's prior "Pink Power" promotion geared specifically to breast cancer survivors -- which have been carded as the third and eighth race. Laurie Stark, Betsy Brown, Doreen Dailey and Stacy McLenaghan will compete in both, and based on points earned in the pair of events, the winner will receive a bouquet of roses.

A pair of non-betting half-mile races will feature four cancer survivors in each that will sit next to professional drivers in double-seater sulkies. 

Purple Power festivities will be held in conjunction with the Shenandoah County Chamber's annual Autumnfest celebration, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Though that is a ticketed event, admission to the harness races if free per normal. First post is 12:40 p.m., 20 minutes earlier than the normal 1 p.m. start time. 

The weekend kicks off Friday, Oct. 14 with a 12-race card that also begins at 2:40 p.m. instead of the regular 3 p.m. first post. This will be the final Friday Happy Hour card of the season. Fans can enjoy $2 draft beers, $1 hot dogs with live music courtesy of the Surf Jaguars from Maryland.    

 The current fall season continues through November. Starting next week, the race dates will shift to Saturday and Sunday -- beginning the weekend of Oct. 22-23 -- with a 1 p.m. post. 

For the first time ever, fans can "Harness the Mountain Magic" by wagering Shenandoah Downs racing action via TVG, XpressBet, TwinSpires and NYRAbets. Live video steaming is available through those four partner sites and also at shenandoahdows.com.  

(Shenandoah Downs)