Shenandoah Downs will open its eighth annual fall racing season in the heart of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley this weekend with a pair of 12-race cards scheduled to go to post at 1 p.m. both Saturday Sept. 16 and Sunday Sept. 17. The seven-week season will continue through Oct. 29.
All dozen races on Saturday's kickoff card feature eight-horse fields while seven of 12 on Sunday's card have full fields. The showcase race of the weekend is Sunday's $10,000 Open Trot. Seven of the eight entrants boast $100,000-plus bankrolls led by Gregory Gardner's Keegan Ho with $375,826. Interestingly, the only horse that falls short -- Shantae Gant's Vulcan Hanover with $95,358 --- is one of the most successful horses to ever compete in Woodstock. The six-year-old Donato Hanover gelding has won 13 pari-mutuel races at Shenandoah over the past three years, including five this spring. With five victories at the Shenandoah County Fair as well, 18 of his 23 career wins have come locally. He is fourth early favourite at 9-2.
David Jarvis's Creekside Pete is early choice at 2-1 based on a 1:55 winning mile at Tioga Downs on July 22. Scott Woogen's railbird K J Kyra is next at 3-1 and enters opening day festivities having won three of her last four. She is the only mare in the field. Garder's Keegan Ho, with a 1:53.3 life mark, is third choice at 4-1.
The Shenandoah simulcast signal will be available on Dish-TV so fans around the country can wager Virginia harness at their favourite track or simulcast outlet. A steaming signal will be available as well for online betting via Twinspires, TVG, Xpressbet and NYRAbets. Free Trackmaster past performance programs along with handicapper "Derby Bill Watson's" Tip Sheet are available at shenandoahdowns.com.
(Shenandoah Downs)