Virginia's harness racing industry took another step forward this week when the Virginia Harness Horse Association (VHHA) announced that final leg purses for Virginia Breeders Stakes will increase to $100,000 from $80,000, and final leg purses for Virginia Sire Stakes races will also increase to $100,000 from $60,000, beginning this year. Elimination leg purses will also increase to $10,000, from $8,000 and $6,000 respectively, in both series.
All races will be contested at Shenandoah Downs in Woodstock. The 2026 spring season will run from April 11 - May 24 and the fall season will extend from Sept. 19 - Nov. 1.
The VHHA added a lucrative Sired Stakes initiative to their portfolio of incentive programs in 2022 and has 15 stallions registered to stand in the state for the 2026 breeding season. Sired Stake races will be run based on age, sex and gait as two and three-year-olds. Sired foals are also eligible to compete in the Breeders Fund races during the same years.
The Sired Stakes program also offers bonus payments to stallion owners and breeders. They will each receive 15 per cent of Sire Stakes purse winnings their foals earn in eliminations and finals.
The Virginia Breeders Fund initiative is the mare-based stakes program that has existed in Virginia for over 25 years. Races are also held during the foal’s two- and three-year-old seasons.
Sire Stake and Breeders Fund eliminations and finals for three-year-olds will take place during the spring season. Sire Stake trot (April 18) and pace (April 19) eliminations lead up to final rounds for both gaits on April 25. Breeders Fund trot (May 9, 16) and pace (May 10, 17) eliminations lead up to final rounds for both gaits on May 23.
The same series format for freshmen takes place during the fall season. Sire Stake trot (Sept. 26) and pace (Sept. 27) eliminations lead up to final rounds for both gaits on Oct. 3. Breeders Fund trot (Oct. 17, 24) and pace (Oct. 18, 25) eliminations lead up to final rounds for both gaits on Oct. 31.
More details on the incentive programs are available at vhha.net or by calling Debbie Warnick at 443-463-0917. Information on the 2026 harness season in Woodstock is at shenandoahdowns.com. Spring racing applications are currently available online and due by Wednesday, March 11.
(VHHA; all purses listed in USD)