Shenandoah Downs: Live racing begins this weekend

Shenandoah Downs ushers in its tenth year of pari-mutuel harness racing in Woodstock, Virginia with a pair of nine-race cards this weekend on Saturday April 26 and Sunday April 27, highlighted by the final day's finale --- a $9,000 winners over pace with a full field of eight. Each card includes two trotting events and seven pacing events. Post time both days is 1:05 PM.

The seven-week spring meet continues every weekend thru June 8 and will be followed by a four-day non-wagering Fair meet during the Shenandoah County Fair from August 27-30 and the traditional Shenandoah Downs fall pari-mutuel meet from September 13 - October 26.

The entry and draw schedule changes slightly this meet. The entry box for both weekend days will close Wednesday at 9 AM and Racing Secretary Karen Fagliarone will conduct a double draw that day.

The Virginia Racing Commission updated an important rule for the meet earlier this week. Trainers must have their non-Lasix horses in their assigned stall no later than two hours to post time of their respective race ---instead of the five-hour time frame which had previously been noted. Lasix must be administered four hours before the horse's race however.

The schedule for the Virginia Breeder's Fund Championship Series has been tweaked this year. In past years, prep and championship races in the 2 and 3-year-old pace and trot divisions had been held on closing day of the fall meet. This year, 3-year-old competition will be held closing weekend of the spring meet --- trotters on June 7 and pacers on June 8 --- while 2-year-old championships remain on closing weekend of the fall meet --- trotters on October 25 and pacers on October 26.

The Mountain Racing Series, open to Virginia-Certified 4- and 5-year-olds who compete in $25,000 divisions based on sex and gait, will be held the weekend of May 31 and June 1. The first-ever round of Virginia Sire Stake Races — eliminations and finals for 2-year-olds --- will take place in fall.

More information on the meet can be found at shenandoahdowns.com.

-edited release (Shenandoah Downs)