Shenandoah Downs

09/21/2026

Yes, we gave away $5,600 in prize money in Sunday's popular "Own a Horse for a Day" promotion sponsoned by the VHHA --- but the best part might be seeing when contest winners meet their respective horses in the paddock before the big race! We're doing this promotion two more times this fall and will give 16 more fans a chance to be an owner for a day, win some money and make new memories.

Here are the ways you can enter: Register via contests with WSIG & WSVA radio in Harrisonburg, with Q102 radio in Wi******er, by attending our "Pigskin 'n Ponies" Day at the track Saturday October 10 or by playing a free handicapping contest at the track every Sunday, thru October 24. All the details are at shenandoahdowns.com

09/21/2026

Congratulations to Chris Pangle --- Woodstock's newest locally-based harness horse owner --- who got his first win ever at his home track, Shenandoah Downs, Sunday afternoon! Pangle's 3-year-old gelding pacer One Fell Swoop collected his first win ever after eight tries in the $5,000 second race. Driver/trainer Chuck Perry led the 1:57.0 winning effort in the sulky.

Pangle has three horses which he purchased over the past several months. He was especially happy about One Fell Swoop's win. "This has been a fun experience. Alot of work has been put into getting this horse right and I got something back with the win. It might be a good reason to go out and get a fourth horse!"

Racing resumes this Saturday September 26 with Shenandoah Downs' 10th anniversary celebration featuring an inflatable village for kids to enjoy, 10 cent ice cream scoops from Sugar Creek, a horseshoe giveaway to the first 200 families and anniversary cake for everyone. We're also giving 10 lucky fans a named race in their honor and a ride in the starter's car for an actual race. Register by commenting with the words "Happy Anniversary" below. We'll pick winners on Wednesday!

09/20/2026

Congratulations to driver/trainer Jordon Miller who made his first ever start at Shenandoah Downs Saturday --- on opening day of the fall racing season --- and got to the winner's circle with his 9-year-old pacer Gray Dragon! The Dragon Again gelding won his first race of the year and pushed his bankroll to $459,000. Jordon, who races primarily in Pennsylvania, gave Virginia a try --- and not surprisingly said he'd be back.

Sunday races kick off today (Sunday) at 1:05 PM with 11 races on tap. Admission is free, hot dogs are $1 and canned b**r is $2. And we kick off our newest promotion -- an "Own a Horse for a Day Handicapping Contest". Fans get a free contest entry and will be asked to pick a horse to win in six consecutive races. The top 5 finishers will share a $250 prize pool. The top winner gets $125 of that pool AND will "Own a Horse for a Day" on November 1 and keep the purse money their horse earns in a $5,000 race. We'll be doing this every Sunday thru October 25!

09/19/2026

Congratulations to the first winner of the fall racing season in Woodstock --- Richard Dylans' Blue Jay's Watchin! The 2-year-old He's watching c**t was making his first lifetime start -- and succeeded in a $6,000 two-year-old pace. The winner was driven by Chuck Perry and is trained by Dan Gassien. Opening weekend festivities continue Sunday with an 11-race card at 1:05 PM. Admission is free, hot dogs are $1, canned b**r is $2 and fans can enter a free handicapping contest with $250 in cash prizes on the line.

09/19/2026

Welcome to opening day of the Shenandoah Downs fall meet in Woodstock! The first of 12 races is 1:05 PM, admission is free and the weather looks great. The first 500 fans get a free commemorative long sleeve T-Shirt and The Fever Project will be performing live tunes all afternoon on the concert stage. Opening day's Facebook-exclusiive tip sheet is included here with selections from our resident experts. Best of luck today!

Shenandoah Downs
Spring Meet: Opening Day of 14
Saturday, September 19, 2026

The Handicappers:
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"Derby Bill" Watson
Millard S. Beatty, III
Rich Moore
Dave Moore

Race 1:
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Bill: 6-4-3-5
Millard: 4-6-7-1
Rich: 6-4-3-5
Dave 6-5-7-1

Race 2:
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Bill: 3-4-5-1
Millard: 1-3-4-6
Rich: 3-1-6-4
Dave: 3-1-6-4

Race 3:
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Bill: 5-1-4-2
Millard: 1-4-3-5
Rich: 1-5-3-4
Dave: 3-4-5-1 Longshot

Race 4:
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Bill: 5-4-3-1
Millard: 5-3-1-6
Rich: 5-6-4-3
Dave: 5-3-4-1

Race 5:
======
Bill: 3-6-5-7
Millard: 6-5-3-4
Rich: 6-7-5-1
Dave: 6-7-3-4

Race 6:
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Bill: 6-5-2-3
Millard: 6-2-3-7
Rich: 6-7-5-2
Dave: 6-7-5-3

Race 7:
======
Bill: 7-1-6-5
Millard: 6-1-7-5
Rich: 6-7-1-2
Dave: 6-7-1-2

Race 8:
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Bill: 7-5-3-2
Millard: 4-6-7-2
Rich: 6-4-1-2 Best
Dave: 2-6-3-1

Race 9:
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Bill: 3-2-1-5
Millard: 2-3-1-5
Rich: 5-3-2-1 Longshot
Dave: 1-3-2-4

Race 10:
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Bill: 1-2-3-4 Best
Millard: 1-2-6-7
Rich: 1-2-6-7
Dave: 1-6-4-2

Race 11:
=======
Bill: 7-3-1-4
Millard: 5-3-1-2
Rich: 5-7-1-3
Dave: 5-1-4-2 Best

Race 12:
=======
Bill: 1-3-5-6
Millard: 3-1-5-6
Rich: 3-1-5-6
Dave: 3-1-5-4

09/19/2026

Happy opening weekend!

Fall harness racing season opens at Shenandoah Downs | Story: https://www.whsv.com/2026/09/17/fall-harness-racing-season-opens-shenandoah-downs/

09/19/2026

Front page of the Northern Virginia Daily today! Congratulations to trainer, driver & outrider Chrissy Johnson whose life in horse racing helped generate some nice publicity for opening day of the fall racing season —- which is tomorrow (Saturday Sept. 19). First post is 1:05 PM and admission is free. The first 500 fans will get a free commemorative long sleeve t-shirt!

09/18/2026

Great to see long time driver/trainer Jerry Longo on the grounds in Woodstock, settling in for a 7-week racing season which begins tomorrow (Saturday Sept. 19)! Longo arrived this morning from Running Aces harness track in Minnesota and will be ready to compete all weekend. Twelve races are carded Saturday and 11 are slated for Sunday. Post time both days is 1:05 PM. The first 500 fans on Saturday receive a commemorative long sleeve t-shirt, and The Fever Project will be performing on the concert stage. Details are at shenandoahdowns.com.

09/17/2026

Congratulations to our three "Own a Horse for a Day" Facebook contest winners - Allie French Coffey, Kristin Stout & Katie Wakeman! You have each won a chance to own a horse at Shenandoah Downs this Saturday September 20 --- and keep the purse money your horse earns in a $5,000 race. E-mail [email protected] to redeem and get details on your big day this weekend.

09/17/2026

Opening weekend of the fall racing season is almost here! We'll have 12 races on Saturday & 11 on Sunday with post time each day of 1:05 PM. On Saturday, the first 500 fans 18 & up will receive a free commemorative long sleeve t-shirt plus The Fever Project will perform all afternoon on the concert stage. On Sunday, concession specials include $1 hot dogs & $2 canned b**r. We'll have an "Own a Horse for a Day" handicapping contest every Sunday with $250 in cash prizes on the line. The winner each week will get a chance to "Own a Horse for a Day" and win their share of a $5,000 purse. Details are at shenandoahdowns.com.