USHDC to have busy weekend at two tracks

October 12, 2023…The United States Harness Drivers Club (USHDC), formerly known as the Florida Amateur Driving Club, has a huge weekend of harness racing ahead with four events scheduled at Shenandoah Downs on Saturday, October 14, followed by pair of races as Cumberland Run opens its fall season on Sunday, October 15.

Shenandoah Downs Racing Secretary Dee Lineweaver has, again, scheduled four amateur events on Saturday in their 14-race extravaganza with Dr. Scott Woogen, the author of a harness racing “triple-double” (two wins on each program the past three weeks) looking for a “grand slam” on Saturday.

In acknowledging his accomplishments, Woogen said, “This isn’t about me—anybody can get lucky—it’s really about Dee Lineweaver, who, with a great staff on the team, has been instrumental in our success here.

“Last week it was the American Cancer Society and, anytime we can do something for that cause, it’s what our Club tries to do and it’s much easier when we have the cooperation of the track!”

Stacey McLenaghan, who has reached the winner’s the past three weeks, as well, will also be in action driving in all four races on Saturday.

On Sunday, Cumberland Run Racing Secretary Kevin Mack has put together a potent 10 race program featuring almost $200,000 in purses including four $30,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes event, a pair of “mini-series” races—one for three-year-old pacing fillies and the other for sophomore pacing colts and geldings—and a $20,000 Open Pace, among others.

The events for the two amateur events have purses totaling $20,000, assuring the charitable coffers will be increased substantially for charitable purposes as the drivers in all USHDC events donate all of their earnings to the club for distribution to worthy causes.

As USHDC President Dein Spriggs lamented, “Kevin Mack and Company was responsible for our successful $10,000 in donations during the Oak Grove Racing meeting earlier this season and the success of our club can be attributed to his dedication to our cause and what we can of for our sport.

“We are fortunate that Kevin Mack is here at Cumberland Run to further all of our charitable work.”

Spriggs will be in action on Sunday along with Tony Dinges, the leading amateur driver at the recently concluded Oak Grove Meeting.

Other familiar names appearing in the amateur events are Jafari Frazier, Carson Conrad, Lauren Harmon with Julie Whitman, Donricus Blackmon, and Scott Mc Quinn.

The USHGC has donated over $300,000 to worthy causes from aftercare for retired standardbred horses to standardbred trained for a second career as therapeutic horses for “children of all ages,”

by John Berry, for the USHDC