USHDC and STAC join forces at Shenandoah

Woodstock, Virginia, Sept. 21, 2025…The United States Harness Drivers Club and New York’s Southern Tier Amateur Club combined forces on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 20, to provide a memorable afternoon of harness racing at Shenandoah Downs.

Not only was the Club competition at its peak in their two heats of battle, Shenandoah Down’s Dee Lineweaver made sure that no less than four local charitable organizations were recognized with donations to their respective causes—the Standardbred Racing Investigative Fund, Shenandoah Local Ministries, the Peter Muhlenberg Middle School FFA and the Seven Bends Puritan Club.

Jeff Schaefer and Dein Spriggs won their respective events but requested that the donations take “center stage’ this afternoon.

The Standardbred Racing Investigative Fund, is a national 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization  that funds investigations into illegal and fraudulent activities in the harness racing industry.

Shenandoah Local Ministries works with communities of faith and existing agencies to strengthen outreach programs and services for the aging, infant and youth.

Peter Muhlenberg Middle School helps students reach full potential, focusing on literacy, building  meaningful relationships leading to positive contributions to their school and community.

Finally, Seven Bends Russian  is a civic service organization  made up pf local clubs with the focus on making communities aa better place to live and work through fellowship and goodwill.

Winning drivers Schaefer and Spriggs echoed each other’s comments reflecting on the importance of each organization and the role that our amateur clubs play in fulfilling the needs of the many charitable organizations that have assisted over more than a quarter century—from local communities to national outreach programs.

In the first amateur event, Jeff Schaefer, relaxed early with his charge Fear The Beach, used a furious stretch drive to take charge in deep stretch and then had to hold off the fastest charging Pinebush Lifesaverl, driven by Dein Spriggs, to score by a scant head in 1:58.

Its Mesmerize N, prominent throughout, was just another nose away in third for Robert Ciavardini.

Hey Siri, driven by Stacey McLenaghan, cut the mustard through panels of :28,3, :58.3 and 1:27.2 and finished fourth. 1 1/4 lengths away.

Magnificent Mark, with Charles Longo in the bike, raced a game mile while hung out to dry like wet laundry every step and picked up the nickel.

The winner, a six-year-old daughter of Fear The Dragon owned and trained by. Oscar Johnson, Jr., rewarded his faithful with a $19.20 mutuel.

Spriggs got his revenge in the second amateur feature guiding Speaking Of Coffee to a gate-to-wire win in a well rated 1:56.3, putting up numbers of :28.3, :57.4 and 1:27 en route to the win measuring 2 1/4 lengths.

Tipperary Hill finished second for Doc Woogen while Always Floating  was third for, once again,  Robert Ciavardini.

Armycaptin Hanover, closing fastest of all for Stacey McLenaghan, rallied for fourth while Kb’s sweetcaroline picked up the final award  for Adrian Wisher, Jr.

Speaking Of Coffee, an eight-year-old daughter of Artspeak, is trained by Bryson Dunning for owner Tribbett Racing and paid $4.40 as the 6 to 5 chalk.

Ciavardini did get a victory during the afternoon as four of the amateur drivers took part in a charitable “race under saddle” with the 72-year-old Ciavardini besting his much younger rivals by sprinting off the starting gate wings and then neck-and neck with Charlie Longo before taking the lead and widening to the wire in the dash to score over Spriggs, who closed with a rush to be second. Jeff Schaefer finished third while Charlie Longo, prominent early, was a “DNF” with the time for the dash clocked in :17 3/5 seconds.

After the race, Spriggs mused, “when Mr. C. got to the quarter point in :3 3/5, he was going to be tough to catch…and he was.”  Splits after the opener were :7 4/5 and :12 2/5.

Spriggs concluded, “We just want to tip our hats to Dee Lineweaver in supporting our efforts to bring our Clubs in to show how amateur clubs can be such a positive force for our sport.”

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by John Berry, for the USHDC