VHHA announces Mountain Racing Series details

(WOODSTOCK, VA — 2/12/2024) — The Virginia Harness Horse Association (VHHA) announced details of their Mountain Racing Series today, open exclusively to 4 and 5-year-old harness racing horses that are graduates of Virginia’s lucrative Certified Residency program. The slate of four races will take place at Shenandoah Downs on Saturday April 27 and feature combined purses of $100,000.

The respective Blue Ridge Pace and Alleghany Trot will have separate $25,000 divisions for 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds — a total of four races in all. Both 2019 and 2020 graduate foals are eligible. Eliminations for these races will be held on April 20 and will feature a $6,000 purse. Horses must race in the eliminations to compete in the finals. The top eight finishers in each division will advance.

There is no cost to participate in these races however horsemen must complete a registration form at vhha.net and turn it in by March 15, 2024. Horses that do not submit the registration on time will not be allowed to participate. For more details, contact Debbie Warnick at 443-463-0917.

Racing applications are currently being accepted for the Shenandoah Downs spring meet in Woodstock. The 7-week campaign will run from April 6-May 19 with races every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Applications can be accessed at shenandoahdowns.com and are due March 1.

by Darrell Wood, for the Virginia Harness Horse Association