Author: Darrell Wood

Shenandoah Downs will celebrate its 10th year of pari-mutuel harness racing with a pair of 7-week meets at the Woodstock oval in 2025. The spring session will run from April 26 – June 8 and a fall meet will extend from September 13 – October 26. Dates for both campaigns were formally approved by the Virginia […]

This summer, fairgoers will step into a transformed Shenandoah County Fairgrounds. By the time the 2025 Shenandoah County Fair begins in late August, a new 32,500-square-foot multi-use barn will be ready to house livestock during the fair before transitioning into a 148-stall horse barn for Shenandoah Downs’ fall and spring harness racing seasons. Shenandoah County […]

The following was written by Leland Schwartz and appeared in FauquierNow January 22, 2025 The 100th running of the Virginia Gold Cup races will be held at Great Meadow, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The boards of Great Meadow Foundation and the Virginia Gold Cup Association have agreed on how best to […]

R. Larry Johnson, who put his stamp on the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred industry on racetracks, in breeding sheds, and in boardrooms in Maryland and Virginia, passed away Feb. 4. He was 78. “He was successful in all parts of the horse business — standing stallions, selling yearlings and breeding good, competitive racehorses,” said Cricket Goodall, executive […]

The following appeared in the Daily Racing Form and was written by Marcus Hersh Million-dollar Virginia- bred earner Gigante returned $3.80 in winning the Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds on Saturday December 21. Even chasing a loose leader who set a slow pace, Fair Grounds-turf-loving Gigante proved too much for the opposition in the […]

When retired Virginia small animal veterinarian Adam Ainspan purchased his first racehorse 22 years ago, he most likely had a dream — as any new owner would — to someday win a stakes race say, with a $500,000 purse. That dream turned into reality for Ainspan on August 31, 2023 when his thoroughbred horse Harlan […]

Based on the recent success of running several National Steeplechase Association (NSA) sanctioned races at Virginia’s spring Point-to-Point meets the past couple years, that strategy will continue and even expand in 2025 according to NSA Director of Racing Bill Gallo.  “We’ve had a good experience at the Old Dominion and Blue Ridge meets and will […]