Former VHHA “Own a Horse for a Day” promotional contest winner and local resident Steve Wetzel — now an actual harness owner and trainer — won four races at Shenandoah Downs over the weekend to soar to the top of the trainer standings.
Wetzel entered the weekend with four wins and followed up with a pair each day. On Saturday, he connected with Rocket Mac (1:54 2/5) and Sea Of Life, who triggered the fastest mile of the weekend — a 1:53 3/5 effort in the $10,000 featured winners over pace. On Sunday, he prevailed with Defriended (1:59 1/5) and D’Applesrsweet (1:56.0). After six race days, his win total stands at eight.
Wetzel was a cattle farmer in 2021 when he entered an “Own a Horse for a Day” promotion during a harness racing card at the Shenandoah County Fair. His name was drawn that day and he returned to participate in the contest race itself during Shenandoah Downs’ opening weekend program two weeks later. Wetzel’s contest horse finished first, good for a $2,000 payday, and from that point, he was all in on harness racing.
Wetzel purchased a farm within several miles of the track in Woodstock, learned about the sport in the coming months, began acquiring horses and even got his trainer’s license. And now, he is leading trainer at his home track.
Bryon Dunning sits next with six wins including a pair he recorded over the weekend with Amna and Bettor Be Oscar A. Conditioners Tracy Bradshaw and Oscar Johnson both had three-win weekends to move into a tie for third place in the standings. The former scored with Choices Honor, Joan Deer and Mr. Big Check while the latter reached the winners circle with Rock of Angels, Rocket Party and K J Messenger.
Twenty-two-year-old reinsman Christian Myers chocked up his first ever driving triple Saturday when he directed Rock of Angels, Rocket Mac and Joan Deer to victory. He followed with a win aboard Rocket Party Sunday and pulled into a third-place tie with his brother, 21-year-old Lucas Myers — who had a pair over the weekend — with six wins apiece. William Carter leads the way with nine wins and Fern Paquet Jr. is second with seven.
Second fastest mile of the weekend — after Sea of Life’s 1:53 3/5 — was authored by Joseph Karrat’s Champ Charbell in Sunday’s $7,425 featured pace. The 8-year-old Ponder gelding surged past front-stepping Hillbilly Kisses in the final turn and held off the Charles Myers trainee by one-half length after a thrilling stretch drive.
Shenandoah Downs continues its spring season with cards this coming Saturday May 17 at 3:05 PM and Sunday May 18 at 1:05 PM. Entries for both cards are due by Wednesday at 9 AM. The 7-week campaign continues through June 7. Details are at shenandoahdowns.com.
