USHDC donations boost museum and Standardbred show

Woodstock, VA…October 17, 2026…While Shenandoah Downs featured the rich Stakes events highlighting the meeting, Operations Manager Darrel Wood has included the United States Amateur Drivers Club in the festivities.

On the heels of three donations last week at Shenandoah Downs, the USHDC, courtesy of the track, presented two more awards of $1,000 each, the first to the recently concluded National Standardbred Horse Show in Allentown, N.J., and the second to The Harness Racing Museum Hall of Fame IN GOSHEN, N.Y.

The National Standardbred Horse Show presented its 32nd annual show recently featuring standardbreds—both racing and retired—to show the entire equine world the dexterity of the breed, as many are re-trained as riding horses and therapy horses assisting mankind of all ages needing such therapy.

There were 123 horses entered this year competing in 178 classes with a two ring format for the English and Western classes.

USHDC Treasurer Tom Eichas lamented, “We are ale to make these donations because of the grand assistance from Shenandoah Downs great staff including (the aforementioned) Darrell Wood, Racing Secretary Karen Fagliarone and Director of Racing Peter Szymanski.

“Our efforts to contribute to worthy charitable organizations is made possible by their great cooperation.

USHDC President Dein SprIggs added, “Our Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame serves as the ‘Cradle’ of our sport and is the ‘must see’ destination to see the entire history of our  standardbred sport. It truly serves as its most important historical structure, located on the grounds of one of the most important tracks—Goshen Historic—in our sport.

“All tracks that host our amateur races deserve our applause and Shenandoah Downs is just a fantastic partner!”

The featured amateur event on this day was soon by Faithoverfear, a six year-old Fear The Dragon mare driven to victory by trainer Alexandra Goldin and owner EVM Racing LLC in 1:59.3.

Fear The Dragon now has a 6-1-5 scorecard in 26 starts with seasonal earnings of $21,505.

Lifetime, the mare is within a “ns” of $100,000—$99,947.

As the 4 to 5 favorite, Faithoverfear paid $3.80 to her many faithful.

Not only a successful trainer, Ms. Goldin is also gaining a solid reputation  in these amateur events with nine wins and a UDRS this semester of .324.

Racing continues at Shenandoah Downs through November 1 with Virginia Breeders Stakes on the menu and Pink Power Breast Cancer Awareness Day on October 24.

by John Berry for USHDC