Shenandoah Downs to kick off season April 11
Harness track back for 11th parimutuel season
Press Release
April 7, 2026
Shenandoah Downs kicks off its 11th year of pari-mutuel harness racing in Woodstock April 11 and continues a 7-week spring season with cards every Saturday & Sunday at 1:05 PM thru May 24.
Opening day festivities include a celebration of iconic driver/trainer Roger Hammer — who recently turned 80 years of age — highlighting his impact on Virginia harness racing over the past 27 years. The first 500 fans 18 & up will receive a commemorative Shenandoah Downs/Roger Hammer t-shirt and later in the program, everyone will join together and sing Happy Birthday, and enjoy a piece of celebratory birthday cake.
This article contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, we may earn a commission at no extra charge to you.
Pick up reliable and rewarding tickets for major events!
Hammer is most known for his homebred trotter Vivid Photo — who had a magical run from 2004 – 2012 highlighted by a 2005 Hambletonian win. To help support Virginia racing, he brought his star trotter to Colonial Downs in five consecutive years, from 2005 to 2009. Vivid Photo won the track’s signature event, the $100,000 Patriot Trot, in 2006 & 2007.
In the Commonwealth, Hammer’s presence has been felt since pari-mutuel harness racing was introduced at Colonial Downs in 1998. He participated as a driver & trainer at the New Kent track in 11 of those years. Once Shenandoah Downs opened and became Virginia’s new home for harness racing in 2016, he has been a fixture since.
Heading into the 2026 Shenandoah spring meet, Hammer is 22 training starts away from his 1000th in Virginia. Between Colonial & Shenandoah, his horses have made 978 starts — 365 at Colonial and 613 in Woodstock.
Pick up reliable and rewarding tickets for major events!
LATEST NEWS
