2017 Ohio Fairs

A retired postal worker was the one who named Bowling Green, Ohio in 1852 after the city of the same name in Kentucky where he once worked.

That city was named after the oldest park in New York (which had an actual bowling green) located in lower Manhattan where "the Rebels" tore down the statue of King George III during the American Revolution.

Henry County Fair in Napoleon - famous since 1853 - offered Ohio Fair Racing Conference stakes for two and three-year olds and on Tuesday night (August 14th) the fans were treated to the one-man karaoke-style tunes between the races as Art Mc IL Murray enjoyed a driving triple. Cameron McCown matched that total as well.

The horses move in behind the gate, the gate swings around the paddock turn, and her-r-r-r-r-re they come!

Xenia was founded in 1803, the same year Ohio became a state.

The name means "hospitality" in Greek and it is located just south of Old Chillicothe, now called Old Town, the first capital of Ohio in 1803.

The area was home to the Great Shawnee war chief Tecumseh.

Eaton, Ohio was named after General William Eaton (1754-1811) who served under General "Mad Anthony" Wayne in the American Revolution.

When the Barbary Coast pirates began attacking American shipping interests in 1801, it was Eaton who led the U.S. Marines "to the Shores of Tripoli" as they raised the first victorious American flag on foreign soil.

The Champaign of County Fairs...
It was the start of the four-day race program on Sunday (August 6th) afternoon at the Champaign County Fair in Urbana. While there were not any Western Ohio Colt Racing Association stake races in the offering, there were some surprisingly fast miles.
It was Big CC's Rock, Kimberly Dailey and Carl & Melanie Alley's two-year-old Pet Rock gelding, opening up 2017's Speed Program with a new lifetime mark. Scott Cisco steered trainer Jim Dailey's pupil past the finish line in a sharp 1:59.1h for the mile besting favorite St Nicholas with Cameron McCown.
And the old met the new in the 2nd race as 10-year-old Olin trotted off to win in 2:01h over several youngsters to pick up his first monies in 7 starts this year. The Ron Steck-trained Ilooklikemymom gelding is owned by Virginia Powell of Urbana.
Cameron McCown would get the seat behind Lisa Snyder and Gene Humphrey's Angela Nichole from trainer Darrell Hooser and squeeze out a victory as the four-year-old mare by Big Bad John win by a neck in 1:59.4h over Cams Good Fortune and driver Tom Luther.
The Scott Cisco/Jim Dailey combo would close out the day's race card with Allgoandnowhoa going away as Carl & Melanie Alley's two-year-old colt by Dragon Again paced to a new lifetime mark of 2:01.4h and won by 8 lengths.

Xenia mania...
The Greene County Fair held the first of its two-day race programs at the Chip Noble Memorial Park in downtown Xenia on Wednesday, August 3rd and the 13-race card added to the tribute.
In the very first race, a $4,037 Ohio Colt Racing Association division for two-year-old colt pacers, was captured by Centerville's Carol Jean Noble's Johnny Chip. The Dan Ater-trained son of Big Bad John took his new lifetime mark in an impressive 1:58.2h with Ryan Ater aboard.
Hugh Beatty drove Gregory Clark and Belinda Conkright's Tipp City in the $3,979 OCRA pace for two-year-old fillies and posted a fast time of 2:01.1 for the McArdle lass and trainer Dan Conkright.
Chip Noble's son Dan honored him well by taking the $4,958 OCRA 1st division for two-year-old trotters, and the first of his four driving victories on the night, with Xenia's Stephen Sexton's Bold Creation in 2:04.1h. Noble also conditions the colt by Dejambro.
The Signature Series, offered as the Ray Henley Memorial, saw Bud High cut torrid fractions with his own Count Full (Full Count) as the track-record holder at Bellefontaine led every step off the way until... he was nabbed by the new kid on the block: 19-year-old Joseph Putnam.
Sum It Up, a 6-year-old gelding by Lump Sum, established a new Xenia track record as the Joe Putnam co-owned - with Cheryl O'Mara - and trained trotter out-stepped the Count with a mile in 1:58h flat.
The 2nd OCRA division for two-year-old filly pacers produced a crowd-pleaser as Ryan Holton and Bad Tigress (Big Bad John) staged an epic stretch drive against Jeff Nissonger and Crosswind Butterfly (Pet Rock) in 1:59.2h. Holton, his wheel, and bike were by Nissonger but the tight photo revealed he was actually second by a slim nose, where it all matters.
The Dan Noble-trained and driven two-year-old Non Smoker (My MVP) would take her $5,124 OCRA division as she trotted in 2:05.2h for owner Stephen Sexton of Xenia.
And it would be Nissonger again in the $4,037 OCRA 2nd division for two-year-old pacers as he teamed Kimberly Dailey and Dale Trent's Hot Sriracha Man as the We Will See gelded son grabbed a new lifetime mark of 2:00.1h for trainer Jim Dailey.
Dan Noble would be Jus Chillin It as he drove and trained the youngster by Pet Rock to an excellent time of 1:58.2h for hometown owner/breeder Christi Porkonowski in the $4,037 OCRA pacing colts 3rd division.
The evening's finale for the large crowd in attendance, the Signature Series for Older Trotters, was won by the Devan Miller trained and driven Rose Run Princess as the 6-year-old mare by Trainforthefuture trotted off into the sunset in 2:01.3h for owners Jim Keller and Jerry Bell.
A great night of Ohio Fair racing.

Fulton County Fair

A New Track Record! (and you can say that again)
   The late Hall-of-Famer Stanley Dancer who, when told of someone besting one of his many accomplishments on the track, would smile and say "records are made to be broken."
And on both Tuesday and Wednesday evening the Signature Series for trotters and pacers produced new track records at this year's 167th Annual Logan County Fair.
   Tuesday's card started out on a quick note as Richard Bauder's two-year-old filly by Woodstock took the opening $4,230 division of the Western Ohio Colt Racing Association stake by 6 lengths. Jack Dailey, fast approaching his 3,000th career victory, steered the John Predmore-trained Princess Kay to victory in only her 2nd lifetime start with a very respectable time 2:01.3h.
   Two-year-old filly trotters and pacers were presented next in their WOCRA Early Closers and produced some pretty tight and exciting finishes.
   The 6th, 8th, and 10th race on the card were $3,720 WOCRA divisions for three-year-old filly pacers with the fastest going to Le Van Stable's and Charles Le Van's Cursive L in 2:00.1h as Cameron McCown registered his 4th driving win on the evening's program.
Herb LeVan conditions the daughter of Big Bad John-Softtothetouch.
Driver Pierce Henry had his driving triple when he took the $5,002 WOCRA three-year-old filly trot 2nd division with Gertie Jean. The Chad Williamson-trained lass by His Highness stopped the teletimer in 2:02.1h as she aired by 25 open lengths over her completion.
   The best was still to come as Bud High sent his owned, trained, and bred six-year-old trotting gelding by Full Count "down the road" and cut out his own mile. When they went by the half in :59.1 a patron barked "where the heck is HE going!?!"
   "For a new track record," his buddy knowingly smiled.
   He won by three and the clock read two minutes flat... the fastest trotting mile ever in Bellefontaine's long and storied harness racing history.
   Wednesday's program had the WOCRA trotters and pacers going good miles but the contests really heated up in the $3,850 third division for three-year-olds when Norris Lenahan's Beenhotfordays (Hot Rod Mindale) paced to a new lifetime mark of 1:58.4h with Cameron McCown aboard the James Roach conditioned gelding.
   In the first division of the Jim Ellis Memorial, held in honor of the longtime local horseman and part of The Signature Series, the Jack Dailey trained and driven Twinspike (Well Said) paced to a track-record equaling mile.
   Dailey powered the Randall Bond owned four-year-old gelding to his first 2017 win in 16 starts with an eye-opening time of 1:58.3h.
   The second division of The Ellis went to Phillip Groves' Harvard Z Tam and Pierce Henry in 2:00.3h over a track labelled "good" ...dulled slightly from the previous day's rain.
   In the 13th race $4,849 WOCRA second division for three-year-old trotters, 70-year-old Richard Holsapple steered the Ron Wulber owned and trained colt Motown Hall (Amigo Hall) to his first lifetime victory in 12 starts and won by 7 lengths.
   The time was 2:05.2h for the mile but the grandstand was abuzz... there was not one winning ticket on the young fella.
   It was the evening's finale that had everyone nodding and smiling though as Jeff Nisonger got the job done with Chance I Might in the 3rd division of the Ellis Memorial.
   Fresh of a track-record equaling effort at London's Madison County Fair on Sunday July 9th, the Jim Daily-tutored 6-year-old son of Stand Forever took no chances as he clipped off his own mile and won by 2 1/2 in a new Bellefontaine pacing standard of 1:57.1 for the historic half-miler.
   Owner Rebecca Dwyer of Jamestown can now say: "Werll, records are made to be broken... and we DID!"

Bowled over in Bowling Green

It was a 12:00 post time on Monday July 31st at the Wood County Fair in Bowling Green and the weather could not have been any better. Race Secretary/Announcer/Man of Many Hats Bill Peters sent the first of the 10-race card out in a punctual and orderly post parade as the Ohio Fair Racing Conference stakes were underway.
In the first race Richard Noel's Real Sexy Lady (Art's Chip) took command and led her fellow three-year-olds the entire mile as she paced to a new lifetime mark of 2:01.3h for her trainer Corinne Flis with Pierce Henry urging her on.
The $4,919 OFRC two-year-old filly trot had the My MVP lass Bugs MVP getting her initial trip to the Winners Circle with catch-driving Cameron McCown in her fourth lifetime start as they completed the double.
J. Duke Sugg was behind owner/trainer/breeder Darrell Baird's Mothersday Miracle as the two-year-old daughter of Allamerican Native upset previous winners Believe In Waco and A Oliveinmymartini in their $4,994 OFRC stake as she led them home in 2:02.3h for a new lifetime tab.
The $4,919 OFRC second division went to Gerald Mijal's Believeincarrie as the Steve Novak-trained/Art Mc Illmrray-driven Believeincruiser lass made it 3 for 5 with a rated mile in 2:04h.
And Pierce Henry got his three-bagger with L&L Devisser LLC and Tina Seekman's Won For Gigi as the Joe Seekman-trained three-year-old filly by Santana Blue Chip grabbed her $3,235 OFRC division as she paced her mile in 2:03.3h.

Wyandot County Fair

No If’n about Tiffin…
It was Tiffin's turn to showcase the Ohio Fair Racing Conference stakes on both Monday, July 24th and Tuesday, July 25th at their 175th Seneca County Fair.
A Oliveinmymartini and Skip De Mull coasted to a new lifetime mark of 2:01.4h in the first race in only the two-year-old filly's 2nd start. The Mike Sweeney-trained daughter of Three Olives served up the winner's share of the $5,032 OFRC purse to her owner Patrick Sweeney of Davison, Michigan.
The two-year-old lass by Believeinbruiser Believe In Waco (Art Mc Ilmurray) won the $5,107 OFRC 5th race for owner Gerald Mijal in 2:01.4h as well. She is trained by Steve Novak and now has made a tad under $25,000 by winning three of her five lifetime starts.
They were a nose apart in 2:04h in the $4,837 OFRC stake for three-year-old filly trotters to the delight of the large crowd in attendance. And after it had quieted down the photo showed it was Beautiful over Windsun Line (Tom Moore Jr.) as the daughter of And Away We Go captured her first victory in 18 lifetime starts with Art Mc Ilmurray behind the filly. Trainer Ron Steck along with her owners Bruce and Trish Soulsby of Powell, Ohio and Chris Beaver of Radnor can now say "Beautiful, just beautiful."
The Ohio Ladies Pace Series is getting serious as Thatillbsweet with Ulrika Fox clipped off a mile in 1:59.3h in the late afternoon sun. Fox dispelled any challenges from her rivals as she opened up and won by 6 with a last quarter in: 28.1.
The Fever was rising for the $9,283 OFRC 10th race as 8 three-year-old colts lined up behind the gate. Trailing in the second tier from the 8 hole, Mike Headworth made his move early with trainer and co-owner Bill Webb and D&K Stables LLC's Dancin Fever. The gelded son of Indian Fever was coming fresh off a track-record performance at Oak Harbor and impressed everyone again today with a mile in 1:58h - a last panel in :28 seconds flat - as he won by 7.
On Tuesday afternoon at Seneca County Fair in Tiffin brought more rousing stretch drives and tight finishes as the 9-race card unveiled some promising young Ohio pacers and trotters.
In the 1st race 1st division $3,460 OFRC stake for three-year-old-filly pacers First Official and Mark Headworth made it official with a mile in 2:02.1h. The Jim Mulinex trained and co-owned (with Denny Miller) daughter of Art Official - Do Me First posted her initial win of 2017 and paid $16.60 to her supporters.
The 3rd race put the photo-finish camera to work in the $4,852 OFRC two-year-old colt pace when owner/trainer Steve Novak's Freaky Feeling Guy, with Art Mc Ilmurray driving, held off Johnny Danger and Mark Headworth by a head at the wire. The altered sons of Feelin Friskie and Big Bad John came their last quarter :28.3 in 2:01.3h as they were urged on by the cheers of an appreciative crowd.
Race 7’s $8,953 OFRC three-year-old trot was taken by Beaver, Synerco Ventures Inc, and Zeehandelar’s Dekeyser in 2:02.2h as the Chris Beaver-conditioned colt by Dejarmbro gave Cameron McCown the third of his four victories for the day

On Wednesday night (August 9th) it was another great night of racing as Western Ohio Colt Racing Association trotters and pacers mixed it up in Urbana, Ohio at the Champaign County Fair.
The very first race had a blanket finish as a photo was needed to separate the first four horses. When the results were posted it was Jack Dailey and Standing Proud in the Winners Circle as the Chad Moore owned and trained four-year-old gelding by Feelin Friskie bested Three To Dance (Chris Hope) and Kovie (Hugh Beatty) in 2:00.4h.
Richard Finfrock's Cash Lane left no one in doubt as the two-year-old son of Cash Hall - Winning Colors K jiggy-jogged by 42 open lengths in 2:05.2h. The Mike Polhamus trained and driven gelding was barred from the wagering in the WOCRA $3,630 trot as the impressive youngster is now 3 for 4 with already over $47,000 earned and sports a tab of 1:56.2f at Scioto.
The Ohio Ladies Pace added even more excitement as Drivin' Miss Devan Miller clipped off every panel on her way to a mile in 1:55.4h with Dennis Shaner's Naked By Nine. The Mark Winters Sr trained four-year-old mare by Manhardt threw a last quarter of :29.2 at her competition and needed it too as Diane Hartsook and Led Schneppelin came charging at her in :28.4 only to miss by a neck. Ulrika Fox and E R Myron secured the show spot in the near-track record performance.
Thank The Bank and 19-year-old Logan Powell took the $3,695 WOCRA 3rd division for 3-year-old fillies as the daughter of Foreclosure N paced to an excellent time of 1:57.3h for owner L&L Stable and trainer Clarence Foulk.
The fastest division of The Dick Buxton Trot was taken by Jim Zosel and Kathy Ratcliff's Really Deep Chip (Deep Chip) as Scott Cisco steered the Jim Daily-trainee to a mile in 1:59.4h.
And it might have been the 15th and last race of the evening but it was a first that 16-year-old Luke Hanners will remember as he teamed Mack McCrillis' Save Me A Place past the wire in 1:59.4h. The classy 10-year-old Artsplace gelding notched his 23rd career victory but it was young Mr. Hanners initial foray in front of the flashbulbs.
Hopefully, it will be the first of many wins and grins.

Madison County Fair

And at Rocksprings located south near the Ohio River, the Meigs County Fair and Steve Swatzel's team put together a very well-attended day at the races on Thursday, August 17th. While the youngsters in the Southern Valley Colt Circuit rocketed around the track, the fans seated in the historic and remodeled 1890's amphitheater were kept involved with giveaways and contests as they witnessed Jonas Hershberger tally a driving quartette on the day.

PAGE SIX

Van Wert County Fair

Behind the gate in Attica
It was the 140th Attica Independent Fair this week in scenic Senecca County and the Ohio Fair Racing Conference stakes were held on Wednesday (August 9th) and Thursday (August 10th) as Speed Commitee members Bill Ruffing, Greg Swartzmiller, and Courtney Stockmaster and their team put together a fine presentation.
In the $4,589 OFRC division for three-year-old trotters trainer/driver John Konesky III overpowered his opponents as he won in a new track record time of 2:03.1h with his and co-owner Patrick Konesky's Charming Cadet as the gelded son of Dejarmbro won by 8 lengths.

Mercer County Fair in western Ohio showcased its WOCRA stars on Sunday (August 13th) and the picturesque town of Celina on the shores of the Grand Lake treated racing fans and horsemen alike to a very enjoyable afternoon.
A large crowd watched Pierce Henry post a driving triple. Not to be outdone, Jack Dailey stepped up and grabbed a four-bagger on the day.
But it was Cameron McCown who made the headlines when he took the Kent Wilcox-trained 7-year-old No Pan Intended gelding Hunchie on a track-record equaling performance in 1:56.3h for owners Bob Rodrigues and Chad Howell. It was a fitting tribute to the Trent Bates Memorial Free For All.

Putnam County Fair

That record lasted until the very next race as the 2nd OFRC division saw another Dejarmbro son trot off to an excellent mile of 2:01.2h with Dekeyer and Cameron McCown. Chris Beaver conditions the winner of over $70,000 for co-owners Synerco Ventures Inc. and Steven Zeehandelar.
And the fastest mile of the day came when Mark Headworth heated the oval up with the three-year-old Dance Fever. The Indian Fever-First To Cruise gelding set another track standard of 1:59.2h as he won his $4,717 OFRC division. Trainer Bill Webb co-owns the winner of five-in-a-row with D&K Stables LLC who now has won 16 times in his 30 lifetime starts.

Monday's (August 14th) journey brought us to Zanesville (the capitol of Ohio from 1812-1814) and the 171st Muskingum County Fair as Chris Shaw drove three winners on the night as the large crowd in attendance was entertained between the Southern Valley Colt Circuit stake races by a talented local band.

Morgan County Fair

Jackson County Fair

Defiance County Fair

Tiffin's St. Paul's United Methodist Church was the first church in the world to be lit by Edison's light bulb and the first public building in the United States to be wired for electricity.

Thomas Edison (1847-1931) was born 50 miles northeast of Tiffin in Milan, Ohio and, rumor has it, that it was his father Sam who first used the term "Turn the damn lights off!"

Logan County Fair

Montgomery County Fair

A strong week in Ohio

The action began at the 170th Hartford Independent Fair this past week as the Ohio Fairs are going full force.
On Friday afternoon (August 11th) the Ohio Fair Racing Conference's $4,701 2nd division for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings saw owner/trainer Rene Houska's One Sneaky Pete (Dejarmbro) clip off a mile in 2:00.1h with Hunter Meyers aboard, one of four wins for Myers at Croton on the day.
In the $4,889 OFRC division for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings it was the undefeated Carmensdaleyapple establishing a new track record for the altered son of Mr Apples win by 10 as the Joe Paver owner, trained, and bred youngster went a dominating mile for driver Pierce Henry in 1:59h.
Saturday's card had the $9,028 OFRC three-year-old filly pace as The William Arter Memorial and Hula Shuffle (Santana Blue Chip-Hula Dancer) was teamed by Ryan Holton and bested five others in 1:59h.

Waitin' in Dayton
   It was as though the weather was saying "don't go... not just yet" as the Montgomery County Fair hosting its final two racing programs on Thursday, July 13th held in Dayton had rain delays.
   The races have been attended at the historic half-mile oval since 1856 and welcomed many a great Champion.
   The first two contests on "Mike Woebkenberg Day" were the $3,879 divisions of Ohio Colt Racing Association stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies and produced the fastest times for the day's card.
   Black Magic Racing LLC's Big Bad Filly (Big Bad John) clipped off a good mile of 2:01.4h for driver Ken Holliday and trainer Sherri Holiday in the 1st.
Jetstream Mystic (Big Bad John) took the 2nd as Bruce Sturgeon piloted the Joe Essig-trained filly in her initial lifetime start in 2:02 flat for owner James Wampler of London.
   The 3rd race was when the rain began as Joe Essig guided - and Roger Huston will have a field day with this - Rocknroll Ruby Roo to a win in a very measured time of 2:08h.
   Trainer Carla Asher co-owns the daughter World of Rocknroll with co-breeder Steve McWilliams.
   And then the rains came... along with the lightning and the winds. If it had not been for some very friendly and helpful folks visiting from Preble County Fairgrounds in Eaton, the O.H.H.A. "Racing With The Stars" tent would have been launched skyward but we held our ground.
After a delay of one and a half hours the track crew had brought the track surface safely back. While the times were not as fast, the miles and the smiles were just as good.
   The $4,737 OCRA 2nd division for three-year-old pacing fillies went to Salt And Pepper (Big Bad John) as she win by ten in 2:04.1h.
$500,000 plus lifetime winner Rompaway Beau took the Signature Series for older trotters as driver Don Harmon coasted home by 8 in 2:04.1h for owner/trainer Krista Harmon.
   With the sun out the track was drying nicely for the evening's 6:00 program to begin... and then the sky opened up again. It was only 20 minute wait until the start of the first division of the $3,829 OCRA stake for two-year-old pacing colts and Eleven Star Stable's Starmaker (We Will See) responded with a mile in 2:03 flat for driver and trainer Jeff Brewer.
   Each successive race produced winners going under wire by open lengths as the old adage of "the best place to be in the mud is on the front end" held true.
A truly impressive feat over the wet surface was the evening's $4,918 OCRA 2nd division for three-year-old pacing colts when the Jack Daily-teamed Smokin Willie (Art Official) staged an epic head-to-head battle with Georgehbower (Feelin Friskie) and Jeff Nisonger the entire last half. In the photo it was the Harold Ward-trained/Charles and Tracy Bower-owned Georgehbower. His time of 2:00.2h left Colossal Casanova (McArdle) and Billy Aldrich in 3rd back 28 lengths wigglin' and jigglin' for the wire.
   For the handicappers who keep their pages and charts on each horse it was a day that produced a solid list of young "off-track" trotters and pacers.
And for the harness racing trivia lovers let it be noted that the very last horse and driver to win at the Dayton Fairgrounds - which in 1874 saluted Goldsmith Maid as she set a trotting World Record of 2:18 - was Michael Myers' 8-year-old pacer Sir Howie's Z Tam, with son Hunter Myers in the sulky, winning by 9 in 2:01h.

Marysville, Marysville...

The crowd was smiling in Marysville when Gotmoneyinmypocket and Chris Page opened the Union County Fair race program with a sizzlin' mile in 1:58.3h in the Free For All. The Steve Crist-conditioned 4-year-old altered son of Feelin Friskie, owned by Jerry Zosel and Kathy Radcliff, smoked his last quarter in 28.4 to seal the win.
In the $4,739 OFRC three-year-old filly pace second race Bye Bye Felicia (Woodstock) and driver Beau Brown said "adieu" to the field as she win by 16 in 1:58h. The $130,000 plus winning miss is trained by Brian Brown for his Ohio owners J. Brown, S. Davis, S. Mullett, and J. Mc Clelland.
A tight photo-finish in the 3rd race $3,300 1st division of the OFRC three-year-old filly trot had everyone guessing until Rebecca Sugg's Cinderellas Dress win by a nose in 2:02h was posted. The daughter of Triumphant Caviar is trained and driven by hubby Kurt Sugg.
With open-length victories in the following races (by 16 in the 4th and 11 in the 5th) Clyde Perfect's Santana Blue Chip filly Zoe Ellasen with Chris Page aboard, took her $4,664 OFRC 2nd division by 8 with a tally of 1:59.2h... pacing the last half in a jaw-dropping :57.2 over the other three-year-olds.
It was Page's third "W" of the day.
Sunday July 23rd's 10-race program had a rain delay of about 40 minutes but thanks to a patient and watchful track crew it did not dampen the spirits or the times. The Joe Paver trained and Pierce Henry driven Manny's Too Special (Woodstock) ignored the wet track and stepped off a fine time of 1:58h in the $4,867 OFRC 1st division for three-year-old pacers. The Pearl Paver, Joe Paver, Dennis Paver-owned and bred gelding bested Shooter McGavin (McArdle) and Cameron McCown - for today - in their continuing rivalry.
It was a Paver/Henry double as the 1-9 hometown favorite, the undefeated Carmensdaleyapple, jiggy-jogged by 16 in the $4,852 OFRC two-year-old pace in 1:59h. The gelded son of Mr. Apples now sports a 6 for 6 record for owner/trainer/driver and breeder Joe Paver.
And you could tell by the hoots and hollers of the crowd that they backed him.
The $4,792 OFRC 2nd division for three-year-old pacers went to K’s Boy as Scott Cisco piloted him to a 9- length triumph in 1:58.2h. The Woodstock gelding is owned by Richard Weherley.
And it was another battle in the Ohio Ladies Pace Series as Tabatha Canarr maneuvered Heza Star Cruiser through heavy traffic and posted a good time of 1:59.3 over Interactable (Pat Curtin) and Cullens Blue Jean with Devan Miller driving. The Yankee Cruiser 10-year-old is conditioned by Steve Crist for owners Jerry Zosel and Kathy Radcliff.
Tabatha would capture her second win of the day - well, sorta - as she "aired" in the Bouncing Ponies Race held after the races with all the Lady Drivers competing. The gals showed that, not only can they drive a horse, they are good sports as well.
A fun conclusion to two great days of racing, held ever since the 1850's, in Marysville, Ohio.

Urbana is from the Greek meaning "of the city" ...while 'champaign' is French for "flat land."

Hardin County Fair

*** The 2017 Ohio Fairs ***

"If you like Fair Racing come to Ohio... you'll LOVE Fair Racing!

Allen County Fair

Pickaway County Fair

It was the Miami County Fair in the city of Troy and the Ohio Colt Racing Association on Wednesday August 16th that held 18 races for an afternoon/evening card. Jack Dailey emerged with four wins on the day as he topped it off with Mary and Jeff Riddle's four-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding 'Lissllas simmering a mile in 1:58.3h in the program's finale.

It's all about the pace, all Preble...
When the 167th Preble County Fair advertised for their "Speed Program" it was as promised and right from the start of the Sunday, July 30th card there were some very explosive miles.
The first race first division of the Signature Series saw Bill Johnson and Tom Voress' Secretsoftheknight win by four with a mile in 1:57.3h. The Jennifer Redmond-conditioned 8-year-old Mach Three horse, a lifetime winner of over $560,000, was driven by Indiana mainstay Tom Luther.
And the crowd got their monies worth in the second half of the double as Scott Cisco guided Richard Weherley's K's Boy to a mile in 1:58.4h in the $4,956 Ohio Colt Racing Association three-year-old colts. The gelded son of Woodstock is trained by Craig Bowman and now has three-in-a-row in Ohio.
It would be the Luther-driven/Redmond-trained combo taking the 2nd division of the Signature Series with Jennifer Redmond's own Cam Luck 7-year-old Grantor Hanover as he paced to a mile in 1:57.3h.
The $4,849 OCRA third division for three-year-old fillies would go to Black Magic Racing LLC's Salt And Pepper. The roan Big Bad John lass is trained by Sherri Holliday and driven by Ken Holiday. It would be their third winning stake effort on the day.
The Ohio Ladies Pace produced another classic showdown as the Ladies battled it head-to-head the entire mile. When it was all clear the Don Gibson-trained My Hare Lady and current Series point-leader Ulrika Fox had bested their nemeses in 1:59h.
And Amear Najor's Andy Roo - how do you do - broke the all-time Eaton track record in the Signature Series 3rd division with a blistering mile of 1:56h. Tyler Smith catch-drove the classy 12-year-old winner of over $865,000 for trainer Sharif Cunmulaj to a blanket finish over Hard Cold Cash and Who'szoominwho in the evening's finale.

The Great Darke County Fair