by Joshua Potts, for the Brown County Fair

Mount Sterling, IL — Live harness racing action returns to the Brown County Fair on August 5 and 6 in Mount Sterling, Ill. First race post time for both nights of racing is 7:00 p.m. (CDT).

The featured event for the two-day meet will once again be The Taser Gun. Last year, the purse for the Illinois county fair circuit’s premiere event was $18,600. The 2009 edition, however, will go for a whopping $25,000. Named after the popular veteran campaigner, The Taser Gun, race ten on Thursday’s card, is scheduled to go off at 10:00 p.m. (CDT).

Not only will some of the best equine talent in Illinois harness racing be in Mount Sterling this week, but some of the top drivers on the Chicago circuit will take part in the action as well. Sam Widger, Brandon Simpson, Josh Sutton, and other regular members of the Balmoral/Maywood driving colony will be in the racebike at the Brown County Fair.

Here is a quick look at the field for the $25,000 Taser Gun:

The lone mare in the field, BC’s Jesse, will start from the rail with Sam Widger in the bike. The gray daughter of Park Place, trained by Hart Walker, has banked over $236,000 in her career and has a lifetime mark of 1:51.2s.

Breaking from post two is the David McCaffrey-trainee, Audience Of One. The 6-year-old son of Art’s Conquest has a lifetime mark of 1:51.1h and has banked over $81,000 in his career. Josh Sutton will be at the lines.

Cole Combustion will break from post three. Tom Simmons drives and trains this 5-year-old son of Cole Muffler who has over $52,000 in his bank account and a lifetime mark of 1:54.

Onthewingsofnangel will break from post four. Rick Schrock drives and trains this 5-year-old son of Richess Hanover who has banked a shade over $100,000 in his career, and boasts a lifetime mark of 1:53.1h.

Breaking from post five is the Tom Harmer-trainee, I Can Only Imagine. A winner of over $469,000 in his career, this son of Cole Muffler sports a lifetime mark of 1:49.4. Brandon Simpson will be in the sulky.

Rounding out the field, breaking from post six, will be the second McCaffrey-trainee, Itchy Pickle’s. A winner of over $70,000 in his career, this son of Park Place has a lifetime mark of 1:53.3. Jamaica Patton gets the driving assignment.

As part of the Taser Gun undercard, race five could produce some fireworks as well. In this contest, Kansas Wildcat, a winner of over $173,000 with a lifetime mark of 1:50.2, is the co-headliner along with 2006 Illinois freshman champ Home Bed Advantage, who will make his 2009 debut.

While Thursday’s card will be exciting enough, don’t forget about Wednesday’s (August 5) action. Race six on Wednesday will be a $6,000 trot for Illinois-bred fillies and mares, for ages four and up. The Armbro Tunnel mare Speed N The Tunnel, a winner of over $391,000 lifetime, will break from post four with Sam Widger in the bike.

In race seven on Wednesday, the males will participate in a $6,000 trot of their own. Battleshoe Victor, a winner of over $300,000 lifetime, will break from post five, also with Widger at the lines.

For those who can’t make it to the track in person — no problem! That is because WVIL 101.3 FM, of Jacksonville, Ill., will broadcast all of the live racing action on both nights.

For those outside of the listening area, you may listen to all of the action from anywhere in the world via WVIL 101.3 FM’s Web site: http://www.lbsportsproductions.com/broadcast.shtml. After typing the site into your browser, simply click the link where it reads, ‘CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT BROADCAST.’ It’s that simple!

Also, the Brown County Fair is once again the only fair in Illinois to offer the public pari-mutuel wagering on harness racing.

With great harness racing action and the chance to win money, bring your family and friends out to see the live racing action at the Brown County Fair on August 5 and 6. You won’t want to miss it!