by Bill Peters

Tiffin, OH — Two and one-half weeks after the unexpected death of owner-trainer-driver Lee Stahl, the Seneca County Fair at Tiffin, Ohio, paid tribute to Lee with a driverless horse ceremony.

Trainer-drivers Greg Straub and Matt Lambert led a driverless horse with Lee’s helmet and colors on the seat of the sulky to lead the post parade in Monday’s (July 21) seventh race. After the post parade, the horse was led into the winner’s circle where the helmet and colors were presented to Lee’s daughter.

Screamin Scooter captured the race, which was the second division of the Ohio Fair Stakes 3-year-old colt pace, in 2:02.4 with Dan Burks in the sulky. Lee Stahl’s son, Ryan, was a close second with Barratry.

The fastest division of the 3-year-old colt pace was won by Pat and Lloyd Karcher’s Western Eddie in 2:01.3. Pat also trains the Western Spirit gelding with David Repine picking up the catch-drive on Monday.

Uncle Josh found the winner’s circle in the lone division of the 2-year-old colt pace. Josh Cochran is the owner-trainer of the Yankee Cruiser-Amy’s Cedar colt. Beau Blevins guided Uncle Josh to a new mark of 1:59.3.

Terry Tackett’s Jenna’s Bac N Town won the fastest division of the 2-year-old filly pace in 2:05.2. Thurman Tackett trains the Towner’s Big Guy-Jenna’s Great Lady filly and Ryan Stahl handled the lines.

Stablecreekcruiser (Yankee Crusier-Hey Girlfriend) came home first in the other division in 2:06.3.

Ed Greeno, Jr. piloted Home Early in the fastest division of the 2-year-old colt trot. The Humorous Harry-Earlybird Hanover gelding toured the Tiffin oval in 2:06.4. Ed Greeno, Sr. trains Home Early for owners EG Trot LLC, HPS Consulting Inc., and James E. Paul.

The other division went to Goliath (Ilooklikemymom-Northwest Classic) in 2:10.