Urbana, OH — The Ohio Colt Racing Association held its 87th annual awards dinner on Sunday (Nov. 15) at the Champaign County Fairgrounds in Urbana. OCRA is comprised of 20 fairs located in the Southwest of Ohio that are part of the 66-member strong Ohio Fair Circuit that hosts harness racing throughout the Buckeye State.

Close to 100 people were in attendance, many of them not recognized at first as they were all wearing masks, but with a well-planned and orchestrated evening we were able to be sociable and practice social distancing at the same time.

The officers of OCRA, President Dr. Robert Schwartz, V.P. Dennis Fricke, Secretary Judith Foureman, and Treasurer Lisa Schwartz held the annual business meeting along with their fellow members at 4:30 p.m. followed by an abbreviated social hour at 5:30 with a sit-down home style dinner catered by The Farmer’s Daughter of Urbana. OHHA Brand Ambassador Roger Huston, himself a veteran of many a banquet in his 60 plus years as an announcer, remarked “this is good food.”

At 7 p.m. Master of Ceremonies Mike Woebkenberg started the awards ceremonies as he announced the first winner with the Well Said 2-year-old colt pacer Woo Said for owner, trainer, and breeder Donald C. Williams of Quincy, Ohio.

Boom Dynamite, a gelded son of Broadway Hall bred by Midland Acres, by virtue of his seven wins on the OCRA circuit earned 2-year-old trotting colt honors for trainer and part owner Kim Dailey along with Randy Leopard and Todd Woodruff.

The We Will See 2-year-old filly pacer Ball Diamond earned plaudits for breeder Chuck Grubbs, owner Dannie Ray Hostetler, and trainer Lonnie Graber as well as picking up more than $56,000 at the OCRA fairs.

Trainer Virgil Morgan Jr.’s 2-year-old filly trotter Boujee Girl, owned by Carl T. Howard, Joyce McClelland, and Larry Wills, secured top honors thanks to the Ken Sommer-bred daughter of Uncle Peter‘s six wins on the OCRA circuit.

With five wins each at the OCRA fairs the 3-year-old pacing male division was shared by Fifty Flat and Snowmoon. Breeders and owners Scott and Mel Hagemeyer’s Allamerican Native gelding Fifty Flat is trained by Jeff Nisonger. The Mr Wiggles gelding Snowmoon, bred by Crawford Farms and owned and trained by Jessica Smith, chilled out on the OCRA circuit with 2020 earnings of $79,585 and a mark of 1:50.1f at Dayton.

The Hanover Shoe Farm-bred Big Box Hanover, owned by Bruce Soulsby and trainer Dalton Walls, took home the 3-year-old male trotter award as the Uncle Peter gelding grabbed eight victories on the OCRA circuit.

John Van Horn’s 3-year-old Art’s Chip filly pacer Treasurethosechips was the best in 2020. Bred by Pacey Mindlin and Kenneth Cohen, the Jeff Nisonger trainee posted nine OCRA wins.

The Hickory Lane Horse Farm stallion Uncle Peter produced another stakes winner on the trotting distaff side with Mary Ann Georges and Arnold White’s sophomore Sittin Pretty as the Brian Georges student was tops in her class.

Malibu Kid took the “Doc” H.M. Parshall Award as the 2-year-old stakes record setter for trotting males for trainer Dalton Walls, while the pacer Charlie May for conditioner Steve Carter reset the books in 1:55.2h at Greenville.

The Signature Series, a late closing event presently at 23 Ohio Fairs where the four circuits (OCRA, OFRC, HTCS, and SVCC) are raced were held throughout the summer. The horses are awarded points for each start and the eight highest point earners face off at Delaware during Little Brown Jug week.

This year’s $2,000 bonus winner was Starry Nite Teen, Gabrielle O’Hearn’s 6-year-old gelding by Art Official that raced in seven SS events for trainers Al Tomlinson and Ronnie Moawad. Rebecca Sugg’s Star Chip was the tops for trotters as the 9-year-old Chip Chip Hooray gelding participated in nine SS races for trainer Edward Miller.

Jeff Nisonger, by virtue of his 80 driving wins and 29 training victories, was once again awarded the top driver/trainer prize for his achievements.

The Dr. H.D. Schoonover Award, which epitomizes the optimism, passion, and patience associated with the love of harness racing is named in honor of “Doc” Hobart Schoonover of Findlay, Ohio, who drove in his last race at the age of 93 in 2011. This year’s presentation was made via the web to an unsuspecting Doug Ballinger of Celina, our 47-year veteran announcer of numerous fairs throughout Ohio who brings his style and enthusiasm to every race he calls. He just did not bring himself to the dinner this night.

Congratulations to all of the winners.