Grove City, OH – Samantha Mayhugh, of Circleville, OH, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Terry Holton Youth Award.
Mayhugh has been involved in harness racing her entire life and is currently a sophomore at The Ohio State University majoring in agricultural business and applied economics with a minor in equine studies.
“Sam has a true passion for the sport of harness racing,” said her father Sean. “Ever since she was a young child, she has been actively involved with the sport, from walking the broodmare out to the paddocks to helping me clean stalls, jogging, training, and now hauling the horses to Cleveland on her own to race the family horses.”
When she was 10 years old, Mayhugh started working at the Ohio State Fair educating other children about harness racing, and she has dressed as Willie Winit, the OHHA mascot, at Northfield Park on special race nights.
She paddocks for different stables that have raced at Scioto Downs and has assisted with the race program at the Pickaway County Fair, doing everything from handling blankets in the winner’s circle to selling programs, running checks, and delivering saddle pads to the next fair in Wilmington. For the past three years, she has assisted with the yearling sales at the Pickaway County Fairgrounds and in Springfield.
In college, Mayhugh has focused her learning on what she can bring back to the racing industry and on spreading the word about the sport. She recently completed an internship with the OHHA during which she developed the Backstretch Buddies children’s program that now has more than 100 members.
“I am very thankful and honored to receive the Terry Holton Youth Award,” Mayhugh said. “The Ohio harness racing industry has given me so many opportunities, and being recognized for my involvement is truly meaningful.”
The Terry Holton Youth Award is given to an Ohio horseman or woman between the ages of 13 and 19 who has actively participated in harness racing during the year as a driver, trainer, groom, breeder, race office/publicity assistant, or track maintenance crew member or has provided outstanding service to the sport.
Now in its 23rd year, the award is named for Terry Holton, a 2005 inductee into the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame. Holton, of Newark, OH, was the winner of over 1,700 races in his career. He overcame many obstacles in his life, including pancreatic cancer.
Mayhugh will be honored at the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Annual Awards Banquet on Jan. 10, 2026, at the Renaissance Columbus-Westerville.
For more information:
Wes Mayberry
wmayberry@ohha.com
614-221-3650
The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association (OHHA) is a non-profit organization serving Standardbred horse owners, breeders, trainers, drivers, and fans who participate in the sport of harness racing in the Buckeye State.
OHHA was founded in 1953. The mission of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association is to preserve, protect, promote, and serve the entire Standardbred industry in Ohio and beyond.