by Bill Peters, Regional Coordinator for the Ohio Fair Racing Conference

Hicksville, OH — The three day meet at the Defiance County Fair at Hicksville, Ohio, came to a close Friday (August 26). The final night found Away My Baby (And Away We Go-Mink Deville) trot a mile in 2:05.4 to equal the track record for two-year-old filly trotters. That mark was previously attained by Final Link in 2008. Brandon Bartley and Jim Lupton are the co-owners of Away My Baby with Lupton also doing the training. Eric Tharps, Jr. picked up the winning drive in the record-equalling mile.

The final two races of the fair provided the fastest trotting and pacing miles of the meet. In Race 10 of the eleven-race card, the 10-year-old gelding Rompaway Beau (Chip Chip Hooray-Rompaway Stacey) captured the Kermit Peter Memorial Signature Series Trot in 2:01.2. Krista Harmon owns and trains Rompaway Beau with her husband Don doing the driving.

One race later Western Fella (Artistic Fella-Western Kisser) came home in 1:59 to win the Free For All Pace. Bill Webb owns the 5-year-old gelding with Mark Headworth performing the training and driving chores.

Duke Sugg found the winner’s circle seven times during the week to lead all drivers. Ty Bates and Chris Beaver each had three training victories to share honors in that category.

Good crowds were in attendance for all three sessions. The Defiance County Area Horsemen’s Association gave away two new televisions, two new barbecue grills, and two $50 gasoline cards each evening. Six $10 wagering vouchers were also given away during each of the final two sessions.

Susan Schroeder was on hand on the first race day with the “Racing with the Stars” exhibit. She also conducted stick-horse races for kids after the races that day.

Rick Small of Mix 98.1 of Defiance along with the mascot for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants minor league basketball team were on hand during the second session to keep the crowd alive. Small also helped out with the stick-horse races that evening.

All senior citizens were admitted free to the grandstand that night, courtesy of the J. Earl Belch Charitable Trust.

A big thanks to the track crew of Ed Appel and Bill Webb for having the track in excellent shape each evening. Also, thanks to Roger Huard and Kim Berry for running the horsemen’s food buffet, to Kevin Appel, Chris Webb, and Jeff Batt for helping out with the between-races activities in the grandstand, to Jerry and Marlene Lighthill for presenting the blankets in the winner’s circle, and to Trudy Peters for handing out the checks in the Speed Office. Also, the fair’s speed committee of Lavon Wiles, Gary Backhaus, and Don Retcher should be thanked for helping out wherever necessary.

Harness racing continues in the Ohio Fair Racing Conference at the Morrow County Fair at Mount Gilead. Racing takes place at Mount Gilead on Monday (Aug. 29) at 4:00 p.m. and on Tuesday (Aug. 30) at 6:00 p.m. EST.