by Bill Peters

Edgerton, OH — The Marion County Fair at Marion, Ohio, returned to the Ohio fair racing scene this week after an absence of several years. Fifteen races were contested on Monday (July 3) with 18 races on the Tuesday (July 4) card.

The overall pacing track record fell twice during the Monday program.

Kurt Sugg steered Da Vinci Artist (Art Official-Da Vinci Road) to a 2:00.1 mile in the first division of the 3-year-old filly pace. That was a good enough time to wipe out the previous overall pacing mark of 2:00.3 set by Easy Goin Guy in 2001. Sugg also trains Da Vinci Artist with Robert Corbin picking up the expenses.

Two races after Da Vinci Artist’s record mile Kurt Sugg’s brother Duke guided T Red (Cams Eclipse-Al’s Honey) to a 1:59.4 time in the free for all pace. Henry Gulley is the owner-trainer of T Red.

The last race of the fair on Tuesday brought a new overall trotting track record when Margarita Man (Malabar Man-Margarita Miss) captured the free for all trot in 2:01. The old track record was 2:03 by Hustlin Lad in 2002. Brian McDowell is the owner-trainer of Margarita Man with David Lake picking up the catch-drive in the record-setting mile.

Cameron McCown was the leading driver for the meet with six wins. Chris Beaver, Mike Medors, and Al Tomlinson each had three trips to the winner’s circle as trainers to pace that category.

A big thanks is due to the Marion County Fair Board for bringing harness racing back to their fair. A special congratulations is in order to Speed Superintendent Tom Crawford and his committee of Jerry Criswell, Kevin Criswell, Dave Dilsaver, Steve Ruth, and Tim Wood for putting on a very successful two-day meet.

Harness racing in the Ohio Fair Racing Conference will resume this coming weekend at the Madison County Fair at London. Racing will take place on Saturday (July 8) and Sunday (July 9) with a 12 noon post time each day.